the son of the Chancellor, who was already favorably known in Ireland, and whose sister was the mother of Lord Castlereagh. Mr. Pelham, who had been already for a short time Secretary under Lord Northington, was prevailed on to resume duties which had already made him acquainted with the leaders of the Irish Parliament. The line to be followed by the new Government was indicated in the following instructions:

"The circumstances are so peculiar," the Duke of Portland wrote to Camden, "that I must inform you of the reasons why Lord Fitzwilliam was appointed, and why you are to succeed him. As to the Catholic question, it was understood that Lord Fitzwilliam was to prevent it being agitated at all. If he failed he was to use his diligence in collecting the opinions and sentiments of all descriptions of persons, and transmit them for the information of his majesty. Things are no longer in the same state, but our general directions to you are the same. You cannot prevent the discussion, nor should I advise you, even

if

you have the power, to negative the first reading of Mr. Grattan's Bill. The most desirable means by which it can be stopped are those which will be most likely to convince the better and more reasonable part of the inhabitants of Ireland that in the present state of the country the measure only gives them the choice of evils. Either the proposed concession will create in the Catholics a power and influence which will place them above control, or if, as the friends of the measure contend, it will prove incapable of affecting the civil and ecclesiastical establishments, it will leave the Catholics in the state which makes the groundwork of their present complaints.

"You will find great firmness necessary to rally the friends of the Protestant interest, and give them courage to meet the question fairly. The divisions. among themselves, the opinions which cannot but have prevailed too generally of the favorable disposition of Government to the Catholic pretensions, must all have tended to dispirit and enervate the Protestants in general. You must, therefore, hold a firm and decided language from the first moment of your landing in Ireland, and take upon yourself to give the tone in which this business shall be talked of by the supporters of Government. Unless it shall be made evident by your Lordship that there is no difference whatever between you and the King's servants on this occasion, and that it is your joint and deliberate opinion that a stand should be made if possible against the further claims of the Catholics, it will be in vain for us to look for any exertion or even for a fair, unbiassed, and impartial opinion from any individual Protestant. . . . When you have distinctly explained to such gentlemen as you may send to for that purpose the designs and wishes of the Government, you may then require their sentiments on the subject of resistance, and you may state to them that the further steps to be taken must depend upon them; that resistance will be ineffectual unless carried on by the hearty coöperation of the Protestants; that it is for their interests you are contending; that provided the * great body of the Protestants will exert themselves in the contest, you are authorized to give them the most decided and unreserved support, and make every exertion they can desire to prevent the admission of the Catholics to seats in the Legislature.

"At the same time you will satisfy the Catholics

of the liberal and conciliatory disposition entertained towards them, to give them the benefit of the concessions of '93, so far as their conduct shall render it practicable. You will do this in the best way you can. Of measures likely to improve the condition and satisfy the minds of the Catholics, without endangering the Protestant Establishment, I submit the following, which were the subjects of conversation with Lord Fitzwilliam before he went to Ireland: - The establishment of seminaries for the education of Catholic priests; the making some provision for the Catholic parochial clergy. If any mode should occur to you for facilitating the education of the lower ranks of Catholics, to put them on a par with Protestants, you may be sure of the countenance and support of the English Government. . . . I recommend these measures. . . . Should, however, your endeavors prove unsuccessful, and should you become convinced that resistance would be dangerous or ineffectual, even in that case you will not suffer the measure to proceed till you have represented to us the state of the country and the disposition of men's minds, and till you receive further instructions from home.

"As Lord Fitzwilliam's retirement may be attributed in part to the distribution of official situations, I must not pass over that subject in silence. We wished to unite all parties in support of Lord Fitzwilliam; we wish to do the same in support of yourself. But I mean to be understood. The supporters of Government must do what they profess, and not be suffered to avail themselves of their supposed connection with Government to bring forward measures which have not the avowed sanction of your Lordship.

"One caution more. dence. Those who fancied they were about to be sacrificed will assume airs of exultation and triumph little suited to conciliate those who have been stopped in the career which they had just entered; and the disappointment of the latter may be productive of great ill-humor and some violence. Moderate, soothe, conciliate these jarring spirits. We have great confidence in your judgment, firmness, and discretion." 1

You will need all your pru

1 "Instructions to Lord Camden, March 10, 1795." —S. P. O.

SECTION V.

PELHAM was dispatched first to prepare the way for Camden. At Holyhead he met Lord Milton, who refused to see him. From gentlemen who had crossed in the same packet he learnt that Fitzwilliam "was unwell and much agitated," and that public opinion in Dublin, though not in favor of the Catholics, was "against the Beresfords." In the objection to the replacement of John Beresford at the head of the Board of Revenue, Pelham himself sympathized.1

On landing in Dublin he sent a polite note to Fitzwilliam, who declined, however, all communication with him, and sailed the next day. The people drew the carriage of the departing Viceroy through the streets to the water-side. The shops were closed. The houses were hung with mourning. Before his departure Fitzwilliam published his own defence in the shape of two letters to Lord Carlisle, in which he

1 He explained his reasons in a note written from Holyhead to the Duke of Portland:

"If it should take that turn, and sacrifices are necessary, Pitt must submit to Beresford's removal. I am sorry to say it, but I must, on such a critical occasion, express my feeling that Pitt seems more animated about men on this occasion than he ought to be. I was by no means satisfied with his conduct about Beresford when I met him at his house with Lord Camden. I cannot boldly defend a job, even in Ireland. The peace of Ireland is too great a stake to set against the interest of any clique. If once the notion of a trick is entertained, our task will be a difficult one, for nothing so excites discontent, and so soon drives the common people into acts of violence and despair, as the notion of having been imposed upon."—"Pelham to the Duke of Portland, March 22, 1795." — S. P. O.