I should be glad to know your sentiments. You will easily perceive how necessary it is that all this be kept secret. I thought it requisite to give you early notice of my intention, that you might take your measures accordingly: mine must be regulated according as things go in parliament, of which there is no being sure till the session is over. There is a spirit of ignorance and malice reigning here beyond conception. Be always assured of my friendship.
“William R.”
In the above gracious letter the king says, “Nothing has passed about you.” Lord Galway was personally respected and much liked by all parties. The Jacobites, because he was not a Jacobite, called him a Whig; but he was an Orange Whig only, and had neither the tone nor temper of a partizan in the politics of his adopted country. The Duke of Ormond (the grandson of the Duke who had favoured the refugees) disliked foreign Protestants in general and Lord Galway in particular; and he may have misinformed the French ambassador as to the feeling of the country towards his Excellency, the acting Lord-Justice of Ireland.
The king’s bountiful intention towards the refugee regiments was soon knocked on the head. The Commons of England, on the 24th of February, voted £34,813, 5s. to clear the arrears due to Lord Galway’s Horse and the other French regiments, “which are to be disbanded.”[1]
Being in the meantime unmolested, Lord Galway remained in Ireland. In the month of May, Count Tallard thought that an opportunity for removing him had arrived. The Marquis of Winchester, through the death of his father, was now Duke of Bolton, and had come over to England to arrange his family affairs. The speculation was that he would not go back to Dublin, and that Lord Galway would be superseded by a Lord-Lieutenant. Luttrell states, under date May 31, “The Duke of Bolton, having given his Majesty an account of the affairs of Ireland, was graciously received, and some talk of his being made Lord Chamberlain.” All these guesses were wrong, as there was no intention of superseding Lord Galway. Mr. Vernon wrote to the Duke of Shrewsbury on the 6th June:— “I believe the Duke of Bolton does not think of going into Ireland till towards next spring. He intends his duchess shall come over and meet him in Yorkshire in August. I think he is in good humour, and willing to do right both to my Lord Galway and Mr. Methuen.”
The acting members of the Viceregal Board were re-gazetted, the Earl of Berkeley being added to their number, as appears from the following most interesting letter from the king to the Earl of Galway:—
“Kensington, (June 1) 11, 1699.
“I have not written to you all this winter, by reason of my vexation at what passed in parliament, and because of the uncertainty I was under to know what to send you. It is not possible to be more sensibly touched than I am at my not being able to do more for the poor refugee officers who have served me with so much zeal and fidelity. I am afraid the good God will punish the ingratitude of this nation.
“I could hardly get the estimates of Ireland passed, as they will be sent to you. There are retrenchments which I was forced to make, though I like them not; and doubtless some of them must be changed. The Duke of Bolton seems pleased with you, but not with the chancellor (Methuen). I have this day despatched a new commission for the Lords Justices of Ireland, by joining with the Duke of Bolton and you the Earl of Berkeley, who is an easy man, and will be agreeable to you.
“I am perfectly satisfied with your conduct; and I hope now you will be left undisturbed, since in the last parliament nothing was said of you, though you were much threatened. I fear the Commission given here by the Commons for the inspection of the forfeitures will give you a great deal of trouble, and me no less, next winter. Assuredly on all sides my patience is put to the test. I am going to breathe a little beyond sea, in order to come back as soon as possible. I think it for my service to change the commission of the treasury in Ireland, where I believe the revenue is not well managed, on which it is necessary that you let me know your sentiments immediately. The estimates of the next year must absolutely be reduced, that my ordinary revenue may serve to pay it; and a parliament in Ireland must not be thought of so soon. This you ought instantly to consider, and take your measures for the future. Be always assured of my friendship.
“William R.”
Lord Galway had remained at his post, with the Archbishop of Dublin as a tenv porary coadjutor. In July Lord Berkeley arrived. He was the second carl of his family; his wife was a daughter of Baptist, second Viscount Campden, and half, sister of the first Earl of Gainsborough; his son, James Berkeley, Viscount Dursley, was a distinguished admiral. The Irish Privy Council met forthwith, when the new
- ↑ Some of these arrears were of old standing, as appears from the following extract:— “Saturday, 28 Nov. 1696, a petition of the troopers of the Rt. Hon. the Lord Galwaye’s regiment of Horse was presented to the House, and read, relating to their Irish arrears.” — Journals of the [English] House of Commons.
