The Sun.
London, England, 1829-05-05 00:00:00

cution. This opinion is confirmed by the Attorney •
and Solicitor-Generals; and there, I conceive, ends
the question."
On July 26,- I wrote to the same gentleman to
inform him that "Mr. O'Connell has asked for an
audience, ostensibly to engage me to send a commis-
sion of inquiry for a case of murder, committed by a
rencontre of Orangemen and Catholics on the 12th.
I give you the information in advance, as I am
aware this circumstance will be commented upon.
You will, I am sure, appreciate the motives that
engage me to revert again to the great question.
Few, even of the Orangemen, dispute the necessity
of an adjustment. I conjure yon to take the state
of Ireland into cansideration before the meeting of
Parliament."

If Dr. Curtis actually sent off that letter by that !
day's post, it could not have reached his Majesty's 1
Government till the 28th of December. On the;
28th December, however, the Noble Duke's letter
is dated, by which I was recalledfrom Ireland. I
presume that intention could not be first formed, on
the 28th. I have ascertained that thiNolile'Diike
did not see his Majesty on that day; and as 4414'1
absolutely necessary that his Majesty's sanction
should be obtained to a measure of that nature, I
presume that my letter to Dr. Curtis could not pos-
sibly
have occasioned my recal. Neither could it
have been occasioned by the course of policy I pur-
sued; for the policy I pursued was the same as that
of his Majesty's Ministers, though some uneasiness
might perhaps be felt at the inconvenient zeal with
which I pressed the adoption of that policy which
they have since so happily adopted.--(Hear, hear.)
I pressed on -their attention certainly the conse-
quences of that question they have since had the
good fortune to carry. My recal, therefore, was not
the consequence of the policy I pursued. Your
Lordships will find there was another cause, and to
that I shall now come. My recal took place- in con•
sequence of another circumstance, as it was an-
nounced to me on the part of the Noble Duke in a
letter dated the 11th of November, which ended our
correspondence, except my letter to him, dated No-
vember 14. I have received from the highest au-
thority permission to read these papers ; and I think
it necessary to state this for my justification. On
my applying to that High Person, with a magna-
nimity peculiar to himself, his Majesty—whose name
is necessarily mentioned here--declared that he
would waive all personal feeliNg, for the public
knew his sentiments. The letter from the Duke of
Wellington to me was dated November 11, and is '
as follows:—
(Copy.) "London, Nov. 11, 1829.

On the 27th I wrote—" O'Connell came to me
this morning, and our interview took place in the
presence of Lord Forbes. The object was what I
have already stated."
On the 29th, I stated—" As I foresaw, the in-
terview I granted Mr. O'Connell has been the sub-
ject of much vituperation."
On July 31st, I also wrote as follows :—" I
know the country to be in a very disturbed state.
I can do nothing more than I have done. I think
if the first moment of calm is not seized to declare
for an adjustment, the Government must expect
very serious disturbances. On the Duke of Wel-
lington's intentions my own course must depend. I
will exert myself to keep the country quiet, and
put down rebellion under any circumstances; but I
will not consent to govern this country much longer
under the existing laws."
On September Bth, I wrote again :—" It seems
agreed on all sides, that the public, feeling was never
at so high a pitch of excitement as at present. The
language of both parties is violent in the extreme,
and both appear ripe for action. The organization
of the Catholics is very complete. They carry ban-
ners. They form and they march by the word of
command, and in good order, but they commit no
outrage, and I discourage interference or display
both of the military and the constabulary. The
carrying party flags is illegal. Put them down,
and what do you gain by it ! The law will be obey-
ed. The flags will disappear ; but the Meetings,
the great mischief of all, will continue, and in sup-
pressing the minor evil, you will increase irritation
and bad feelings for the laws. The speakers con-
tinue to be inflammatory. Expressions might pos-
sibly be noted that would admit of prosecution, but
in general the language is nicely measured, and so
equivocal as to admit of an explanation that might
be strained into an excess of loyalty, and a nervous
warning to the state of the danger to which it is
exposed. I have yet heard of nothing that might
lead to a favourable verdict." I make use of the
terms Brunswiekers and Agitators, but I beg to be
understood as not intending to give offence to any
person.—(The Noble Marquis then continued to
read an extract from the same letter.)—" The
Brunswickers are rivalling the Association in vio-
lence and ill rent. Two Assoc:,itions and two Rents
are rather formidable.
" The Brunswick establishment is 7101 very Vat-
ti i ng to the King or to his Ministers, or to ihe army,
since i; (leen-is it necessary to take the whole u,"der
its special protection. This is a most distre.,•sing
state of things, and I defy any one to pronounce
tipon the result—hut this I know, that things must

,4 Ma- DEAR LORD ANGLESEA,—I have been very much
disappointed by the decision to which you had come, not
to take any steps to remove Mr. O'Gorman Mahon and
Mr. Steele from the Commission of the Peace of the
county of Clare; or from that of any other county in
which those gentlemen may be Justices of the Peace,
" They both appeared in Ennis, on a day in which a
riot was expected, and preparations were made by the
High Sheriff and by other Magistrates to prevent it, or to
mitigate its evil consequences, decorated with green ribands,
known to be the insignia of an order established by the
Roman Catholic Association, and followed by a mob. Mr,
O'Gorman Mahon is stated to have held language to the
officer commanding the troops in Ennis that day, in pre-
sence of the troops, in respect to the conduct of the High
Sheriff for bringing those troops to Ennis, which appears,
to say the least of it, quite incompatible with discretion
or any sense of propriety; and as these facts appear to be
alleged, not only by the High Sheriff, but by sixteen Ma-
gistrates, who were that day present in Ennis, and since,
as we understood, upon oath* by the officer commanding
the troop, I must say, that although these gentlemen
poss!bly have not been guilty of any crime for which they
can be indicted in a Court of Law with a prospect of cons
viction and punishment, they have, in their conduct upon
this occasion, manifested such a disposition to disturb the
public peace, and so much indiscretion, and such omission
of respect to the High Sheriff of the county of Clare, and
to the other Magistrates acting in concert with that officer,
that the Government ought to have brought their conduct
di,ilytealy under the view of the Lord Chancellor, with a
view to Lordship striking their names out of the corn-
li!sion of the pe,;ce each of the counties of Ireland in
which they may be Jusi:ges•
" Mr. Steele is, if I am not mistaken, the gentleman
who lately adjured the people in Limerick by their ' alle-
giance to the Roman Catholic Association' to be tranquil.
" I cannot express to you adequately the extent of the
difficulties which these and other oarirrences in Ireland
create in all di-cussions with his Majesty. Ile Ste that in
Lelaud the public peace is violated every day with im-
punity by those whose duty it is to preserve it, and that a
formidable conspiracy exists, and that the supposed
prin-
cipal conspirators, those whose language and conduct point
them out as the avows I principal agitators of the country,
are admitted to the presence of his Majesty's Representative
in Ireland, and equally well received with the King's most
loyal subjects.
" I will not conceal from you, likewise, that your visit
and those of my Lord Chancellor to Lord Cloncurry, and
the attendance of Lord Cloncurry at the Roman Catholic
Association, immediately subsequent to the period at
which he had the honour of receiving the King's Repre-
sentative in his house, are not eircumatances calculated to
give satisfaction to the King, and to the public in general.
" The doubts which are entertained respecting the le-
gality of the Roman Catholic Association ; the language
which has been held there respecting the King himself,
his Royal Family, the Members of his Government, your
colleagues in office, and respecting nearly every respect-
able member of Society, and the unanimously expressed
detestation of the violence of the Association, might be
deemed reasons for omitting to encourage any of its mem-
hers by the countenance or favour of the King's Repre-
sentative.

