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with their natural head, the Crown, and animated by their Clergy, no man knows better than yourself. As to the Whigs, I think them far from extinct. They are, what they always were, (except by the

them in

able use of opportunities) by far the weakest party in God keep
this country. They have not yet learned the ap-
state
plication of their principles to the present state of that lathof
weakness,
things; and as to the Dissenters, the main effective
for the yare
part of the Whig strength, they are, to use a fa- a pack of

vourite expression of our American campaign style, subs.
"not all in force." They will do very little; and,
as far as I can discern, are rather intimidated
than provoked at the denunciations of the Court in
the Archbishop of York's sermon. I thought, that
sermon rather imprudent when I first saw it; but
it seems to have done its business.

In this temper of the people I do not wholly wonder that our Northern friends look a little towards events. In war, particularly, I am afraid it must be so. There is something so weighty and decisive in the events of war, something that so completely overpowers the imagination of the vulgar, that all counsels must, in a great degree, be subordinate to and attendant on them. I am sure it was so in the last war very eminently. So that, on the whole, what with the temper of the people, the temper of our own friends, and the domineering necessities of war, we must quietly give up all ideas of any settled, preconcerted plan. We shall be

lucky

1

lucky enough, if, keeping ourselves attentive and alert, we can contrive to profit of the occasions as they arise; though I am sensible, that those, who are best provided with a general scheme, are fittest to take advantage of all contingencies. However, to act with any people with the least degree of comfort, I believe we must contrive a little to assimilate to their character. We must gravitate towards them, if we would keep in the same system, or expect that they should approach towards us. They are indeed worthy of much concession and management. I am quite convinced, that they are the honestest publick men, that ever appeared in this country, and I am sure, that they are the wisest by far of those, who appear in it at present. None of those, who are continually complaining of them, but are themselves just as chargeable with all their faults, and have a decent stock of their own into the bargain. They (our friends) are, I admit, as you very truly represent them, but indifferently qualified for storming a citadel. After all, God knows whether this citadel is to be stormed by them, or by any body else; by the means they use, or by any means. I know, that as they are, abstractedly speaking, to blame, so there are those, who cry against them for it, not with a friendly complaint, as we do, but with the bitterness of enemies. But I know too, that those who, blame them for want of enterprize, have shown no activity at all against

out

1

the common enemy; all their skill and all their spirit have been shown only in weakening, dividing, and indeed destroying their allies. What they are and what we are, is now pretty evidently experienced; and it is certain, that partly by our common faults, but much more by the difficulties of our situation, and some circumstances of unavoidable misfortune, we are in little better than a sort of cul-de-sac. For my part, I do all I can to give ease to my mind in this strange position. I remember, some years ago, when I was pressing some points with great eagerness and anxiety, and complaining with great vexation to the Duke of Richmond of the little progress I make, he told me kindly, and I believe very truly, that, though he was far from thinking so himself, other people could not be persuaded I had not some latent private interest in pushing these matters, which I urged with an earnestness so extreme, and so much approaching to passion. He was certainly in the right. I am thoroughly resolved to give, both to myself and to my friends, less vexation on these subjects than hitherto I have done ;-much less indeed. If you should grow too earnest, you will be still more inexcusable than I was. Your having entered into affairs so much younger ought to make them too familiar to you to be the cause of much agitation, and you have much more before you for your work. Do not be in haste. Lay your foundation sdeep in publick opinion. Though (as you

are

are sensible) I have never given you the least hint of advice about joining yourself in a declared connexion with our Party, nor do I now; yet as I love that Party very well, and am clear that you are better able to serve them than any man I know, I wish that things should be so kept, as to leave you mutually very open to one another in all changes and contingencies; and I wish this the rather, because, in order to be very great, as I am anxious that you should be, (always presuming that you are disposed to make a good use of power) you will certainly want some better support than merely that of the Crown. For I much doubt, whether, with all your parts, you are the man formed for acquiring real interiour favour in this Court, or in any; I therefore wish you a firm ground in the country; and I do not know so firm and so sound a bottom to build on as our Party. Well, I have done with this matter; and you think I ought to have finished it long ago. Now I turn to Ireland.

Observe, that I have not heard a word of any news relative to it, from thence or from London; so that I am only going to state to you my conjectures as to facts, and to speculate again on these conjectures. I have a strong notion, that the lateness of our Meeting is owing to the I previous arrangements intended in Ireland. suspect they mean that Ireland should take a sort of lead, and act an efficient part in this war; both with men and money. It will sound well,

when

when we meet, to tell us of the active zeal and loyalty of the people of Ireland, and contrast it with the rebellious spirit of America. It will be a popular topick-the perfect confidence of Ireland in the power of the British Parliament. From thence they will argue the little danger, which any dependency of the Crown has to apprehend from the enforcement of that authority. It will be, too, somewhat flattering to the country gentlemen, who might otherwise begin to be sullen, to hold out, that the burthen is not wholly to rest upon them: and, it will pique our pride to be told that Ireland has cheerfully stepped forward; and when a Dependent of this Kingdom has already engaged itself in another year's war, merely for our dignity, how can we, who are Principals in the quarrel, hold off. This scheme of policy seems to me so very obvious, and is likely to be of so much service to the present system, that I cannot conceive it possible they should neglect it, or something like it. They have already put the people of Ireland to the proof. Have they not borne the Earl of Buckinghamshire? the person, who was employed to move the fiery Committee in the House of Lords, in order to stimulate the Ministry to this war; who was in the chair; and who moved the Resolutions.

It is within a few days of eleven years fince I was in Ireland, and then after an absence of two. Those, who have been absent from any scene for

even

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