one can be more unfeignedly, or with more perfect regard than I am, Sir,

Your most obedient and

most humble servant,

BRISTOL.

THE RIGHT HON. RICHARD RIGBY TO MR. PITT.

SIR,

Dublin Castle, December 5, 1759.

As you will receive from my lord-lieutenant, by this packet, a very particular account of a most outrageous attack made upon both houses of parliament by an unruly, barbarous, and drunken mob on Monday last, I shall trouble you with a very short detail, by way of supplement. (1)

(1) On the 3d of December. "There happened," says Walpole, "at this juncture, another point, which alarmed the Irish more than the rumours of invasion: this was a jealousy that an union with England was intended. This union was, indeed, a favourite object with Lord Hillsborough: he had hinted such a wish a year or two before in the parliament of England, and being now in Ireland, let drop expressions of the same tendency. This was no sooner divulged than Dublin was in a flame. The mob grew outrageous, and assembled at the door of the House of Commons. Mr. Rigby went forth, and assured them there was no foundation for their jealousy; but his word they would not take. Ponsonby, the speaker, was at last obliged to go out and pacify them; and Mr. Rigby declared in the House, that if a bill of union was brought in, he would vote against it. The tumult then subsided; but Rigby soon after moving that the lord-lieutenant might, on an emergency,

I have spared no pains to discover the authors and abettors of it, but hitherto my endeavours have been to no purpose. The pretence put into their mouths is, a union with Great Britain, and an abolition of parliaments here. They are of the very lowest and scum of the people; desperate by nature, made more so by drams; and they have shown no regard to persons, or to parties which heretofore subsisted in this country. The being a member of either house of parliament was the crime, and they tendered oaths indiscriminately to all, to swear they were true to their country; and the taking such oaths did not satisfy the more.

The Earl of Inchiquin was one object of their fury in his way to the House of Lords, or rather at his entrance into it. They stripped him of his wig and ribbon, and he escaped in imminent danger of his life. (') Mr. Rowley, who is a privy councillor and a man of great fortune, was dragged the length of a street by them, and narrowly escaped being thrown into the river and drowned. Mr. Morres, a member of parliament and one of

such as on an invasion, summon the parliament to meet, without an intervention of forty days, the former suspicions revived, and a dangerous riot ensued." Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 401.

66

(1)" Lord Inchiquin, who was newly arrived from the country, on purpose to oppose the rumoured union, was insulted. The mob pulled of his perriwig and put the oath to him. He had an impediment in his speech, and stuttering, they cried, Damn you, do you hesitate?' But hearing that his name was O'Bryen, their rage was turned into acclamations.”. - Ib. p. 403.

6

the King's council, was stripped of his very shirt, and beat and bruised. The attorney-general (1) was wounded in his chariot, which he was obliged to quit, and to take refuge in the college. These are but a few of very many instances of the like nature. I have heard that, by their discourses, I have been a principal object of their aversion; but I have never failed going to parliament and from it in my own chariot, and have never met with insult or blow from them, though I have observed unpleasant countenances. (2) In the various reports which you may imagine have been brought to me of this tumult from time to time, the Duke of Bedford's name has never once been mentioned.

After this account, I wish I could pretend to ascribe the true motive of it to you. It certainly may be occasioned by emissaries from France, though I think I should have discovered it, if that had been the cause. The better kind of people, the tradesman and the like, are ashamed and terrified at such proceedings, and are one and all with the parliament, willing and desirous to concur in every means to subdue them. The magistrates have undoubtedly been remiss. The lord mayor is a timorous and weak man. have been at the bar of the House of Commons

(1) Warden Flood, Esq.

He with the sheriffs

(2) Walpole, on the contrary, states, that "their greatest fury was intended against Rigby; for whom they prepared a gallows, and were determined to hang him on it, but fortunately that morning he had gone out of town to ride, and received timely notice not to return."-Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 404.

many hours to-day, and I have told them and the House my opinion in the strongest terms upon this state of things, worse than anarchy; and I must do the House the justice to say they are willing to support me to the utmost.

I hope, Sir, you will hear no more of such shameful misdemeanors ('); and be assured, that all spirit shall be shown in the execution of the laws, if more of them shall happen. I am, with the greatest esteem and regard, Sir,

Your most obliged and

obedient humble servant,

RICHD. RIGBY.

SIR RICHARD LYTTELTON TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

Ealing, December 11, 1759.

THE situation of my health is, indeed, very melancholy and affecting to me; but allow me to say, that the confinement it lays me under, and the

(1) Walpole further states, that "they pulled the bishop of Killala out of his coach, as they did the lord chancellor Bowes, and proceeded to the House of Lords, where they committed the grossest indecencies, placed an old woman on the throne, and sent for pipes and tobacco for her: they next went to the House of Commons, and ordered the clerk to bring them the journals to burn. He obeyed; but, telling them they would destroy the only records of the glorious year 1755, they were contented to restore them."-Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 404.

degree of exclusion from the society and pleasures of the world, is not the part the most affecting to me; but, incapacitated as I am from endeavouring to contribute my mite to the successes of my country, my heart is warmed with them, and overflows with satisfaction when I reflect to whom, under God, we are principally indebted for so wonderful a change as your spirit, wisdom, and magnanimity have wrought in so short an administration.

And give me leave, my dear Sir, without flattery to say, that, confined as I am to my chair, useless to you and to my country, my heart grows proud within me, and feels a secret exultation to receive such assurances of love and friendship from a man so distinguished by the admiration of this kingdom, and of Europe. May your plans for the success of our arms in every part of the globe, and for the prosperity of us and our posterity, continue to be prosperous! May every wish of your heart be fully satisfied! Whatever may be my particular situation, I cannot then be unhappy. The Duchess sends her most affectionate compliments to you and Lady Hester; and we both desire our best acknowledgments for the kind visit. of yesterday. I am ever, my dear Sir, by inclination and by gratitude,

Your most devoted and affectionate,

RICHARD LYTTELTON.