Cabinet in-
trigues
against
Lord Fitz.
william.

a

1794. would, when backed by government, be carried with

unanimity. The catholics of Dublin took the lead, and by unanimous assent resolved to commit their cause to the talents, zeal, and long-tried sincerity of Mr. Grattan : and resolutions to that effect were accordingly publishedTheir example was followed by most districts in the nation.

The latter end of the year 1794 was a busy scene of intrigue. Mr. Pitt had several objects in consenting to the new arrangements : first, to flatter, then degrade his proselytes. He knew the confidence, which the Irish would place in the new administration, and the readiness, with which they would vote the extraordinary supplies (1,700,0001.) for carrying on a war, to which his new colleagues were more sanguinely addicted than himself. Mr. Beresford, who foresaw that in the change of the Irish government, a blow was aimed at the power and authority, which he had exercised successively over every viceroy, from Lord Townshend to Lord Westmoreland, transported himself to England, and there, both with his majesty and Mr. Pitt, so effectually urged the merits of himself and family, as to have fully preconcerted his own con. tinuance in office, the miscarriage of the catholic question, and the immediate recal of the new lord lieutenant, when the supplies should have been voted. With these assurances, he returned to Ireland, where he was most actively employed, in conjunction with Lord Fitzgibbon and Mr. Foster, in preparing to

1794.

counteract all the plans intended by the new administration, for the benefit of that country. Such was the reception, which Mr. Pitt had insidiously prepared for Lord Fitzwilliam, when he was deputed to the government of Ireland. That Lord Fitzwilliam went over with a plenitude of power from the British cabinet to carry the measure of catholic emancipation, stands roundly asserted by that nobleman himself, and by Lord Milton, Mr. Ponsonby, and Mr. Grattan. It was contradicted by Lord Westmoreland *, who said, in the British house of peers, that Mr. Pitt had assured him, " that Earl Fitzwilliam had no authority whatever from ministers in this country, for taking the steps he did on the catholic question: they were taken not only without their author. ity, but with their positive disapprobation.” Lord Fitzwilliam took possession of his government on the 4th of January, 1795.

* 41 Par. Deb. p. 352.

1705.

william as

government

CHAPTER VI.

Administration of Earl Fitzwilliam.

ALTHOUGH Lord Fitzwilliam had coalesced with

Mr. Pitt on the necessity of the war with France, and Lord Fitz- the general call to make head against the pruriency of sumes the democracy, he still retained all those valuable princi ples, and estimable qualities, which so peculiarly sig. nalized his late uncle, the Marquis of Rockingham, and the principal supporters of his party. Alike honourable and inflexible in his public and private dealings, he was a stranger to that system of pliancy and insincerity, which Mr.Pitt required of his creatures and colleagues. He played not the intriguing courtier, but the honest minister, performing upon public principles his public duty, equally regardless of the favour of the court and people. He had no sooner arrived at his seat of government, than he put his hand carnestly to the work, insensible of the preconcerted opposition of Mr. Pitt to the whole of his system. Yet had not the Duke of Portland and Mr. Pitt concurred with his lordship in the policy and necessity of relieving the catholics from every remaining disqualification, he tells us, he never would have undertaken the government. Before his departure from England,

*Letter to Lord Carlisle.

it had been resolved, that if the catholics should appear determined to stir the business, and bring it before parliament, he was to give it a handsome support on the part of government. Three days after his landing, he transmitted the result of his observations to the British cabinet: and during the first fortnight not a negative idea was communicated to him from England.

1795.

by Lord

ham.

The first public acts of Lord Fitzwilliam's govern- Dismiss.la ment, were some dismissals from offices, which cre- Fitzwilated general apprehensions through all the departments of the castle. He made proposals to the British ministers for the removal of the attorney and solicitor general, upon large provisions: it having been previously arranged with Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Portland, that they were to be succeeded by Messrs. Ponsonby and Curran. He also removed Mr. Beresford, whom he found filling a situation greater than that of the lord-lieutenant; sensible that any connection with a person under universal heavy suspicions, would be subjecting his government to all the opprobrium and unpopularity of Mr. Beresford's mal-administration; nor would he cloud the dawn of his administration, by leaving in such power and authority, so much imputed malversation; though in point of income, he left

* One of these was Mr. Cooke, of whom Lord Fitzwilliam thus writes to Lord Carlisle." Mr. Cooke indeed, whose tone and style render his approach to a superior not to be supported, rejects my proposals in his favour, and thinks a retreat upon 1200l. a year an inadequate recompence for the magnitude and importance of his services."

1795.

Catholic

addresses to

william

him as well as he had ever been. Mr. Beresford, his family and friends then were in the full enjoyment of more emolument, than ever had been accumulated in that country upon any one family.

The address of the catholics of Dublin was preLord Fitz- sented to his excellency on the 7th of January*, and was followed up by numerous others; they were all of one tendency, and received similar answers. It was truly observed, that the catholics' gratitude for the late concessions, appeared less prominent in their addresses, than their confidence and expectation of their extension.

Lord Fitzwilliam meets the Parliament.

On the 22d of January, 1795, Earl Fitzwilliam met the parliament, and in his speech alluded to the eventful situation of the British empire, and called upon them to lend their aid to its support in those extraordinary circumstances. Immediately after the speech had been read, Mr. Grattan moved the address, which he supported by a brilliant speech, which explicitly pledged the principles of the new lieutenant's government to the Irish nation. Mr. Du