1758. it is possible to do in writing, and shall refer you for an answer to the latter part of your letter to a separate one of mine, which will be brought you by Captain Cowley. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO THE LORD PRIMATE OF (Separate.) IRELAND. Woburn Abbey, August 31. 1758. Your Grace having in your letter of the 15th instant expressed so warm a desire that the Earl of Belvedere's request to the Lords Justices of being appointed a joint governor of the county of Westmeath with the Earl of Westmeath might be complied with, and having likewise informed me of your Grace's answer to this request, "that you would not in the case of your nearest friend depart from the engagement you was under to me, of not making any alteration in the situation of things in Ireland, especially in county matters, except where vacancies were necessarily to be filled up," I think myself obliged to acknowledge your Grace's candour, and strictness to your engagements, in this answer, and likewise to give you my reasons why I do not think it proper that their Excellencies the Lords Justices should join the Earl of Belvedere in the commission as a joint governor of the county with the Earl of Westmeath. In the first place, it has never been usual, when a peer has been governor of a county to add another in the commission; and the only instances at present of a peer being jointly in commission with another person are in the county Donegal, where Lord Viscount Conyngham and Sir Ralph Gore are joint governors, and the Queen's county, where Lord Knapton has two others in the commission with him; but these were, as I conceive, done before either of those lords were created peers. I must likewise observe, that should I give way to the pretensions set forth by the Earl of Belvedere, of his having a larger property in the county than the Earl of Westmeath has, and thereby having a right to claim a share of that power which Government has already entrusted with him, I fear I should lay myself and the Lords Justices open to such solicitations as must inevitably bring on much confusion and disagreement; and I very much apprehend that even in the county of Kilkenny, where the Lords Justices have appointed so proper a governor, and one so much to my own liking, I should have this argument of Lord Belvedere's made use of on my next return to Ireland for adding another person to the government of that county. And I must likewise beg leave to put your Grace in mind that just upon my departure from Ireland, application having been made to me to add two gentlemen, very good and entire friends of mine, to the gentleman who is at present governor of the county of Leitrim, I did, on your Grace's desire, who I believe very justly thought a step of 1758. 1758. this kind might, at that juncture, savour of partiality to one set of men, desist from doing it, and persuaded those gentlemen to decline what they then had a right to insist on from me. The Earl of Belvedere is pleased to say that the appointment of the Earl of Westmeath by the late Lords Justices, under the Duke of Devonshire was partial, and an act of marked unkindness to him, not recollecting, as I presume, that in that very administration he was created an earl of Ireland. I shall take very little notice of the mention made of the recent conversion from Popery of the Earl of Westmeath making the preference given to him still more irk some; and as my predecessor, I am convinced, believed as I do that it was a sincere one, I think this mark of confidence which he was pleased to give one of so old and noble a family a very well-judged measure, and I can by no means think of depreciating that favour which Government had before so properly given. I must moreover observe to your Grace, that in a conversation I had with Lord Belvedere in relation to the county of Westmeath in particular, and to the internal policy of Ireland in general, I found myself taxed with partiality in the nomination of sheriffs, and a thorough dislike in his lordship to a great many gentlemen who had behaved in regard to Government in a proper and respectful manner, but whom he declared to me he looked upon as his political enemies. This, and his application to the Lords Justices without any previous communication to me, must necessarily make me apprehensive that I am not so much in favour with his lordship as I really wish to be, which I am sure your Grace is sensible that could I obtain it upon any reasonable terms I should most gladly embrace them. I will trouble your Grace no longer, but to request your mediation with his lordship that my refusal of this his request may not be construed as personal to him, but founded solely upon the reason above mentioned; and that I shall be glad of having proper opportunities of convincing him how much I desire his friendship and assistance towards carrying on the King's business in Ireland. 1758. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO MR. PITT. (Private and secret.) Sir, Woburn Abbey, September 2. 1758. * I am just now honoured with your private and secret despatch, and I think myself much obliged to you for the early communication you have been pleased to give me, of a measure which so nearly concerns his Majesty's subjects in Ireland. The exporting provisions, next to the linen manufacture, is the staple commodity of that kingdom, and should never be embargoed but on the most weighty occasions, which I can make no doubt is * An embargo on all ships in Ireland laden with beef and pork. September 4. 1758. obliged to your Grace for very sensible correspondence as you have been kind enough to communicate to me, and which I found here on my return from Mistley last night. I was at court to-day; had kisses both from the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt of congratulation upon the great event of the King of Prussia's victory*, of which no second account is yet arrived. Mr. Pitt never mentioned to me the having received your Grace's letter, though Lord Holdernesse told me he had seen it; from whence I conjecture it is not yet determined if they shall take any or what number of troops from Ireland. But of this I meant to send your Grace advice by to-morrow night's post; by which I possibly may hear if any thing should be determined amongst them. And I only now write * Battle of Zorndorf; gained by the King of Prussia over the Russians. |