|
 |
|
Castlereagh: Volume 3
back to document list
242
William Rogers, Esq., to Lord Castlereagh. Lisburn, February 19,1800. My Lord—It gives me pain to draw your Lordship's attention one moment from the important concerns you are engaged in at this juncture; but, as I find my tenants in the County of Down have been imposed upon by certain persons carrying false messages from me, to induce them to sign a Petition against the Union, I take the liberty to say they did it totally without my knowledge or approbation; and, as I must ever have an ambition to appear consistent to those I respect, I trust your Lordship will have the goodness to excuse me for this intrusion. I have the honour to be, &c., WILLIAM ROGERS.
Lord Camden to Lord Castlereagh. Arlington Street, February 20, 1800. Dear Castlereagh—I have just received the account, by express, that the first Resolution, that "there shall be a Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland" has been carried, after the preliminary debate and division which has taken place. I think I may now venture to congratulate you upon seeing your way, in a great degree, in this most important measure; and, although I doubt not you will have infinite difficulty in some of the details, I hope and believe you have not had to complain of the want of the expression of satisfaction from this side of the water, since the Duke of Portland's silence on the first communication. The fact is, that your despatches came just as the second letter from Buonaparte arrived; and the consideration of the manner in which that business should be taken up in Parliament certainly did prevent the Ministers from paying as much attention as they ought to the services of those who were exerting them elsewhere. I hope you have quite recovered from your influenza, although you have scarcely had the fair advantage of one day's relaxation.
243
As I trust the principle of the measure is secured, which I never ventured to think till the account of the last division arrived, I beg you to offer my congratulations to Lord Cornwallis upon this event. Believe me, &c., CAMDEN.
The Duke of Portland to the Lord-Lieutenant. Private. Whitehall, Thursday, February 20, 1800. My dear Lord—Although I have but a very few moments to spare, I cannot let the post go out without carrying my congratulations to your Excellency on the eventful and happy decision which the House of Commons came to on Tuesday morning, on the great leading article of the Union, the ultimate success of which, it appears, we are sufficiently authorized to look to with that degree of confidence which disposes one to calculate the time that may be necessary for its accomplishment, and indulge the expectation of receiving the articles from you, so as to admit of our concurrence in them before our adjournment for the Easter holidays. Excepting the articles which respect the representation and the commercial concerns, there are none which can occupy much of the time of Parliament 5 and I trust the event of Tuesday, and the sentiments which, I observe, have been avowed by Mr. J. C. Beresford, will secure you against unnecessary delay. It is a most mortifying consideration that so glorious and happy a day as Tuesday promises to prove should have been stained by a circumstance so much to be lamented as the accident that happened to Mr. Corry. I am willing to hope that, by the manner in which you express yourself with respect to the consequences of his wound, there is no ground for serious apprehension; but, considering the circumstances, one cannot look but with satisfaction at the dissolution of the Assembly, by which such an event was suffered to take place. I am, &c., PORTLAND.
|
|