rot remain so long.
" I cannot see far before ow. I can only guess
a what is likely to happen for a few months. I
calculate upon a quiet winter in acts, but not in

language.
I ground my opinion upon this. The Catho-
heß are persuaded that the Brtmswickers will bring
en ri'llision if they can, xvtlt the view of commit-
tin;' the Government against them.

" I.Ws what the leaders will endeavour to avoid
and with the power they pos cis over the minds of
the multitude, possibly they may succeed, and then
there will he proba'sly even less mime and nightly
warage than has been usual.

" Even if there be any project of insurrection,
which I do not believe, the winter would not be the
chosen season. I can imagine nothing less inviting
than a rebel bivou rc during a long dreary winter's
night. Therefore it appears to be probable that yen
will have time to legislate, before we begin to fight."
Your Lordships will see that some passages of
this letter are not the opinions of the Brunswiekers,
but what the Catholics thought of them. To Mr.
Peel, on the 2d of September, I wrote—" I think
we must soon have recourse to some vigorous mea-
sures. You may trust to my delaying the crisis as
long as possible, as I foresee its destructive conse-
quences; but there is a point beyond which for-
bearance cannot go, and I am inclined to believe we
are approaching it rapidly."
And again, on September 26th, " In case the
meetings are persevered in, and serious disturbances
occur, I shall not hesitate to issue a proclamation,
utem my own responsibility, if pressed for time, and
if I cannot assemble a respectable Privy Council;
and if I issue one, rest assured I'll enforce it."
On the Ist of October I stated, " I cannot per-
l'itti/e myself we shall want any more help. The
prNlamation is issued. A requisition is made for
wo battalions from England. Mr. Lawless's case
is under consideration."
On October 2d I wrote—" My incessant care
be to avoid collision. Two additional hatta-
Eons, and a regiment of cavalry, with a couple of
guns, if they could be conveniently spared, to place
along the line of Tipperary, Limerick, and Clare,
would prevent much of the usual winter excesses ;
and if the leaders of the Brunswiclters would be
prevailed upon to set their forces against the as-
sembling and the organization of the Protestants—
if they would trust to the power of the Govern-
ment, to the wisdom of the King's Ministers,
and to the judgment of Parliament, instead of at-
tempting to dictate to all—then this unhappy coun-
try might hope for comparative rest."
The last letter I shall quote on this subject is to
the Noble Duke at the head of the Government; it
is dated November 6, and I read it because I am
anxious to Lv before your Lordships the familiar
terms and kindil manner in which I corresponded
with his Majesty's Ministers. It was written on
the occasion of his Gra,N having placed at my com-
mand a force more than suiNient for all the purposes
of governing Ireland.
" I must say, you do not do things by halves.
Why, you have placed at my disposal troops enough
to controul the Brunswickers and the Association,
even if they should coalesce and combine to make
war upon cue.
" I have very reluctantly sent for two batt.:.oas..
We might have dispensed with them; but certainly
the effect of their oTival simultaneously at Belfast
and at Waterford will be
,!toosl, and 1 hope and be-
lieve that I need not draw upon you for another
man."

" But, I assure you, that the circumstances which are
subject of this letter augment the difficulties of the
time to a degree which is quite incalculable, and have in-
duced me mogt unwillingly to trouble you on the sul.ject.
Believe me, toy dear Lord Anglesea, ever your's, most
sincerely,

(Signed) " WELLINGTON.
" His Excellency the Most Noble the Marquis
of Anglvsea, K.G."
To this letter I replied on' November 14 :
(Copy.) " Plicenix Park, Nov. 14, 1828.

"Mr DEAR DUKE WELLINGTON—I have received
your letter of the 1 Ith ; nothing can give me greater dis-
tres than to learn ti•at my conduct in carrying on the
Government of Irelawl is displeasing to the King, and em-
barrassing to. its Mijcsty's Minister,.
" Deeply as I deplore ic, I nevertheless rejoice in being
male acquainted, now fur the first time, with the view
that is taken of it Up to this moment, I have been :e:t
entirely in ignorance, not only as to your intention in re-
gard to this country, hut also as to your sentiments in re-
qard to my policy. They ,re now develope,!, and I shall
know how to act.

