From your knowledge of our army on paper, it seems very questionable whether the disposable reserve of 16,000 regular infantry and 10,000 cavalry are actually efficient rank and file; but, as Lord Cornwallis has confined his request at present for a reinforcement to about 5,000 infantry of the line, independent of the three battalions of the 4th or King's Own regiment of foot, intended to replace the brigade of Guards, it is not necessary to cavil upon this subject, or to further comment. make any Lord Cornwallis most thoroughly coincides with your Lordship in your representation to the Duke of Portland, that, in case of an attack, the Militia and Yeomanry (at least, the latter) might be considered as only applicable to the police of the country and the preservation of our internal communications, and that you have formed a most judicious opinion from the returns of the forces in Ireland that, although the regular and fencible infantry exceed 26,000, yet not more than 20,000 fighting men can be reckoned on: and, with an army so scattered and dispersed over the whole face of this island, it is obvious that, without a considerable reinforcement, there are not troops in this country sufficient to oppose effectually a corps equal to that with which Hoche succeeded in approaching our coasts in the year 1796, and that a fortunate accident alone prevented him from effecting the object of his mission—a descent on this kingdom. From the manner in which Lord Cornwallis has treated the subject, your Lordship will see that generally he has not omitted strongly to touch upon every point to which you have called his attention; and I believe you know it to have been his invariable opinion that it was a visionary and impracticable idea to blockade Brest after the equinox, and during the winter months, and he is glad to find this opinion confirmed by Lord St. Vincent. I had almost omitted to remark that Lord Cornwallis, in his communication to his Grace, makes the outline of his general calculation, as you will perceive, of the reinforcement that he demands, upon a supposition that the enemy's force may rather exceed that which Hoche had with him, amounting to 16,000 soldiers; but, in stating this matter confidentially, he by no means considers it conclusive, or that a much greater additional assistance of troops may not be necessary from various circumstances, of which your Lordship appears to be most properly aware, when you speak of the veteran and experienced French soldiers, in opposition to those of which we are possessed; and when you judiciously observe that this outpost of the Empire cannot be succoured with the same effect in the moment of attack. Your Lordship will see by the tenour of the enclosed letter to the Duke of Portland, as well as what his Excellency has written on the subject himself in his secret despatch, that it will be very desirable that the 21st and 28th Light Dragoons should be sent to Ireland without delay; and, as General Nugent, who is here, states that, from the disorganized situation of the Fencible Cavalry regiments, as well as their diminution in point of strength, it may, perhaps, be proper in your Lordship to press their embarkation. Our tour has hitherto succeeded exceeding well. The LordLieutenant has visited Sir Samuel Hayes and Mr. Hamilton, of Brown Hall, in the County of Donegal, and from thence Lords Belmore1, Rosse2, Enniskillen3, Mr. Wynne, Colonel Robert King, the Bishop of Elphin, and Lord Hartland. His Excellency has been addressed by the corporate bodies of Sligo and Athlone, and by many respectable inhabitants and country gentlemen in Athlone, Roscommon, and their neighbourhoods. Lord Cornwallis, in consequence of the very fine weather which we have had, (with the exception of a moderate rain for about twenty-four hours) has been enabled to see all the military features of the country through which he has passed, and 2 Lawrence, second Earl. Maurice Mahon, first Baron. 1 Somerset, second Earl. 3 William Willoughby, first Earl. examined most accurately some particular positions. He has also minutely inspected the several corps of infantry of all descriptions in the various places where they have been stationed in his journey to this town. I have the honour to be, &c., E. B. LITTLEHALES. PS.