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HISTORY OF IRELAND.

CHAPTER IV.

Administration of the DUKE of BEDFORD.

1806.

ture of the

ministration.

THE change of administration, great as it was in the upper departments of government, was not attended with the impressive effects, which it was General nanaturally calculated to produce upon the Irish Bedford adpublic. Although Mr. Fox's impassioned wish for peace had induced him to accept of that official department, which would most immediately supply him with the means of procuring it, yet was it the first policy of his colleagues to usher in their administration with some overt and important acts of Mr. Fox, in order to procure a credit from the Irish, that the future system of government was to be modelled exclusively upon the enlarged policy and immutable principles of that enlightened

1806. patriot. The importance of Ireland in the vacil

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lating state of the British Empire supereminently called for his genuine advice. No radical change of system could be expected with any rational confidence either from Lord Grenville or Lord Sidmouth. His first concern was to place the government of that misguided and abused part of the United Kingdom in the hands of a man, whose liberality, honor and integrity would render him equally impervious to the overbearing mandates of British predominancy, and the insidious manœuvres of Castle intrigue. The honor, patronage, and emoluments of the Irish Viceroyalty had many competitors. The very solicitation of the office was an objection to that immaculate Statesman's granting it. Sensible, that the reform of abuses could now only proceed from the Imperial seat of government, his first concern was, to fill the important station with a man, who he personally. confided, would neither continue, nor encrease abuse. When the offer was first made to the Duke of Bedford, he resolutely declined it. Mr. Fox, whose wisdom and integrity had their due sway upon his Grace's mind, was driven to entreaty and personal supplication, before he could be induced, even conditionally, to accept of the charge. In making such a sacrifice of every personal feeling and consideration to the wishes of Mr. Fox, whose opinion he had ever made the rule of his political conduct, his Grace coupled it with a condition well suited to his pure and exalted mind. He submitted to the onerous charge,

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provided his friend would ease him of the responsibility of dispensing the grace and patronage of the government, amongst those, to whose merits he was a stranger, and suggest appropriate measures for the welfare of the Irish people, whose interests and felicity he wished to promote, profess ing at the same time his ignorance of the immes diate means of securing them. Assuming with well founded confidence, that Mr. Fox's intuitive knowledge of, and cordial affection for the constitution, would ensure his sincerest efforts in favor of Ireland, he assumed the government upon the avowed mission of effectuating the benevolent views of that enlightened and humane Statesman. The unsuspicious candor of Mr. Fox, was the only political defect (if that amiable quality can be called defect) in his character. He put no reserve upon the sincerity of others, as he felt no check upon his own. He knew not how to diffide in the words or actions of those, who coalesced with him. He gave them unqualified, credit for principle, by which he invariably shaped his own conduct. Under these impressions, he deputed that confidential discretion, in which the Duke of Bedford had accepted of the viceregal charge to some of his colleagues, who might properly be called a British committee for managing the affairs, interests, and patronage of Ireland. imitative sympathy, his Grace acted under that deputation, as the faithful organ of Mr. Fox's sentiments and feelings. Mr. Fox laboured exclusively for the attainment of peace, which he considered the

With

1806.

1506.

the Bedford

tion.

necessary forerunner of reform, and other projected benefits to his country. But the impaired state of his health slackened his exertions even as foreign minister.

First acts of After the arrangements of the new ministry had administra- been finally settled, the only act of government in Ireland, that was traceable to the personal influence of Mr. Fox, was the instant removal of Lord Redesdale from the chancery bench. It was an inchoate act of justice to the great body of the Irish population, to put an early and unequivocal mark of reprobation on the man, who had calumniated and insulted them with an ignorant and malignant bigotry, which has not been exhibited on any European theatre for centuries. This was emphatically the act of Mr. Fox; and unhappily for Ireland, the only one of the Bedford administration, which emanated purely from his spirit and principle. Had the long habits of friendship and sympathies of Lord Grenville and Lord Sidmouth prevailed, even in this solitary instance over: the stern virtue of Mr. Fox, it is likely, that the great seal of Ireland would have been at this hour in the hands of that weak and mischievous religious agitator. The necessary consequence of the Whig preponderancy in the cabinet in this matter, was the appointment of Mr. Ponsonby to succeed Lord Redesdale on the chancery bench. His long tried services in the cause of Ireland, and his powerful, though unsuccessful, exertions in opposing the systém, naturally transfused through the whole Catholic body the confident expectation of an im

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