Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAP.
L.

Earl Fitz-
William
Viceroy,

A.D. 1795.

Declares

The Lord Chancellor had to curb his antipathy to a liberal statesman when January 4, 1795, beheld Earl Fitzwilliam Viceroy of Ireland. The Protestant dissenters and Roman Catholics welcomed him with addresses, and his replies to these documents stated: "In the faithful discharge of my duty to his Majesty, it shall be my study to call to my councils those who are distinguished and his policy. known for their wisdom, their integrity, and their talents, and who possess the confidence of his Majesty's people. Assisted by their advice, and availing myself of their support, I trust I shall be able to promote the first wishes of his Majesty's heart, by securing the full and cordial union of all his subjects, as the surest means of securing their happiness.'

Opens Parliament,

A.D. 1795.

The Lord

Chancellor opposes

the policy

of the Viceroy.

The speech from the throne at the opening of the Irish Parliament on January 22, 1795,' was to the same import, 'He hoped that Parliament would order everything in the manner best adapted to the occasions of the several orders of men who composed his Majesty's subjects in Ireland.'

The policy of the Lord Lieutenant, unfortunately, was not relished by the Lord Chancellor. The party with whom the latter acted knew, that if the Roman Catholic Relief Bill passed, not only was their power at an end, but those valuable offices, including that of Lord High Chancellor,2 would in time be filled by members of the Catholic creed. Lord Fitzwilliam urged the measure in the Cabinet, and arrangements were in progress to forward the Catholic Relief Act when that clique, as Mr. Burke called them, who kept Ireland divided into two hostile camps, proceeded to London to thwart the liberal and conciliatory measure

1794, offering a reward of One thousand Pounds for the apprehension of Archibald Hamilton Rowan, with a full description of his appearance, which was very remarkable. The two boatmen, named Sheridan and Murray, no sooner Fidelity of read it than their glances denoted their suspicions to the fugitive. "You are

the boat

men.

right, boys," he said, "undoubtedly I am Hamilton Rowan, but you are Irishmen." "Never fear," was the hearty reply; "by we'll take you safe." I think Sterne's recording angel blotted out the oath, and I hope these brave men prospered.'

Lords' Jour. Ir. 1795.

2 Grattan's Life, vol. iv. p. 194.

CHAP.

L.

results of Opposition.

of the Viceroy. They were powerful, and had influence to pour their tale into the ears of the King. They alarmed him on the score of religion; they represented that concession to the Catholics would injure the Protestant interest, used the old cry the Church in danger' for party purposes and selfish ends. I give the result in the words of Mr. Grattan: Mr. Pitt abandoned his principles, his promises, and his professions. He first deceived, then he recalled Lord Fitzwilliam, and committed the Deplorable basest breach of public faith that had occurred since the days of Lord Strafford, and not very dissimilar from it. By so doing, he gave the country over to the United Irishmen, and prepared the way for the Insurrection and the Union. His measures were fatal for British character, and the Irish people henceforth lost all confidence in the British Government.' The recall of Lord Fitzwilliam was deeply resented by that nobleman. He says, in a letter to Mr. Grattan, 'I yesterday called upon Ministers to name their day to make good their charges. Their act was in itself an indictment-it was their duty to proceed with the evidence. They declined, upon the general ground that the removal of a King's servant was not a ground for public discussion; nor was it of necessity that there should be blame anywhere. I inforced my claim, and was backed by Lord Moira, and the Duke of Norfolk.'2

Recall of

Earl Fitz

william.

Arrival of

Camden as

Viceroy.

The arrival of Lord Camden as successor of Earl Fitzwilliam, was attended with insurrection and outrage; Lord and those who were suspected of having caused the removal of the popular Viceroy, became objects of popular vengeance. As may have been anticipated, one of the first marked out for attack, was the Lord Chancellor; and Unpopulahis life nearly paid the penalty for the share it was be- the Lord lieved he had in Lord Fitzwilliam's recall. He received Chancela blow from a stone on the forehead, which, had it been His life thrown with more force, would have killed him. The in- in danger, furiated mob attacked his house; and, had they effected an entrance, and seized him, assuredly they would have

[blocks in formation]

lor.

L.

Saved by his sister.

CHAP. put him to death. Their efforts were baffled by the courage and address of his sister, Mrs. Jeffries, of Blarney Castle, a very remarkable and talented woman. She mingled with the crowd, and, as she was personally unknown to any one, induced them to seek their victim elsewhere. She gave them to understand she knew the place of his concealment, and succeeded in misleading them. Disappointed of their object, they then attacked the Custom House, where Mr. Beresford, First Commissioner of the Revenue, resided.'