" If my general line of conduct has been displeasing to
his Majesty, and embarrassing to his Majesty's servants,
I repeat that I deeply deplore it ; but I can affirm that I
have misled, I have deceived no one; for before my de-
parture from England, I took every means within my
power respectfully to make known to the King the only
system upon which I could conscientiously undertake to
fill the high- and honourable situation of his Majesty's Re-
presentative; and I also made an explicit declaration be-
fore you, and Mr. Peel, and Lord Melbourne, of the view
I took of the great question which agitated this country,
and of the course that I should deetat it expedient to steer
in regard to political and religious parties ; and I assert,
without fear of contradiction, that I have scrupulously
acted in the spirit of that declaration.
6" I will now enter upon the charges made against me,
and I will afterwards treat of the best manner of getting
rid of the distressing dilemma in which I am stated to
have placed the King's Ministers.
" I take the case of Mr. O'Gorman Mahon. Mr. Mahon
went to Ennis, where a meeting, called by the High She-
riff of the county of Clare, and atteneled by a considerable
nymt.er of Magistrates, had assembled for the purpose of
foroaigg a Brunswick Club.
" Ms. Melion's intention (as I have been told) was to
appear at the Foeeting, and to oppose the project. He
presented himself at the door, and was refused admittance.
" The High Sheriff and the Magistrates having appre-
he,utted that their meeting might create disturbance, called
in a anilits.,7 force.
" One subaltern, two serjeants, and thirty's-dim rank
and file, moved from Clare Castle, distant about three
C)oe captain, osas subaltern, two serjeants, one
and Ale, marched front Tulle,
drummer, w.i thirty rank
distant about twe:!'a
• No riot ensued ; the tetitehments.viresr.2 dismissed, and
whilst they were filing into the zaol yard at Ennis, the
:conversati-n took place between Mr. Mahon and the of-
ficer commanding the detachments, upon which the affi-
davits were founded, and with which Snag I.re; I believe,
acquainted.
• It ,eems you disapprove of my not having disect4
the Chancellor to dismiss Mr. Mahon front the Magistracy,
in consequence of his indecorous conduct upon this occa-
aion. lodecorotts it Certainly was ; tut I deem that if I
had visited it with tile severity of disnlisal, I should have
been guilty of an aCt of uto,:tiftab;e
" It was the opinion-of the law officers that this breach
of decorum was not indictable. It was that of the Chano
ciao., that if the deposition upon oath -.had been sent to
them, be could not legally have acted upon it. Upon
what ground then would the Lord Litutentiot bare stood,
if, in opposition to these opinions, he should have deter•
mined upon,the dismissal of Mr. Mahon?
I be; leave here to quote a case somewhat in point-
" Dining the goverment of the Marquis Welltsley, the
Law 'Officers gave an opinion that proctssinns and meet-
ings-, such as those of Orangemen, were illegal. This
opinion was communicated to the Ma:0,4E441. There

I wrote again on the 11th October :
" I shall take upon myself the responsibility of
arresting Mr. Lawless on Thursday, if I do not
bear from you by that day."
My object in making these extracts has been to
show what I thought of ale proceedings of that
Catholic Association which I have been said to have
supported against the Protestants; and as my view.
of that Association was the same as that of his
Majesty's Government, that will not explain the
real motives for my recall; they are, I believe, not
vet known. My Lords, it is an erroneous view, 1
apprehend, to suppose that my recall took place in
em:sequence of the letter I wrote to the Catholic—
( A laugh.—The Noble Marquis found some diffi-
culty in dc,si!;mting Dr. Curtis, as, bey the late Bill,
it is made illegal to give Catholic Bishops their
titles.)—to the Most Rev. Dr. Curtis. This will be,
I think amply proved to your Lordships by dates.
On December 23d, I received a letter from that Rev.
Prelate, covering one he had received from the Noble
Duke at the bead of the Government. I answered
that letter on the instant ;
.but owing to a pressure
of business, which I well recollect, it was not possi-
ble for my Secretary to take a copy of that letter
I,f•rore the post went out on that day ; it was not
therefor'', sent. from Dublin till the twenty-fourth,
untl could not reach Drogheia till she twenty-filth.

N
•
trbicb tuts been entrusted atn, my Duke
of Wellington, yours very ly, 4 sNe
(Signed) " ANGLESEA.
" To his Graze thc Duke( Ot Wellington, &c."
To this I received an answer from the Noble Duke
at the head of the-Administration, dated Nov. 19,
1828, which was as follows
"I.London, Nor. 19, 1928.
" Mr DEAR LORD ANGT,,MRAI 'did 'not receive till
yesterday your letter of the 15th, in answer to mine of the
I I th. • You tell'me that you Bare 4ii'Vte the moment been
'lift entirely in ignorance, not only as to my intentions in
reg Ird to Ireland, but also as to my sentiments in regard to
your policy.'
" I thought that since your appointment to the Govern-
ment of Ireland, there had been the most unreserved com-
munication of the opinion of the Kiag's servants, as to the
practical course to be pursued under the various con-
tingencies that have arisen ; assurances given of the most
cordial suppol t throughout any difficulties that might occur,
and of a willingness to bear the full share of any re-
sponsibility. _ _

Was an Orange Meeting in the con* of Monaghan after-
wards. A Magistrate of the name of Johnstone-rode up
to the multitude with an (rang riband in his button-hole;'
be was received with cheers ; a complaint was made against
him; he stated that his object was to get the people to
disperse. The matter was referred by the Lord -Lieu-
tenant to the Chancellor (Manners), and it was not
thought a case for removal. A motion was made upon
the subject in the House of Commons, in 1827, by Mr.
Brownlow, and the (then) Attorney-General defended the
Chancellor, it being a case entirely for his discretion.

"To return to Mr. Mahon :—lf his conduct was
censurable, what was that of the High Sheriff and of
the other Alagistrates ? and how were they to be dealt
with?

" Is it legal to call a meeting for a political purpose that
is so far likely to endanger a breach of the peace, that the
very sheriff who calls it, and who presides at it, feels it
necessary to protect himself with the King's troops ?
" After the most mature deliberation and consultation,
I could not bring myself to exert such an act of authority
as the dismissal of Mr Mahon ; and upon further reflec-
tion, I do now not repent of the decision to which I came.
I think it was just, and I am sure it was expedient.
'• I cannot think it would tend to the honour of the King's
crown and dignity,that the Representative should espouse the
cause of a sheriff against a magistrate, however culpable the
latter may be, when the very error into which he was led
was produced, if not by an illegal, at all events by a very
equivocal act of the sheriff himself. The meeting was, in
fact, called for a purpose not known to the Constitution.
" Of Mr. Steele I know nothing but by common report.
I do not doubt that upon some occasion he used the words
imputed to him, That he adjured his auditors, by their
allegiance to the Catholic Association, to be tranquil !'
" That neither he nor Mr. O'Gorman Mahon are fit
characters for the Magisterial Bench, I am inclined to be.
lieve ; but up to this period, there is no fact against them
that would justify the Lord Chancellor in removing them
from it.

" Putting out of the question your sentiments upon the
Roman Catholic question, which have no connection with
discussion 4 arising out of your administration of the Go-
vernment, I beg to remind you that I did write to you some
time ago on that subject.

