over by last night's mails. I cannot give the report implicit credit, though I know that Browne is in their confidence. If it be true, my conjecture is that he has taken those situations in order to have an equivalent to give to Foster for the chair; for though W. Ponsonby is very vain, I cannot think that he can persuade himself that he is equal to the despatch of the Revenue business. I understand that Grattan and Foster are to draw together in the new arrangements of Inland Excise; they seem extremely intimate. The Cabinet met last night to consider whether they should raise the additional men for the militia upon bounty or by ballot. The following persons composed it: Lord Chancellor, Speaker, two Ponsonbys, Forbes, Grattan, Cuff, the Chief Baron, the Duke of Leinster, and Lord Shannon, -a curious group!

The Government, lest their motive for stopping the money bills at the Custom House, &c., should be misunderstood, sent the same order to the Post Office, where there could be no pretence for keeping back the Post Office Bill, as no change takes place there; but Lees had anticipated them, and sent it to the law officers, who had prepared it and got their fee.

I have mentioned several uninteresting anecdotes, but I wish you to know how everything goes on, and trifles show in some degree the complexion of things.

Yours dutifully,

M. BERESFord.

a The Right Hon. James Cuff, eldest son of James Cuff and Elizabeth Gore; born 1738; M.P. for borough of Donegal 1776; M.P. for county Mayo 1783 to 1797; created, 1797, Baron

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.
(To be laid before Mr. Pitt.)

8th February, 1795.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-In the present critical and embarrassing situation of things, I cannot but feel very strongly for the difficulties in which Mr. Pitt may be involved, and I should be very unhappy if any concerns of mine should add to these difficulties.

It is impossible for me to be divested of emotion upon the treatment which I have met with in Ireland-a treatment as cruel and unjust as it is unmerited. His Excellency has been pleased to inform me, by a letter from his Secretary, that it is his intention to recommend to His Majesty that I shall be removed from my office, and his reasons have been assigned to me through two different channels. Mr. Bowes Daly informed me, in terms which I need not repeat, that I was considered as too powerful in Ireland. The new Bishop of Ossory has lately told the Archbishop of Tuam that he was authorised by His Excellency to say, that he wished to live on good terms with me and my family, that none of them were to be injured, although he was obliged to remove me from office, as he was informed that I governed Ireland, which he could not admit of. Thus have I been driven from my office, after twenty-five years' service, upon a private suggestion as unfounded as it is malicious without inquiry, or investigation, and accompanied by circumstances of exaggeration which it is unnecessary for me to recapitulate.

Tyrawly; appointed First Commissioner of Barrack Board 1783; married, 1770, Mary Levinge; died 1821.

Notwithstanding these circumstances and the feelings which they cause, if my retiring from office will in any manner tend to the disembarrassing Mr. Pitt, and promoting the service of His Majesty's Government, I am willing to retire.

I have a perfect sense of Mr. Pitt's honourable and firm support of my claims, and I am ready to sacrifice both my feelings and my interest to what I esteem my duty, certain that when I commit myself to his care, I put myself into the hands of an honourable friend. I request you, therefore, to call upon Mr. Pitt, and state my sentiments to him.'

I am, my dear Auckland, your faithful, humble

servant,

J. BERESFORD.

LORD FITZ GIBBON, LORD CHANCELLOR, TO

MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, 14th February, 1795. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Lord Waterford and Mark have communicated to me from time to time the import of your letters to them; and of course you will believe that nothing has transpired from me. Business goes on apparently smooth in the House of Commons, but it is impossible that should long continue. Parsons and

a Sir Laurence Parsons, son of Sir William, fifth Baronet, and Mary Clere; born 1758; M.P. for King's County 1791 to 1807; succeeded his uncle as second Earl of Rosse 1807; PostmasterGeneral of Ireland 1809; married, 1797, Alice Lloyd; died

Duquerry have called upon His Excellency's Ministers to carry into effect their stipulations with the country when in Opposition, upon the subject of retrenchment, reform, and the repeal of the Convention Act. When the subject was first mentioned by Parsons, I am told it occasioned no small consternation on the Treasury bench. The lovely George professed his determination to adhere to his principles, not explaining whether he meant his principles as professed from the year 1781 to 1789, or from 1789 to 1795; Langrishe was put forward to twaddle and give time for recollection. Upon deliberation, the great 'Squire stepped forth, and disdaining to shelter himself behind either set of Brother George's principles, manfully declared that all offices created by Lord Buckingham must and should be abolished, and that the Convention Act should be repealed, inasmuch as he was clearly of opinion that it was a bad declaration of the law. Duquerry, in the Committee of Ways and Means, proposed a tax upon offices, pensions, &c., and was treated with uncommon harshness and contempt by Minister Grattan. They have made their bargain, after long negotiation, with Kelly," to give him a pension of 12007. a year, and his wife or daughter 3007. For the first, they must bring in a bill to enable them to violate their favourite Pension Act, and I should suppose in the progress of it they will be very handsomely worked, as it is perfectly well known that Kelly spurned their first proposition with great indignation, stating that he was as well able to do the duties of his

a Thomas Kelly, Justice of the Common Pleas; called to the bar 1753; appointed Judge 1784; resigned 1801.

office as ever he had been, in which most certainly he told the truth.

To add to the popularity of this measure, whenever it may come forward, Curran has this day been exhibited to great advantage on the trial of his action for crim. con. against the parson. I am told that a scene of the most profligate debauchery and cruelty to his wife has been laid before the public; and to complete his character, he produced his son, a boy of fourteen years old, on the table, to prove his mother a

His Excellency was pleased, three or four days since, to promote eight young gentlemen to the rank of King's counsel. Three of them, Messrs. Brown, Hoare, and Fletcher, forgot that by accepting office they vacated their seats in Parliament, and seem now not a little surprised to find that they must take their chance for a fresh election, which they are not sure of.

On Wednesday, Mr. Grattan moved for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of all laws in any manner affecting Papists. I rejoice to hear from Mark this day that this last project is likely to be stopped by authority from England. If the subject should be well considered there, it is impossible that the British Government should suffer it to go on. The only Acts which now affect Irish papists are the Act of Supremacy and

a The Right Hon. John Philpot Curran, born of poor but respectable parents, James Curran and Martha Philpot, at Newmarket, in the county of Cork, 1750; educated on the Foundation of Middleton School and Trinity College, Dublin; called to the bar 1775; appointed Master of the Rolls 1806; M.P. for Kilbeggan 1783; for Rathcormack 1790 and 1797; died 1817.