1805.

of that distinguished nobleman were high spirited
and principled. Up to the very hour of Mr. Pitt's

lous endeavours to promote the welfare of Ireland. The influ-
ence inseparable from the large possessions, rank, and well
earned popularity of the late Marquis, was considered too pow-
erful. Lord Cornwallis disgraced himself by the petulant boast,
that he would humble the Leviathan of the North (as he termed
the Marquis), and this for no other reason, than because his no-
ble mind could not fail to revolt with indignation against every
attempt made to fetter it. All temptation offered as the price of
his own and his country's independance he rebuked. He de-
spised the succeeding threats holden out to intimidate him, and
boldly, though constitutionally, exerted himself in opposing
what his judgment and conscience told him, was calculated to in-
slave and degrade bis native land. The consequence of this pa
triotic integrity is well known. No sooner had he been violently
dismissed, unheard, from all that he held under the authority of
the Crown, than his fine regiment was divided into two battali
ons, and the command of them conferred upon persons of more
pliable dispositions, his political enemies. The place of Regis
ter, which had come to him through the former Marquis, from
his friend Sir William Cooper, and was the only situation of pro-
fit that his family, with all its power and opportunity to obtain
what self-interest would have dictated, had suffered itself to pos-
sess, was also instantly bestowed (to his honour, unasked,) upon
Lord Avonmore; and well may the inheritor of his noble father's
fortunes and virtues rejoice, that neither personal aggrandizement
nor sordid interest ever stained the honour of his ancestors.
may farther exult, that by the truly barbarous, revengeful, and
contemptible conduct, which his father's fidelity to his country
drew upon him, he is freed from the painful feeling, which the
deriving of any emolument, however small (as that arising from
this office was) at the expence of the people, could ́not in him
fail to inspire. But the rancorous malevolence of the chief pro-
moters of the Union did not stop here, for it displaced, also un-
heard, those who owed their situations not less to their services, at-
tachiment and merits, than to the friendship and influence of the
Downshire family; and in order to compleat the disgusting pic-

He

manifesting his unequivocal intent to force that
baleful measure, he had uniformly given (perhaps
improvident) credit to his Majesty's ministers for
sincerely wishing to promote the welfare of his
country. The unsuspecting generosity of a noble
mind extorted from him a support, which the
slightest mistrust would in its consequence have
prevented. Rouzed at length by the drawn dag-
gers of the assassins he flew to the pass. Traitors
and accomplices were too numerous.
He was un-
able to ward off the blow. He survived not long
the deadly stab. His country's wound was his.
And he employed the short remnant of existence
in charging his sympathetic consort to infuse into
the pliancy of his infant progeny a rooted execra-
tion of the corrupt perfidy of the murderers of his
country, and rear them up in the principles of con-
stitutional, liberal and wise policy*.

tare, (of which this is but a faint outline of the indignity this patriotic family sustained) no sooner was the late Marquis departed, than the office of Lord Lieutenant and Custos of the county of Down, so ably and honorably filled by him and his ancestors for many generations was bestowed-upon whom? upon the Earl of Londonderry! the father of Lord Castlereagh, the patricide of his country's independance. Lord Castlereagh vainly fancied, that every feather plucked from the Downshire interest would enrich the still shooting plumage of the Stewart's (or rather McGregors.)

* This patriotic legacy was sacredly administered. And Ireland has the happiness of seeing the honors of the Downshire family vested in a youth, who seems consciously proud of holding rank and fortune for his country's welfare. The delicate and important charge of implanting the true principles of loyalty and patriotism in the mind of a young nobleman of such national

1805.

1805.

Colonel

Meade proposes to

stand for

County
Down.

No sooner was it known to the public, that Lord Castlereagh was about vacating his seat,

consequence, could not have been more fortunately delegated. The Marchioness his mother was supereminently qualified and sympathetically zealous to perform the injunctions of her martyred Lord. She was the niece and heiress of the late Lord Sandys and to the princely fortune of her husband, the second Marquis of Downshire, she added the ample possessions of her uncle, as well as the concentrated patrimonies of several other noble and illustrious families. Beyond the possession of fortune and personal attractions, she brought into the Downshire family every quality and attainment, that can adorn and elevate the female mind. The names of her eldest son denote the sources of his maternal as well as his paternal inheritances, Ar. thur Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill Marquis of Downshire. Ireland is largely indebted to her for numerous services, national and particular: above all for the successful culture of the minds of the noble issue, with which her short enjoyment of the mar riage state was blest.

In their early bloom of virtue does their country hold an earnest of their sterling and inflexible patriotism. In the destinies of Ireland it is of no trivial import, that her transcendent excellencies have been justly appreciated by the illustrious personage most interested in the welfare and prosperity of that country. The Prince of Wales' repeated visits to Omberly Court, her Ladyship's residence in the country, speak without comment the estimation, in which she was holden by her Royal guest. As Ireland has begun to be cheered into animation by the glow of that political virtue, which Lady Downshire with such judgment and perseverance infused into her rising generation, what expectant extacies will attend the contemplation of her patriotism, sanctioned by the congenial conduct of the exalted personage, to whom this country looks up with confidence for every blessing. At a Gala dinner on his Royal Highness' birth day in August 1810, after the health of the Princess Charlotte of Wales had been proposed, the Prince addressed his company in a short, eloquent, and impressive speech, which was more of a national than

than those, who had the honor and interest of the county of Down most at heart, sought for 'some steadfast and experienced enemy to the corrupt principles of Lord Castlereagh, who would come forward to oppose him. The Marchioness had certainly anticipated this anxiety. Lord Castlereagh had presumptuously solicited her interest. But his application is said to have met with a most spirited rebuke. At length the Hon. Colonel Meade, a son of the late Earl of Clanwilliam, a young gentleman of high military ardor, though of slight political experience, was encouraged to announce his intention of offering himself a candidate for the representation of that county. On that occasion the Marchioness of Downshire published a short address* to the freeholders of the

convivial purport. His Royal Highness said, that he had made it his first care to instil into the mind and heart of his daughter the knowledge and love of the true principles of the British constitution: and he had pointed out to her young understanding as a model for study the political conduct of his most revered and lamented friend Mr. Fox, who had asserted and maintained with such transcendent force the just principles, upon which the government under this excellent constitution ought to be administered, for the true and solid dignity of the Crown, and the real freedom and happiness of the people.

Hanover Square, July 16, 1805.

The Hon. Colonel Meade having offered himself as a candidate for the county of Down, the prosperity of which we may be supposed to have much at heart, I beg leave for myself and dear son the Marquis of Downshire, to solicit your votes and interests in his favor. And I am fully persuaded, that should he be elected, his best endeavours will be used in promoting the

1805.

Lord Cas

tlereagh

canvasses

his friends

and ultimately fails.

county of Down. She went over with her two m fant sons to stimulate and witness in person the triumph over corruption in the defeat of Lord Castlereagh, which was principally owing to her indefati gable exertions.

Although Lord Castlereagh had not apprehendprivately ed any serious opposition, it was afterwards discovered, that he had for some time before his intention of vacating his seat was known, privately canvassed, through his brother, the chief supporters of his interest in that county. They consisted of six or seven noble and other families of congenial principles with his own, most of the Orangemen and terrorists, and the dependants and connections of those clergymen and others, whose sons he had provided for at home or in India, or who relied upon his promises for appointments or promotions. His family interest in the county was comparatively very trifling. His own was merely personal, having no estate in it. He converted therefore the whole government patronage, as far as he could, to his election purposes. So powerful however had been the late change of political feeling in the county of Down, that even the treasury purse, influence and patronage could not on this occasion overcome the general execration of the principles of Mr. Pitt, and the servile perfidy of

true interests of Ireland in general, and those of our county particular.

I am, your faithful and obedient humble servant,

M. DOWNSHIRE SANDYS.

in