" The imputation against Mr. Steele to which you al-
lude, has, I should observe, never been deposed to.
" You say, I cannot express to you adequately the ex-
tent of the difficulties which these and other occurrences
in Ireland create in all discussions with his Majesty. He.
feels that in Ireland, the public peace is violated every day
with impunity by those whose duty it is to preserve it ;
and that the supposed principal conspirators, those whose
language points them out as the avowed principal agitators
of the country, are admitted to the presence of his Ma-
jesty's Representative in Ireland, and equally well received
with the King's most loyal subjects.:
_ .

" It is co tainly the duty of Magistrates to preserve, not
to ♦iolate the peace. Would to God they all acted upon
this principle t Mr. Mahon and Mr. Steels are, no doubt,
unfit Magistrates. No man of violent political and reli-
gious prejudices can be considered as an impartial Justice
of the Peace; but I really do not know of these persons as
eonspirators, nor am I at all aware of the formidable con-
spiracy of which you speak.

" I never saw these gentlemen in my life; and I pe-
remptorily deny that the avowed principal agitator; or
that any agitators whatever of the country, 'are admitted
into my presence, and equally well received with the
King's most loyal subjects.' But to whom can you pos-
sibly allude ? I positively am unable to guess at your
meaning, Is it of Messrs, O'Connell, Shiel, Lawless,
O'Gorman Mahon, and Steele, of whom you speak ?
These I can easily dispose of. Mr. Shiel and the tuo lat-
ter I have never seen. Mr. O'Connell once asked for an
audience—it was granted. I mentioned the circumstance
to Mr. Peel, even before it occurred, and I afterwards in-
formed him of the business upon which he came, and I
have never met him since. I have seen Mr. Lawless three
times. Upon the first occasion he came with a deputation
of manufacturers, within a few days after my at rival. I
next met him at a ball at the Rotunda, and bowed to him,
as I invariably do to all persons who make me an acknow-
ledgroent. It was in a very crowded room, at Kings-
town that I met him a third time, when observing him
and Sir Harcourt Lees squeezed together, and unable to
pass on, ¶ jokingly said, ' That I was glad to observe such
characters could bre:tthe in the same atmosphere.' My
-next and last communication with that gentleman_ was
sending to have him arrested.
" Through what channel his Majesty can have obtained
the information mentioned by you 1 am at a loss to guess.
" To show hqw entirely his Majesty has been misin,
formed, I have deemed it right to enter into an explanation
cf e.ccurrences that I should otherwise have considered too
tri►ial to notice.

" The next subject of reproof is, that 1, together with
the Lord Chancellor, paid a visit to the Lord Cloncurry.
Wiien I went to his house all I knew of him was, that he
was. an active and intelligent Magistrate, an ardent lover
of Ireland, an indefatigable supporter of her interests, and
a zealous friend to Catholic emancipation.
" During the time I was at Lyons (his residence), I
learned his earlier history. That hz.,, had been strongly
suspected ofJacobinism at the commencement of the French
Revolution ; that he had been arrested upon suspicion of
being implicated in O'Connor's treason ; that he had been
liberated for want of proof; but that he had subsequently
bet n sent to the Tower, upon the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act, from whence he had been again liberated
without trial, and therefore, I have a right to suppose,
without guilt.

" Lord Cloncurry has, within a few days, attended the
Catholic Association. This is the first time he has done
so since my arrival; and so little is he in the habit of at-
tending, that I positively did not know, until I saw his
speech, that h• belonged to the Association. But, with
what view did he go there upon a late occasion? To
suppress, if possible, one of those pernicious Resolutions
that could have been passed, and that the law could not
touch---I mean the non-intercourse system. Unable
wholly to succeed, he, however, effected the postponement
of the question, and is using his endeavours to have it set
aside, I am desirous that you should notice the drift of his
observations.

" From all I can learn, and from all I have seen, I be-
lieve Lord C!oncurry to be a sedate, loyal subject, and one
of the hest and most impartial Magistrates of Ireland.
" If those who arraign my conduct will obtain informa-
tion from an untainted source, I feel the most perfect con-
fidence that I shall obtain the applause of my Sovereign,
and the good opinion and good will of his Majesty's Ali-
nistere with whom I setvo. . .

" I am willing, awl, indeed extremely anxious, to put
my measures to any test, being fully satisfied that the more
they are investigated, the more favorably they will be
judged ; and I have the strongest conviction upon my
mind, that the course I have pursued, is that alone which
could have kept this country in the state of tr..nquillity
it now enjoys.
" There is a cry that the Government has lost its
power, that the laws are set at defiince, that the Catholic
Association has wtsurped the reins of Government.
" I deny the facts. I assert that the law is in full
vigour, that there is nothing within the law that may not
at this moment be effected with perfect facility,
" Let it be shown that the law authorities, and that ex-
pediency demands the suppression of the Catholic Assoc►-
ation, and of tl►e Brunswick Clubs, aye, and the disarm-
ing the yeomanry at the same time, and I will undertake
to effect it, almost without the loss of life.

" I assert, that the power of the Government is unim-
paired, notwithstanding the insidious efforts that are not
only publicly but privately making to undervalue and un-
dermine it for every sinister purposes.

" I have stated what I conceive the power of the Go-
vernment to be, but I am not prepared to say that it
would be expedient to exert it at this moment. On the
contrary, my policy has been, and will continue to be,
whilst I am left here, to avoid the collision of parties by
every Foctible means, short of compromising the honour of
Government.