Character of Lord Camden.

Yeomanry called out.

[ocr errors]

This was an unfortunate commencement for the Viceroyalty of Lord Camden, a high-minded and amiable nobleman, whose character is thus described: His principles were good, but his talent was not eminent; he intended right, but was led wrong; he wished to govern with moderation, but was driven by his Council into most violent proceedings; to the arrogant dictum of Lord Clare he had not a power of resistance; and he yielded to cruelties that his mind must have revolted at."2

By the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the yeomanry was embodied, and other measures of a decisive character to suppress the insurrection, which extensively prevailed, were taken, by which the well-affected became secured. The insurrection speedily extended, and was instantly checked. The misguided prisoners were treated with extreme severity. The conduct of the Chancellor has been thus eulogised:-Nor was it long before he had reason to Rebellion perceive that his measures produced the desired effect. stamped The disaffected were everywhere panic-stricken; the invading force became prisoners of war.'

out.

Visitation

College,

Dublin,

In 1798 the Lord Chancellor, as Vice-Chancellor of the in Trinity University of Dublin, held a visitation, having Dr. Duigenan as his assessor. When seated at the upper end of the dining-hall with the Provost, Senior and Junior Fellows, and Scholars, grouped around, the body of the hall was thronged with graduates and undergraduates, and the

1798.

1 Barrington's Irish Nation, p. 347.

2 Ibid. p. 349.

L.

of the

officers and porters. Amidst breathless silence the Vice- CHAP. Chancellor explained the object of the visitation. He said the reports prevalent about the state of the Univer- The Chansity induced the visitors to enquire whether the disaffec- cellor explains tion imputed to the College was founded in reality, or was the object a mere rumour or surmise. His duty, having the high visitation. office of superintending the conduct and promoting the welfare of that college, indispensably required him to investigate and suppress any serious disorders. He found great probability had been given to the reports in circulation by a rebellious publication of the independent scholars and students of the University; and it behoved all who heard him to acquit themselves of any concern therein. Such members as acted with want of candour, and refused to exonerate themselves from the treasonable charge made against the University, and which the abominable paper he held in his hand so much warranted, he was determined to remove. In one of those secret societies, the formation of which he knew of in the College, a system of assassination had been recommended, and a proposal made to collect arms. He concluded by declaring his determination to punish severely the encouragers of treason and sedition, and more especially the miscreant authors of that wicked paper, which was not only thrown into every letter-box in College, but was flung at his own head, in his own house, by way of menace and defiance.'

The roll was then called, and as the examination pro- The roll ceeded the interest increased. Each person when called called. was sworn to discover all matters as to which he should be questioned. There was nothing worthy of note until Dr. Browne, one of the senior fellows, a member of the board, and Member for the College in Parliament, was examined. He had dissented from the sentence of expulsion of two students, of whom it was deemed necessary to make an example to prevent disaffection spreading among the students. He admitted that he had gone from the Dublin Univ. Mag. vol. xxvii. p. 552, Q

VOL. II.

CHAP.
L.

Dr. Stokes.

board into the college court, and there declared the vote he had given. The Vice-Chancellor declared such conduct was highly reprehensible; that it promoted a spirit of insubordination and discontent among the students; and, if the board thought proper to expel him for such conduct, he would have confirmed the expulsion.

Dr. Stokes, then a junior fellow, came next. The ViceChancellor evidently expected some considerable disclosure from him. He asked him in an emphatic manner if he knew of united societies existing in the College, and appeared much surprised when the short monosyllable, 'No,' was the decisive reply. He was then asked if he knew anything of the authorship of the paper which Lord Clare showed him—again he replied in the negative. He was then asked if he knew anything of secret or illegal societies in the College. To this he replied he did, and then the Vice-Chancellor, with a gleam of satisfaction lighting up his pale intellectual countenance, bade him declare all he knew.

[ocr errors]

The only societies of that description which I am aware of,' he answered, are Orange Societies, and I know some members of them.'

Never was a man more taken aback than the Earl of Clare; he started, and his face grew red with passion at this unexpected reply. He then proceeded to get Dr. Stokes to account for his connection with politics, which he did with perfect candour. He stated that he had been a member of the Society of United Irishmen before 1792, when their objects were perfectly legitimate, but since that time he was entirely unconnected with them. He had attended in his professional capacity a sick man. who was suspected of being implicated in treasonable measures. When the French invasion was reported, he went amongst the Roman Catholic population of Dublin, exhorting them to take up arms against the common foe. This, my Lord,' he said, in a tone of offended dignity that won sympathy from every high-spirited gentleman present, this was not the conduct of a disaffected man,

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »