110 MR. BURKE AND HIS SON. [CHAP. IV. possibly contribute much to the facility of execution, which is almost impossible during the agitation of debate. To this idea I foresee but one objection, which may spring from a doubt, whether a very unjust advantage might not be taken of such a delay, to put an abrupt period to the whole business for the present. In answer to that, I can only say, that such a measure would be so foolish, as well as so base, that I think I ask little when I claim your protection against that imputation, if it ever should be suggested. I have now submitted to you my ideas, without reserve, and after some discussion on the subject of your letter with others who have as much desire almost (for I will not say altogether, as my private reasons cannot be shared by them) to have a free conference with you. I write by this post to Hutchinson, but more guardedly, and therefore I wish my ire to remain between ourselves, if you please his presence here might be of service; yours, I am persuaded, would be of the greatest. Suspicious, I am sure, it could be to no one; you can only be responsible for your absence; and although to be authorised by the people, is in itself impossible, I am confident they would ratify and applaud what had received your approbation, and merited your support. I am, my dear Sir, yours very sincerely, LOUGHBOROUgh. I leave my compliments to Mrs. Grattan by Lady L. The letters of Mr. Burke and his son on the passing of the Catholic measure are deserving of notice. The remarks on Lord Clare's character and conduct confirm what has been already stated of that person. The sentiments of Mr. Burke will be found to apply to the present times and to the two parties in the state with as much force now as in the period when they were expressed. Little did Mr. Burke imagine that this religious contest would continue so long, and that what he wrote in 1793, would apply to the year 1841. So slow is the progress of the human mind, and the march of noble and generous sen Mr. Grattan, did not, however, go over. CHAP. IV.] LETTER OF RICHARD BURKE. 111 timents, and so difficult their victory over the passions and prejudices of mankind. RICHARD BURKE TO MR. GRATTAN. February 28th, 1793. MY DEAR SIR,-I am afraid I have much more reason than you have to apologize, for delaying to acknowledge the receipt of a letter. I might indeed plead business, if any thing that I can do, especially in such a time as this, can be entitled to so important an appellation; though, indeed, as Shakspeare says, "all men have business and desires, such as they are;" but the world is too much interested in every thing you do, not to allow you a plenary indulgence for any delays or omissions in the lesser offices of life. I do not therefore expect a punctual correspondence from you, though I shall always rejoice to be informed by your communications, and honoured with your commands. I believe I may safely say, there never was a time in which your conduct was of more importance to the public, or in which you rendered it more effectual service, than by the line you took at the beginning of the sessions, and have since pursued. It is indeed glorious for you to be what you are, the only real prop and stay of Government in Ireland at this perilous moment; being situated as you are with regard to that Government, there is no man who can at all observe, that is not truly sensible of the magnanimity and wisdom of your conduct. If this was otherwise, I know you have that within which would set you above the unjust opinions of the world. That there should be some (whether it originates with your political opponents, I know not) to whom your recent merits are only an additional motive of calumny, you will not be surprised to hear. You may be assured that neither my father (who is infinitely flattered by the expression of your letter relative to him) nor myself omit any opportunity of doing justice to our own sentiments with regard to you; and I have the pleasure of knowing, that your services are known and properly felt by those who are most concerned by being most immediately responsible for the welfare of the empire. I could certainly have wished that the Catholic Bill had gone farther. What is done, is not done in an ingenuous or a clever manner, but with a grudging and suspicious hand, such as marks the authors of the measure. Upon 112 LETTER OF RICHARD BURKE. [CHAP. IV. the whole, however, I think it would be good policy in the Catholics to acquiesce, and even to testify satisfaction. It will be the best way to secure both the profitable enjoyment of the present concessions, and a speedy extension of them. On the other hand, if they continue discontented, it will seem mulish and insatiable. People will say not only "crudelis tu quoque mater," but "improbus ille puer. Considering all things, the interference and recommendation of the Crown was some effort, and attended with some hazard; and the beneficial effects are solid so that, as there is a time for all things under the sun, this is the time for the return of good humour, and I trust it will not be deficient on either side. The ministerial ranks seemed to have rallied against your Parliamentary Reform; so I suppose it will be lost. I should not object to some measure of that sort, (which the state of Ireland seems to require,) but for its consequential operation in this country, where, though the cases are different, the principle also applies. It is certainly a critical measure, and whatever is done upon it I wish to be proposed from a seat of power, in which alone such measures are susceptible of their due modifications; for this reason, among others, I regret it has been brought on so soon; and if it should not be carried, I trust the effect (which is indeed the essence of all political measures) will be produced by salutary regulations of other kinds. What is Ponsonby's plan? Our war a necessary war, if ever there was one-is growing every day more popular. Nothing can exceed the spirit of the detachment of Guards we sent off the other day, and the enthusiasm of the people in taking leave of, and in attending them to Deptford. Our accounts from Holland are, on the whole, good, and announce a vigorous and determined defence; and there is reason to hope that the reluctance with which we are engaged in the war, will not be attended with ill effects. Present my best respects to Mrs. Grattan, of whose amendment, however, you say nothing; I therefore conclude it to be progressive.-Believe me to be, my dear Sir, yours most sincerely, R. BURKE. EDMUND BURKE TO MR. GRATTAN. MY DEAR SIR,-I most sincerely congratulate you, and CHAP. IV.] MR. BURKE ON THE CATHOLICS. 113 both these countries, on the final success, in the House of Commons, of the last, and the greatest effort of your genius. Your wonderful abilities were never more distinguished, nor in a better cause. You have restored three millions of citizens to their King and their country: in reality they had not the benefit of either the one or the other; indeed, they were lost to themselves. There was even a circumstance in the melioration of their condition, which made it in some respects worse; as it exposed them more to the jealousy, and made them more the objects of the fears, of the ruling party, without any real strength on their part to oppose to those passions. I speak, you observe, as if, in obtaining thus much for the Catholics, you had obtained every thing. I do so, when the title is fully admitted, when an interlocutory decree, leading to a final judgment, is given, the business in effect is done. You have brought things nearer this year to a complete equality in favour of the Catholics, than last session they were to the most parsimonious grant of the elective franchise. If you can pass this bill through the Lords with any tolerable good humour, I shall not only consider the great object as substantially gained, but more usefully gained in this progressive mode, than if nominally more had been obtained with the grudging and ill-will of the predominant party. Their exclusive liberty, as they possessed it, was not freedom, but dominion, and must naturally produce in them haughtiness by the habit of holding it, and rancour, and indignation, by the total and immediate loss of it. That description must, and perhaps ought, to possess the sole patronage. Their satisfaction, of course, is of moment. It would be no great bargain for the Catholics to obtain a capacity for everything, with the enjoyment of nothing at all. The great object now remaining is to make this measure of concession on the one hand, and of reservation on the other, subservient to the country, and the strength of the empire. The spirit of jobbing in the principal people must, some way or other, be abated, and kept in some degree of moderation. It will be then more easy to get the better of the mutinous spirit, which is in the very constitution of the lower part of our compatriots of every description, and now begins to ferment, with tenfold force, by the leaven of republicanism which always existed, though without much noise, in the northern parts of the 114 MR. BURKE ON IRISH CONCESSIONS. [CHAP. IV. kingdom, but now becomes more evident, and requires no small degree both of firm and prudent management. I confess I tremble for the conduct of the Chancellor, who seems for a long time past desirous of putting himself at the head of whatever discontents may arise from concessions to the Catholics, when things are on the very edge of a precipice, or indeed between two precipices; he appears resolved that they shall be tumbled headlong down one of them. Surely, of all virtues, temper more eminently belongs, than any other, to that balancing office; whatever other qualities or talents unite in that noble and learned person who holds the great seal, temper does not shine with any remarkable brilliancy. All this depends upon having a Government. Govern ment seems to be a thing given up in Ireland. During the interregnum, the vacant place is filled by one man, who appears rather as a great and steady minister, than a leader of opposition: without his virtue and constancy all would have gone to ruint" Patriam tutore carentem accepit." It is unpleasant to be obliged to contrast his conduct with that of a great leader of party on this side of the water. It gives me great consolation, among a thousand vexatious circumstances, to reflect, that my son, who is so much devoted to you, has been of some use as pioneer to you, who, as a great general, have conducted the operations of the campaign. In his two journeys to Ireland he has done his best, and he has employed himself as a solicitor, or rather as a dunn, with Ministers, both by verbal representation and memorials on this subject; and perhaps has been of some use in removing prejudices and obviating objections. Present Mrs. Burke's and my most respectful compliments to Mrs. Grattan; and believe me ever, with the highest possible respect and regard, my dear Sir, your most faithful and obedient humble servant, * Fitzgibbon, Lord Clare. EDMUND BURKE. + Mr. Grattan. ‡ Mr. Fox; but at this period he and Mr. Burke had quarrelled. |