" I deprecate the teazinE system of attacking every
minor offence, of which tire issue !von trial would be
doubtful, and which is liable to produce irritatOn, without
affecting a salutary lesson and permanent good.
I would not recommend any attempt to put down' the
Catholie Association under the existing law, beestise that
body has been tolerated for many years (part of that time,
even during the existezKe of a law passed for the express
purpose of its suppression), tykez no recent weighty
offence can be urged against its proceedings, which has
posts but that of pleasing my
pot heretofore occurred, and been overlooked.
" rtra4ipi for ate now only to add that I have no ob-
ject in holding my
King, and serving my country.
" If in my zealous and unwearied efforts to 4ept the
latter, incur the displeasure of the King, and los, the
confidence cf lair. Majesty's servants, there cannot be a
doubt that I ought ant t remain in Ireland.
" To whatever decision tise a;:(1 11:3 Majesty's
Ministers may come with respect to the policy to
adopted in future towards this country, his Majesty may
PlOst3kiy feel the expediency of making a change in the Go-
vernment
.of /i:ran,tl I, I therefore request that you will
offer to his Majesty my itturthle e d dutiful assurance
that in such an event it will be my moat 'anzrou:o wish tp
facilitate this measure, by meeting hie Majesty's wishes in
the manner the least embarrassing, both as to time, to
manner, and to eiretunf,-tance, But if, on the contrary, it
should be his Royal pleasure that I should have the he-
oour of still remaining as his representative, I wiil faith-
fully and zealously continue my exertions to maintain the
honour, the di<miry, and the stability .01 the Government

" Whatever may' be the determination of the King and
his servants upon that subject, it is the duty of the Go-
vernment of Ireland to enforce the existing law ; and there
can be no intention in respect to legislation, nor any state
of circumstances in Ireland, to which the observations in
ray letter to you of the I Ith inst. would not be applicable.
44 I perfectly recollect that you did declare, that you
meant to administer the laws with the strictest impar-
tiality; and that the fullest assent was given by those who
heard you, and is still given to that principle of Govern-
ment in the admiaistration of affairs in Ireland. You
are quite mistaken if you suppose that you are the first
Lord Lieutenant who has governed Ireland with an im-
partial hand.
" Admitting, as I do fully, that the Government of
Ireland ought to be administered with impartiality, I as-
sert that there is not a line i❑ my letter to you, of the I 1 th
inst., which is inconsistent with such admission; nor are
rny opinions, as to the conduct of Mr. O'Gorman Mahon
and Mr. Steele, and the expediency of removing those
gentlemen from the office of Justice of the Peace, nor
those which I expressed upon other matters rather more of
personal conduct, at variance with the opinion which I
expressed in your room in February last, and still most
decidedly expre-s, that the law in Ireland ought to be re-
solutely and impartially administered.
" In respect to Mr. Mahon, you say that it would not
tend to the honour of the King's crown that his repre-
sentative in Ireland should espouse the cause of the sheriff
against a magistrate, however culpable the latter might be.
44 I don't defend the cause of the sheriff, and of the
magistrates assembled at Ennis. Their conduct may have
been very unwise; but was Mr. Mahon justified in taking
upon himself to correct others in authority ? Was it de-
corous conduct in him (bearing the King's commission)
to address himself as he did to the officers of the army, in
the presence of the troops, in abuse of the conduct of the
Eligh Sheriff for calling them from their quarters? lam
the more confident in my own opinion upon this subject,
because it agrees with that held by the Irish Government.
They received the written reports of the conduct of Mr.
Mahon ; and, instead of then deciding that it would best
tend to the honour of the King's crown that the King's
Representative should espouse the cause of the Sheriff, they ,
culled for depositions upon oath. For what? Because
the affair appeared to them, as it did, and does now, to me,
to be of importance. But when the sworn depositions
confirmed the written reports, it was found that the She-
riff had net acted wisely, and that Mr. O'Gorman Mahon
ought to be supported in his conduct in that affair. I
cannot consider this to be the policy to which I assented.
" But the papers which I have read upon this subject,
transmitted.by the Government of Ireland, inform ns that
Mr. O'Gorman Mahon and Mr. Steele appeared that day
in Ennis, decorated by the order of the Roman Catholic
Association, in green rihands, and followed by a mob.
The occasion was one on which, wisely or otherwise, the
H:gh Shet iff and other Magistrates had assembled at Ennis
to form a Brunswick Club, and the troops had been brought
to the town to prevent a riot. Was this conduct in Mr.
O'Gorman Mahon and Ale, Steele that of men in whose
judgment and discretion, as Justices of the Peace, the Lord
Lieutenant or the Lord Chancellor of Ireland can place
any reliance?

►` you have not noticed this fact in your answer to my
letter.

" In respect to Mr. Steele, in addition to his conduct
in Ennis and that with which I see since he has been
`charged—viz., marching with a mob at his heels through
the most disturbed districts of the counties of Limerick
and Tipperary, from chapel to chapel, to harangue the
people—be has been charged with the aet of conjuring a
mot, by their allegiance to the Roman Catholic Associa-
tion, to remain tranquil. Is the fact true or otherwise ?
If there is a doubt, inquiry ought to made either by the
Lord Chancellor or the Government ; and if the case turns
out to be true, I am convinced that there is no man who
will say that Mr. Steele's name ought to continue in the
commission of the peace, whether his conduct be attri-
buted to folly, insanity, or disaffection, or that the King's
representative can be accused of partiality for urging the
Lord Chancellor to remove him.

" It never has been the practice in Ireland to confine
removals from the commission of the peace. to cases in
which indictable offences have been committed. The ut-
most danger to the peace of the country might be the con-
sequence of its being understood that justices of the peace
were irremovable, do what acts and hold what language
they may, provided only that they steer clear of an indict-
able offence.

" I contend, then, that it cannot be deemed inconsistent
with the most strictly impartial administration of the
Government of Ireland, to notify to persons who have
conducted themselves as Mr. O'Gorman Mahon and Mr.
Steele have for the last months, that the King had no
farther occasion for their services as Justices of the Peace.
" In respect to Lord Concurry, I did not advert to his
former history—only to his being a member of the Roman
Catholic Association, and to his having attended the As-
sociation shortly after the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord
Chancellor had honoured him with a visit. In answer,
you tell me that he went there for the purpose of discou-
raging the system proposed of not dealing with Protestants.
Ills object in going there is very little to the purpose ;
but having referred to the newspaper report, I see that it
expressly states that Lord Cloneurry retired from the meet-
ing before the discussion about dealing with Protestants
came on. He made a speech, however, in the Associa-
tion that day, which I will not copy, as this letter is
already too long, but which, to say the least of it, is
worthy of an agitator and a partizan, but quite unworthy
of a Nobleman who deserves the honous of receiving the
Lord Lieutenant at his house—a Lotd Lieutenant and
Lord Chancellor presiding over an important system of
Government.

