(8th Oct.) "I certainly wish that England would now make a union with the Irish nation, instead of making it with a party in Ireland." (17th Oct.) "If it is in contemplation ever to extend the privileges of the Union to the Roman Catholics, the present appears to be the only opportunity which the British Ministry can have of obtaining any credit from the boon which must otherwise in a short time be extorted from them." (27th Dec.) "Nothing can be more melancholy and distressing to my feelings than the wretched situation into which I have been forced… I have no hopes that I shall either gain credit to myself or render any service to the country… I had my difficulties in India, but they were trifling compared with those which attend the wretched station which has been imposed upon me." (16th Jan. 1799.) "Finding from … John Parnell … that he was determined not to support the Union, I have notified to him his dismission from the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I shall pursue the same line of conduct without favour or partiality, wherever I may think it will tend to promote the success of the measure." (21st Jan.) "Here I am embarked in all my troubles, and employed in a business which is ill suited to my taste … The demands of our friends rise in proportion to the appearance of strength on the other side, and you, who know how I detest a job, will be sensible of the difficulties which I must often have to keep my temper; but the object is great, and perhaps the salvation of the British Empire may depend upon it. I shall therefore as much as possible overcome my detestation of the work in which I am engaged, and march on steadily to my point. The south of Ireland is well disposed to the Union; the north seems in a state of neutrality, or rather apathy, on the subject, which is to me incomprehensible; but all the counties in the middle of the island, from Dublin to Galway, are violent against it." After the Government preparations for securing a favourable division, the defeat of the measure in the Commons by 106 to 105, on 23rd January 1799, was surprise and mortification to them. It was approved by the Lords by 52 to 16. It was decided not to bring forward the question again the same session, but to proceed vigorously in the purchase of votes, and await the first favourable opportunity. (26th Jan.) "The proposal of Union … was not disagreeable either to the Catholics or to the Protestant dissenters. … The late experiment has shown the impossibility of carrying a measure which is contrary to the private interests of those who are to decide upon it, and which is not supported by the voice of the country at large; and I think it is evident that ii ever a second trial of the Union is to be made, the Catholics must be included." (28th Jan.) "The question of Union was brought forward upon the principle that two independent legislatures had a tendency to separate; that the independent legislatures of Ireland and England had shown that tendency, and that the effects of it were felt in divisions at home, and attempts of invasion from abroad." (20th March.) "We are, I trust, rather gaining ground in respect to the Union, but in the general indisposition and disaffection of the country I cannot discover the smallest improvement." This gaining ground was effected by the clearly expressed intention of Government to spend money liberally in the purchase of seats. (15th April.) "You write as if you really believed that there was any foundation for all the lies and nonsensical clamour about my lenity. On my arrival in this country I put a stop to the burning of houses and murder of the inhabitants by the yeomen, or by other persons who delighted in that amusement, to the flogging for the purpose of extorting confession, and to the freequarters, which comprehended universal rape and robbery throughout the whole country… My conscience does not reproach me with a single act of improper or impolitic lenity." (20th May.) "The political jobbing of this country gets the better of me: it has ever been the wish of my life to avoid all this dirty business, and I am now involved in it beyond all bearing, and am consequently more wretched than ever. I trust that I shall live to get out of this most cursed of all situations, and most repugnant to my feelings. How I long to kick those whom my public duty obliges me to court! If I did not hope to get out of this country, I should most earnestly pray for immediate death." (19th June.) "Nothing but a conviction that a union is absolutely necessary for the safety of the British Empire, could make me endure the shocking task which is imposed upon me." (2nd July.) "The mass of the people of Ireland do not care one farthing about the Union, and they equally hate both the Government and Opposition." On 19th July he estimated the effective military force in the kingdom at 45,419, besides artillery. On 11th August he narrowly escaped being shot by the sentry at the Castle.—Returning alone at night he was not re-
