lency: the one, as I have always understood, being only the Lord -Lieutenant's personal approbation of a Bill, whereas your Excellency went out apprized of the unanimous determination of the King's servants to support two of the Bills in Council, and of their favourable disposition to hear whatever should be offered in regard to the two others.[1] Nor is it to be supposed that the guarded manner of making this communication recommended to your Excellency could have produced any other effect than that of increasing the confidence of every intelligent person, by showing with what deliberation this measure had been adopted, as far as the King's servants could with safety or propriety go. Could it be meant as an alarm only, it cannot be looked upon in any other light than as one of the meanest stratagems which low, cunning, narrow parts, and interested motives, could suggest to any set of men in public affairs.
"I have, however, very great pleasure in informing your Excellency, that the King's servants persevere, notwithstanding, in the same resolution as to the several Bills when they shall come over, in the manner I have mentioned. …
"As to the augmentation of the army, I have already written so fully to your Excellency on that subject, that I have nothing to add. It will remain to be seen, after so many instances of His Majesty's inclination to gratify the wishes of his people, whether the principal persons in Ireland, in their conduct upon that head, as well as in the manner of carrying through the whole session, have had the public interest in view, or have been actuated by motives of a less honourable and disinterested nature.
"I will only observe in regard to a Militia, that could a well-digested and safe plan be offered, it must meet with the approbation of His Majesty's servants, who are too intent on the security of Ireland not to see with particular satisfaction every addition which can be made to it: but this, so far from rendering an augmentation of the army unnecessary, makes it a measure of essential utility to the
- ↑ The Habeas Corpus and the Militia Bills.