T still am of opinion that, considering the conduct
of the Association, the speeches which have been made there,
and the doubts entertained of the legality of stsch an assem-
. hly (to say the least of it), the members of it are net exactly
'• thD))46914 to be encouraged by the Government of Ireland
which intepds to condupt its administration impartially.
" I will not now enter farther into the discussion of the
legality of the Roman Catholic Association, or whether
there is not a conspiracy in Ireland. Upon the first point,
I hope we shall soon have the opinion of the Law Officers
of the Crown in Ireland, galled for some time ago. I admit
that these is but little legal proof of the existence of the
conspiracy; but there is much of moral proof, which, I
cannot but think, deserves the attention of Government.
I, It is perfectly true .that till I hail occaaign to write
you on the II th inst. respecting Mr. Mahon and Mr.
Steele, I did not mention to you the King's feelings upon
affairs in Ireland. I did not do so, because I was in hopes
that in the progress of events the King might see reason
to g4Linge 4" opinions l anfl because it is really very pain-
ful to notice spatters Atirsiels woOd be or a private nature, if
they
1,,d nut a beating upon public affairs. I might have,
at an earlier period, expressed the pain I felt at the attend-
ance of gentlemen of your household, and tries; of yrur
funily, at the Roman Catholic Association. I could not
hut feel that such attendance must expose your Govern-
rii.isceustruction. But I was silent ; because it is
p sinful" to notice suctr th'gsge ; bot I have always felt that
if these impressions upon the King's roiwi should remain
--and I must say that recent transacticns have given fresh
cause for them—l could not avoid to mention them to you
in a p,•iya;.,e communication, and to let you know the em-
barrasunent whlett they cer4sion. I may be blamed fir
not commimicating sooner that they exiztcd; but, consi-
dering their continued existence, and the renewed c mse for
thcir;, shotdd be still more blamed if I did not mention
them to you at

n
E.ver, my dear Lord Anglesea, tour's most sincerely,
(S;g"e(1) "WELLINGTON.!'

To this letter I sent a reply, which was dated the
:"!.3d of November, 1828, which was in the follow-
ing terms

" Pl►ceniz Patk, Nov. 23, 1829.
.‘ Mir DEAR DUKE or NVELLiNcrox—I have received
your letter of the 19th. It is not necessary that I should reply
p.) it at great length ; for after very carefully ex imining
and comparing it with mine of the 11th, I find little in it

' N

,4

S ,

ha J se'retl/40 " - f accusations
' __4oo r-tation 0 already amply answered ' &wands the =Meta I shall reeeloe therit::-nelk"-°
land refuted„ iks. your's most. kinterely. -.- '
" I have also attentively read-- tlitcopy of my letter of (Signed) " ANGLESEA.
the 14th, and thereiS"not in iti Ifititittleat expressed, or a" To his Grace the Duke of Wellin KG• S."-
ttnn, • ' ' . ea
word written, to which Vdo "nokstiletly‘adhere. I will
merely- observe that,` in repreienting nifignorance of your s , .-rsia,t,
If the. matter had terminated heie the Hog-
inteniihilgin'reiard to Ireland,reo soul "4 i
u -on y allude to your ,' wohuilsdmneavjeersthyavuencibueeesntiotnroaubblyledi-mwd iathrigthhte.tosu7%nall,
futurO policy, by a knoWledge of which I might have been asLord Lieutenants whenever. he pleased, 'Yin!
mainly assisted; for,'although it is quite clear that a coun- , his
otik
try Must' be governed by existing laws, yet it may be well ever might be the reasons ; and, thereiore alth i
thought to be a question of expediency to what extent they I would have been disappointed- that tbestVd
are to be exercised; and here the Governor becomes re- Ireland and the circumstances in which I wasliii
sponsible; and I have not been at all desirousof shrinking did not meet with a closer investigation. Is libe
from the responsibility. have felt it my duty to have been silent 094". t'r
"To all topics, then, that are treated of in your first matter. But as all this was followed by a-stfulie
letter, and which are repeated in that of the 19th, it
reproof, than was, perhaps, ever givento.a4,7t
would be superfluous to reply.o'r
officer, I thought it right to bring the_ vv14031- to
" I now proceed to the new matter
_contained in your before this House, as far as I had the Opportuna,
last letter,
do so. I received this letter, dated the 10th
" You say, that lam mistaken, if I suppose that I am
the first Lord Lieutenant who has governed Ireland with aay, 1829, from the Home Secretary :
029.
an impartial hand. (Copy) " Whitehall, Jan. 1091- q
"I really suppose no such thing ; and lam sure there is "My Loan-It is my duty to acquaint your Ex--1414.:00.
not any expression in my letter that will bear that con- that his Majesty's Government have taken into theit,4o..
struction. sideration a letter which has been published in the'Piti,
"In truth, I need only go back to the last Administra- papers, purporting to have been addressed by yotir F'Y'. of
of Ireland--to the Government of the Marquis Wellesley_ lency to the Rev. Dr. Curtis, of the aathenticlir
to discover that ' mine is not a novel mode of governing.' which there can be no question. It appears to 1341. ,rpr.
" I observe in every public act of .Lord Wellesley, not jesty's Government, that in addressing tint letter 'to int
merely the intention, but the fulfilment of that principle Curtis, your Excellency acted in a manner inc°l3d,
Igin
of governing.' with your duty as his Majesty's Representative in ire,
.„„te
"In answer to what you observe regarding the conduct and they have advised his Majesty to signify his Pte 'rd,
of the Irish Government, upon the affair of Mr. O'Gorman to your Excellency, that you should return' to OE the
Mahon, at Ennis, I can only say, that it seems to me to placing the Government of Ireland for the present w'
have been entirely consistent. hands of Lords Justices.
' Ill'"
" The report of his conduct first reached it through the " I enclose his Majesty's warrant, authorising lot,
ordinary channels of communication. It was thought of cellency to constitute the Lord Primate, the Lo to
to
sufficient consequence to require a deposition upon oath. cellor, and the Commander of the Troops of Irelanu;or
This was furnished. It was deliberately considered ; and be his Majesty's Justices in your Excellency's shield,
in concurrence with the opinion of the Lord Chancellor, until his Majesty's further pleasure be signified; and thst
I did not think fit to take any measure upon it. The to convey to your Excellency his Majesty's commatid,bso
propriety of this decision is matter of opinion ; I retain their appointment may take place accordingly. I
mine. the honour to be, with great truth and r' rd,- my Lora.
_ _.

