establishing intermarriages between protestants and, Roman catholics; but that was negatived by a majority of eight. Although, however, these and some other bills did not receive the royal assent during the viceroyalty of Lord Carlisle, yet they may be considered as measures originating in his administration, as did also some others, such as one for establishing a national bank in Ireland; and they were the last, for an important change. in the councils of England was impending, one that in the event proved equally beneficial to Ire-, land and America. That ill-fated ministry, which had debilitated the resources of the empire, which had lost America, which had added a hundred millions to the national debt, and which had caused the loss of as many thousand lives, was now tottering to its fall, and soon lay prostrate.

A whig administration succeeded, with the Marquis of Rockingham at its head. Every thing now augured favourably for Ireland. A whig viceroy (the Duke of Portland) was appointed, and for his secretary Colonel Fitzpatrick, a gentleman who to very agreeable and excellent talents, added a most firm and manly mind. Though not born in Ireland, he was of truly ancient and illustrious Irish lineage, being descended from the Princess of Ossory*. This circumstance particularly, as

* The well known erudite antiquary Dr. Ledwich says, "the noble representative of the family of Fitzpatrick, the present Earl of Upper Ossory, (brother to Colonel Fitzpatrick,) possesses the advowson of particular churches and a large

well as his general political character, rendered him very acceptable to the people of this country. He preceded the arrival of the Duke of Portland in Ireland a few days, and was the bearer of the following letter to Lord Charlemont from the Marquis of Rockingham, which shall be inserted here, as well one from Charles James Fox, (who was appointed one of the secretaries of state,) as pleasing records of what were the intentions of those statesmen towards Ireland when they accepted of office. They may be read also with pleasure as epistolary compositions. The one from Lord Rockingham to Lord Charlemont was as follows:

"MY DEAR LORD CHARLEMONT,

The long and pleasing friendship which has so mutually and so cordially existed between your lordship and me for many, many years, may now, I trust, facilitate what I am sure has been the object of our public conduct-the mutual advantage and prosperity of both these countries. National distrusts and jealousies will not have the smallest weight on either of our minds.

"The Duke of Portland, being appointed Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, is, I think, my dear lord, a pretty good pledge of the fair intentions

estate in Upper Ossory; patrimonies descended to him through a line of progenitors for more than one thousand years-an instance not perhaps to be paralleled in Europe."

of his majesty's ministers. His grace's character and disposition of mind, as well as the principles on which he has long acted, are well known to your lordship; and I cannot but hope that many advantages will arise from a trust and confidence in his character which may produce the happiest effects both in the commencement and progress of such plans as may be suggested. I can assure your lordship, that his majesty's present ministers will not loiter in a business of such magnitude. This day his majesty sends a message to the house of commons, stating that distrusts and jealousies have arisen in Ireland, and that it is highly necessary to take them into immediate consideration, in order to a final adjustment. The Duke of Portland will set out for Ireland to-morrow evening. His grace is empowered to send the same message to the parliament of Ireland. I should hope that an adjournment of the house of commons in Ireland, for a fortnight or three weeks, in order to give the Duke of Portland the opportunity of inquiring into the opinions of your lordship and of the gentlemen of the first weight and consequence, will be readily assented to. I cannot think that it would be good policy in the house of commons of Ireland to carry on measures, at this juncture, which should appear as measures to extort. In truth, my dear lord, I think the time is come when a new system and new arrangement of connexion between the two kingdoms must be settled to the mutual satisfac

tion and the reciprocal interests of both. Let us unite our endeavours in so good a work. I cannot conclude without expression to your lordship, how anxious I shall be to hear from you. I have the honour, &c. &c.

"Grosvenor Square, Tuesday, P.M. Five O'Clock, April 9, 1782."

"ROCKINGHAM.

"I write in a great hurry, as I expect Col. Fitzpatrick to call for the letter every moment. He sets out from hence."

The letter from Fox contains all that ingenuous frankness and that candid simplicity which so eminently marked his character. It was as follows:

MY DEAR LORD,

“If I had occasion to write to you a month ago, I should have written with great confidence that you would believe me perfectly sincere, and would receive any thing that came from me, with the partiality of an old acquaintance, and one who acted upon the same political principles. I hope you will now consider me in the same ligh but I own I write with much more diffidence, as I am much more sure of your kindness to me personally, than of your inclination to listen with favour to any thing that comes from a secretary of state. The principal business of this letter is to inform you that the Duke of Portland is appointed Lord

Lieutenant of Ireland, and Colonel Fitzpatrick, his secretary. And when I have said this, I need not add, that I feel myself in every private as well as public account, most peculiarly interested in the success of their administration. That their persons and characters are not disagreeable to your lordship, I may venture to assure myself, without being too sanguine, and think myself equally certain, that there are not in the world two men whose general way of thinking upon political subjects, is more exactly consonant to your own. It is not therefore too much to desire and hope, that you will at least look upon the administration of such men, with rather a more favourable eye, and incline to trust them, rather more than you could do most of those who have been their predecessors. Why should not the complete change of system, that has happened in this country have the same effect there that it has here? and why should not those who used to compose the opposition in Ireland, become the principal supporters of the new administration there; on the very grounds on which they opposed the old one? In short, why should not the whigs (I mean in principle, not in name) unite in every part of the empire to establish their principles so firmly that no future faction shall be able to destroy them. With regard to the particular points between the two countries, I am really not yet inaster of them sufficiently to discuss them, but I ean say in general, that the new ministry have no