-The country is invariably reported to be in a state of tranquillity. Private. Sir J. C. Hippisley to Lord Castlereagh. Brighton, September 10, 1800. My dear Lord-Upon receiving your Lordship's letter of the 30th ult., I hastened to complete the summary, which the Duke of Portland some time since had requested me to transmit to him. It goes by this post, and I must beg your Lordship's acceptance of a copy. I have furnished the Duke with an extra copy, also requesting his Grace to put it into the hand of Mr. Pitt, if he арproves it, as the Speaker and Mr. Pitt had had some conversation on the measures I took the liberty to suggest with respect to the regular Clergy of the Roman Catholic Communion. In a late conversation with my friend Pelham, he told me this: "He has no fears about a direct communication with the Popish Government, and that he was convinced that the Catholic Clergy of Ireland could not be well governed without some negociation with the See of Rome." To the same effect I think also was your Lordship's opinion, when I had the honour to converse with you on this subject in town. I can only repeat that it would afford me infinite satisfaction if Government, at any time, should command my humble services in a line in which I flatter myself I may be able, from my long established habits, to be of some use. I am very far from wishing an established appointment at Rome; it would not suit me, but I own I should feel mortified if, after many years' devotion to this subject, my labours were superseded by the appointment of a negociator ad hoc, who probably would be less qualified with respect to personal influence, to reap the credit which I had with so much pains laid the foundation of. I am persuaded that your Lordship will enter into my feelings on this subject. My situation in life puts me beyond the want or wish of pecuniary advantages to be derived from such an occupation; yet I feel a great satisfaction in concluding, under the auspices of Government, those arrangements which in substance few question but are called for by the exigency of the subject and the times. At all times, I shall be happy to be honoured with your Lordship's commands, and consider me highly fortunate if any communication within my information can in the least tend to assist your Lordship in this black letter part of the great work you have already carried to so desirable a length, and which must ever fix your Lordship's character as a statesman, and justly entitle you to the best thanks of the United Kingdoms. Indeed, my Lord, you may truly exclaim, in a better sense than the poet, Exegi monumentum, &c. Your Lordship will observe some doubts with respect to the operation of the English Statute, 13 Elizabeth, ch. 2, upon which so much turns agreeably to Lord Coke's construction, 4 Inst., 351, Ireland appears to be bound by this Statute, as "generally included agreeably to the distinction of Poyning's Law." I do not know whether the operation of those general words are done away by any subsequent Statute, or in the least invalidated.1 I have the honour to be, &c., J. C. HIPPISLEY. This place must abound with your Lordship's acquaintance and friends. I trust it may tempt you to a visit. 1 I presume this must depend on the enumeration of Acts containing the Act of the 23rd of the King, which your Lordship must be familiar with, as I have no present access to it. (Note by Sir J. C. Hippisley.) Mr. Marsden to Lord Castlereagh. Dublin, September 10, 1800. My Lord, I have still to give your Lordship a favourable report of how we are going on here. There is, I am aware, much need of vigilance and apprehension on the part of Government; but, most certainly, very little appears at present to excite immediate alarm. Dublin is tranquil, and the accounts from all parts of the country (except the nonsense of Limerick) are favourable. Since your Lordship left this, I have looked more particularly to the County of Down, and I do not think that the mischief there has increased. Mr. Hall, the Sheriff, has been in town, and I have seen him and some others several times. His object was to have a member of his corps of Yeomanry, an officer, apprehended for offences committed in the year 1797. I have sent the informations to General Drummond, and desired that he should detain by his warrant the persons whom Mr. Hall should find it necessary to apprehend. The Lord-Lieutenant is at Mount Shannon, and will be in town on Saturday. The two new Boards are going on with business. The Navigation Commissioners will give great satisfaction. Captain Bligh and Sir Thomas Page are both at work. But six claims have been presented to the other Board, and of these, they tell me, only one merits serious attention. Your Lordship's, &c., A. MARSDEN. Sir J. C. Hippisley to Lord Castlereagh. Brighton, September 11, 1800. My dear Lord-Since I had the honour of transmitting to your Lordship by yesterday's post the copy of the Summary of Correspondence which I prepared at the order of the Duke of Portland, I have been endeavouring to recollect the circumstances attending the declaratory Statute of 23 George III., c. 28, which English Statute, I conceive, (though I have no |