" That the mere circumstance of Mr. Mahon and Mr.
Steele riling about the country in green ribands is to be
considered sufficient to justify their dismissal from the
Magistracy, I cannot admit. Have they appeared upon
the seat of justice with these party colours? No. When
they do, the Chancellor will know how to deal with them.
"In the case I quoted of Mr. Johnston, who, deco-
rated with an orange riband, actually harangued a mob
(and that immediately after the passing of the Act, now
extinct, in which party badges were forbidden), the Chan-
cellor Manners did not feel himself justified in taking any
step.
" In regard to Mr. Steele, there is no doubt that he
had been attending various chapels, and haranguing the
congregations. I have directed a particular inquiry to he
made, for the purpose of obtaining authentic information
as to ithe expressions to which you allude; and the at-
tention of the Law Officers will be called to the subject,
when I shall consider and confer, as I did in the case of
Mr. Mahon, and inform you of the result of my decision.
" I have little to add to what I have already said con-
cerning Lord Cloncurry. I believe him to be a loyal sub-
ject, a good man, and an exemplary magistrate ; and I
cannot consent to abandon the exercise of my own disere-
tion, in selecting those with whom I may deem it expe-
dient and prudent to hold au intercourse. But even if I
were mistaken in the character of my Lord Cloncurry, and
that he is not what I suppose him to be, I am sure I shall
not be thought arrogant in expressing a conviction that
there is something in my own character, and in my well-
known devoted and affectionate attachment to the King,
which ought to shield me from the imputation of having
selected and encouraged as acquaintance those who are ill-
affected to his Majesty's person and Government.
" I have, in fact, been most anxious to imitate, so far
as my humble faculties would permit, the example of his
Majesty himself during his visit to Ireland; and have
scrupulously attended to the King's benign and paternal
admonition, when his Majesty quitted this kingdom—to
inculcate good fellowship and cordiality amongst all claws,
and to promote conciliation.
" Your observation upon the circumstance of my son,
and of some of the Officers of my Staff, visiting the Ca-
tholic Association, has hurt and surprised me.
" A short time after mf arrival three or four of them
strayed into their debating-roam from curiosity. They
were unexpected, and they imagined they were unobserved,
They were, however, recognised. 'The occurrence was
mischievously commented upon. I admonished them not
to repeat their visit, and to avoid all clubs or meetings of
a political character, and it cost them nothing to obey the
injunction. Yet this is remarked upon as a stain upon
me, as if I had sanctioned the measure,

..egaro,
(Signed) ROBERT PEr..l'.
" To his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, K. G., &
To this I replied by the following letter, Met`
Jan. 14, 1829 :
(Copy) " Pheanix-park, Jan. 14, 1829'...,
" Sta—l have received your letter of the 10th JanttPl'
notifying to me, that his Majesty's Government had Pit:
into their consideration, a letter which had been publish.
in the newspapers, purporting to have been addreossanbl
me to the Rev. Dr. Curtis ; that it appeared to his I",°;i_
ventruent, that in writing that letter to Dr. Curtis, lai'"*.
acted in a manner inconsistent with my duty as his
I
jesty's Representative in Ireland ; and that they bad s
vised his Majesty to signify his pleasure to me, that I should
return to England, placing the Government of Ireland,
or
the present, in the hand. of Lords Justices, and end,"
to me his Majesty's warrants, authorising me to constitute
the Lord Primate, the Lord Chancellor, and the Ctrrynn,‘
der of the Troops, to be his Majesty's Justices in 111,
ence, or until his Majesty's further pleasure be signified'
+, In consequence of the Duke of Wellington's letter "'
me of the 28th December, informing me that he Wag se.are
v"),
Bible that a co' respondence which had taken place bet
his Grace and me had left us in a relation toward.' etic
other which ought not to exist between the Lord Lieu;
tenant and the King's Minister, and that his collesqo
concurred in that opinion ; and that having taker' AP,
Majesty's pleasure upon the subject, his Majesty had
sired his Grace to Inform me, that he intended to rel
nee front the Government of Ireland ; I informed lid
Grace, by my letter on the Nth of December, that I vni
hold myself in readiness to obey his Majesty's coon's°
the moment I should receive them.
for
" It is therefore only necessary for me now to sts,„t
the informaticn of his Majesty's Government, that I hoof
given the necessary directions for the appointment'ah
Lords Justices in obedience to his Majesty's comma
and that I shall forthwith repair to England.
" I have the honour to be, with truth and regard,
" Sir, your most obedient and faithful serva*tr
(Signed) " ANGLES'
" To the Right Hon. Robert Peel." r
Now, my Lords, it is necessary to state to .7-11
Lordships what may be proved on oath at Plir
Lordships' bar. I allude to the opinion in Ireland
on these matters when my recal was announced.
So anxious indeed was Ito make that letter purer
private and confidential, that I even carried it to ruY
that,Seet
clar‘yvrtoo be
dential, so that it might be considered as the letter
wrote
of a private individual, Id 'lv !oral-punier
por frankedi
t t
h;
ea
Nrivdonnoi
st spartii
vs
afi teed ea vn edn wo tfih,

" The letter I wrote to Mr. Lamb upon the occasion
would show sufficiently that I di,,approved of it ; although
I certainly did not attach that importance to it you appear
to think,it deser red.
" I observe that you consider our late painful corres-
pondence as private; yet the subjects are chiefly of a public
cha actor.
" You certainly have the power of considering it so, or
not; but I must reserve to myself the same liberty, if it
should hereafter become necessary for my justification ;
and I sincerely believe that I can justify every aot--Day,
I will even go farther, and express uty conviction, that if
the King had the same opportunity that I have of wit-
nessing the present state of the country, his Majesty would
be a ttisfied that a sound and prudent policy had been exer-
cised. Believe me, my dear Duke of Si ellington,
" Very sincerely your's,
(Signed) " ANGLESEA.
" To his Grace the Duke of Wellington, K. G., &c."
To this, my Lords, I should add one thing with
respect to the Lord Cloncurry, which probably was
not known to the Noble Duke now at the head of
his Majesty's Administration ; and that is, that when
the King was in Ireland, Lord Cloncurry was in con-
stant attendance on his Majesty, and sat at his table.
—(Hear, hear.)—The fact was, my Lords, that
Lord Cloncurry thought himself very ill-used in the
time of his late Majesty, having been confined twice
on two charges, of which no proof could be adduced,
and he had been on both occasions discharged with-
out being brought to trial. In consequence of this,
he had determined, when the King visited Ireland,
not to approach his Majesty; and the King, on
hearing this, caused Lord Cloncurry to be sent for.
His Lordship then came, and was very well received
by his Majesty, and attended upon him, and sat at
his table.--(Hear, hear.)--Then, one word as to my
unfortunate son and some of my Staff visiting the
Catholic Aseociation. I may state, that it was no
more than some of the Staff of my illustrious pre-
decessor had done. The truth is, my Lords, that
the Catholic Association was considered in Dublin
as a lion, and the strangers went to visit it, as they
went to the Corn-Exchange, or to Exeter 'Change,
to see the wild beasts. Now, when I received the
first letter from the Noble Duke, the impression on
my mind decidedly was that I would be recalled,
and the second confirmed me in that opinion ; and
yet I thought, and others agreed with me in that no-
tion, that probably the whole of the circumstances
might have been reconsidered, and we certainly did
hope that upon that recommendation the • state of
affairs in Ireland, and all the eircumstaaces, would
have been more duly appreciated, and that the con-
duct of the Irish Administration would be found
not to deserve so much censure as it had been ima-
gined to deserve. On that head I was undeceived
Lieutenant
Tt andle the
King's
was i ng
a'
ss
by the letter from the Noble Duke of the 28th of
December, from which I was very sensible that the
relation between me as
a trot Lordlonge rexist.
(Gory.) o London, December, 2S, 1828.
Ministersfollows
:could
My DEAR Loan ANOLESEA—I have been very sen-
sible, since I received your last letter, that the correspon-
dence which that letter terminated had left is in a rehl-
tion towards each other whi.eh ought not to exist between
the Lord Lieutenant and the King's Minister ; and could
not oontinue to exist without great inconvenience and in-
jury to the King's service. 1 refrained from acting upon
this feeling till I should be able to consult with my col-
/entree, and I took the earliest opportunity, which the
return to town of th9se who were absent aliprded, to ob-
tain their opinioU, which concurred with my own, Under
these circumstances, having taken the King's pleasure upon
the subject, his Majesty has desired me to inform you, that
he intends to relieve you from tke Government of Ireland.
I will shortly notify the arrangements which will become
necessary itt consequence. Believe me ever your's must
sincerely,
(£jgileti) WaLINGTON.
" His Excellency the Marquis of Anglesea, K.G."
In answer I wrote this letter of date the 30th
December, to the Noble Duke at the head of the
Administration
(Copy') " Plicenix Park, 30th Dec., 182 g.
My DEAR PUIC.F. OF WELLINGTON—I have received
your letter of the 28th, iuforming me of the King's inten-
tion to relieve ine from the Government of Ireland.
" I will hold myself in readiness to obey his Majesty's

__, ate not as the c:.
tions of the Lord Lieutenant. I received the letter,
informing me that I was to be relieved from the du-
ties of the Government, on the 30th of December'
The report that I was recalled soon became Frew(
lent, and•at ten o'clock in the morning the Chic'
Secretary (Lord Levison Gower) and Mr. Attor-
ney-General Joy came to the Phcenix Park, along
with others, iu order to ascertain the fact. They
declared that an extraordinary degree of excitefaebj!t
,'
prevailed amongst all classes in consequence ot.
event; and at three o'clock other influential pi:
sons, who came from Dublin for the same PurP....bg
repeated the report of the agitated state of the PI
mind, and implored me either to contradict the r
port of the recal if I could, or at least:to apply a,_°°loo,,
remedy to that alarming agitation which was.vw'''
in the movements of the people of Dublin. TO C°lr
tradict the report was impossible, for on the table he'
fore me lay the letter of my recall• from the Goeeff,
ment of Ireland, and it was equally impsssible, CO..
ceived, to apply a remedy for the agitation, becsul
I could not so far compromise the situation which
held as to communicate with the Agitators upPll
that subject to which the agitation was to be at;tl-
buted. On the return to Dublin, of those person°
who had visited me in the course of the day, they
saw the leading Members of the Association, Who
were anxious to ascertain the truth of the repO.r;
and they also made strong representations upon tn
subject of the alarming feverish distress and excite",
ment which prevailed among the people, and they
stated, that as the Association was to meet on the
next day, it was much to be feared they would Oaf:
some very violent resolutions. Arid here 1 wot 11!
pause, and beg the Noble Lords who hear me 101
to allow themselves to believe for an instant, .that.
attributed this fever, and this alarm, and Oda ea'
citement upon the report of my recall, to any )V
sonal love which the Catholic people of Ireland
to me or to my administration of the Government'
No such thing; I never for an instant *WV
buted their conduct to any such cause. I attri•
buted it to the natural source—that source whie,h.
must have been obvious to every man. They' felt'
that the question of Catholic emancipation must b°
disposed of. They felt a conviction that the 01°'
ment was at last come when the Ministry had come
to a determination, not to entertain that question,
Govern-)
They imagined that my dismissal from the
silent was connected with that resolution, and ;; scas
the cause in which they felt so deep an
that was despaired of at the time when this agitn:
tion prevailed, was pressed on all hands to :e
something, however, to allay this irritation, 04
at length flashed across my mind that sont.e
sc
might be made of that disasttons letter to which I"
much allusion has been made, It occurred to ts„
that some rod ralght.arise from the recommenugl;
tior.s contented in that letter being made public a.
that moment, and I said to those who applied tat;
Go to Dr. Curtis, and if you think, upon t',," •
perusal of that letter that any good use can be We'
of it, you are tit liberty to, use IV' The letter
in ccosequence of a permission thus obtained, pu,h'
lished the next morning, and the effect of 't9
appearance was almost magical. It was almost
impossible to conceive that such consequence°
could have resulted from making use of sac •
•
a document, but it prodnced instantaneous trail'
bore .
and from the manner in which its sew;
timents ware taken up by the Association, ' •
am confident it tended much to prevent Or
disturbance of the public tranquillity. I do IVY
mean to say, my Lords, that there ever was any fetiC
of in,urrection. That I never fearen4 but Ido i.".Y
that there trap at that moment such a feeling of di'!*
concept and irritation in the minds of the people, s
a
would have rendered it exceedingly difficult to pre"
serve the public peace, and a due respect for the o°'
vernment. I now wish to call your Lordship' at;
tention to the words of the letter itself. I wish VI
Lordships to consider it in the spirit and in the tee;
ings with which it was written, and I can assort
your Lordships at the very outset, that the IT):
and the feelings were on my part perfectly
That letter gave advice to the Catholics,. which Fe• •