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of office, agency or delegation whatever from the 1806. Catholic body. It should here be observed, that after the return of the delegates from England in 1805, the Committee, to whose labour and attention the petition then presented to Parliament, and all the consequent measures were owing, had been dissolved, and a new committee had been re-elected, to which Mr. Ryan was named secretary: and the meetings were to be holden in his house. In fact, however, they had never convened from the time

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"not to be inactive in the next. If this country had only to "dread the ordinary efforts of an enemy, it would be unsafe "to permit the existence of the jealousies and suspicions, which " are entertained against our body. How much more dangerous is it, when we have to contend with one, whose extreme "good fortune prompts him to undertake the most hazardous enterprizes? I pray, you will excuse me for the liberty I "have taken, and that you will believe me to be, with the "greatest respect,

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Your humble servant,

"JAMES RYAN."

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(Copy of Mr. Fox's answer to Mr. Ryan.)

DEAR SIR,

"I received the letter you did me the favour to write to me on the 25th of last month. I shall go to town in the course "of a little time, to remain, where I shall converse with other "friends to your cause, and as soon as I shall learn their opi "nions I shall write to you. In the mean time, I remain, with great regard, dear Sir,

Yours, ever,

"CHARLES JAMES FOX.”

1806. of their re-election to the appointment of the new ministry.

Mr. Ryan's application

Mr. Ryan by having published his own stateto Mr. Fox ment, and his correspondence with the British mipointment. nister has furnished us, not only with a true nar

for an ap

rative of the circumstances, but has superadded the views and motives of his own conduct, which could otherwise have been only conjectured. He tells us then, that upon the appointment of Mr. Fox to be a minister, "impressed with the hopes, " which I believe every well wisher to his country

was, that after the death of Mr. Pitt, and the "formation of the late administration, every

measure for the perfect reconciliation of Ireland "would be adopted, I did conclude, that persons "favoured by administrations instituted for very "different purposes, than the conciliation of the "Irish people, would not be allowed to remain in "the enjoyment of all the honours and emolu"ments, which are necessarily at the disposal of government, I accordingly addressed a letter to "Mr. Fox, of which the following is a copy:

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"Dublin, February 1806.

64 SIR,

"Permit me to add my humble congratulations to the general satisfaction, which is felt in this "country on the late changes, which have been "made in his Majesty's councils. The people of "Ireland look not only with confidence, but with

• Freeman's Journal, ubi supra.

"certainty to a speedy termination of all their "sufferings.

"I am sure your disposition will incline you to "pardon me, if, in making the application I am "about to do, I shall outstep, the freedom which "the kindness you have shewn me has prompted

me to take; and I have most earnestly to beg,. "that if the nature of it shall require your in"tercession with any person, whom you would "not feel it convenient to speak with, you will' "not give yourself the least uneasiness for not complying with my wishes.

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"For some time back, the money, which had "been raised in England for Irish account, has "been drawn for by a merchant here (appointed,

as I have been informed, by the Chancellor of "the Exchequer) by his drafts upon a banking "house in London, where the money has been deposited. I suppose the same system will be "continued. If so, and that you will feel your"self warrranted to recommend me to the situa

66

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tion, I shall feel myself greatly indebted to you, "and shall, if appointed, be ready to give any, required security for the faithful discharge of the "duties of it. I have the honor to be, Sir,

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"Your most obedient humble servant,

1806.

"JAMES RYAN.".

Mr. Fox's

As the specific day of February, on which this letter was written appears not upon the date, we conduct 16 are at a loss to know the precise time, at which:

Mr. Ryan.

1806.

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Mr. Ryan so powerfully recommended the case of Ireland, and of himself to Mr. Fox. Making every allowance for the weight and urgency of public business then pressing upon the foreign secretary in his own department, and for consultations with his colleagues upon this tender and vital question to Ireland, it is evident, that Mr. Ryan lost nothing by the tardiness of his application; nor was it hastily or unavoidably brought forward. The nature (not the value*) of the appointment is minutely described to a great statesman, presumed (as he probably was) ignorant of the minute detail of patronage, with a strong innuendo, that he might not feel it convenient to speak with his colleagues about it. No strong symptom of perfect cordiality in the ministry. In about a fortnight from their induction into office, viz. on the 18th of February, Mr. Fox wrote an answer to Mr. Ryan pregnant with historical document. It speaks the ingenuous candor and inflexible honor of the man, and shews, that he never merged those inestimable attributes in the statesman, even when in office. Mr. Fox abhorred deceit. Had he played the intriguer, he would have answered Mr. Ryan in separate letters, one to be shewn to the Catholics, the other of promise

* It savours rather of sinister policy in withholding the ultimate profits of these appointments, especially from those, who grant them. Mr. Ryan held it out to the public as yielding 3 or £4000 per ann. Those, who knew the amount of the monies annually remitted, and were competent to judge of the judicious use of the money in the market, at least trebled the estimate of the value of that appointment.

to be kept to himself, had he conceived the possi- 1906. bility of a gentleman's bartering the rights of others for his own emolument, or harboured an idea of purchasing his efforts to hold back the Catholic body from petitioning that session. His letter assumes plenary confidence between the principal and the agent; it is an overt communication to all, whom it concerns, and necessarily brings under the eye of the principal, the whole conduct and views of the presumed agent. Mr. Fox appears to have agreed in opinion with Mr. Ryan, that Mr. Rawlins, whose substitute he wished to become, ought not to remain in his situation of honor and emolument, merely because he was favoured by former administrations. The letter furnishes the valuable document to the Irish nation, that Mr. Fox's sentiments in favour of Ireland were not those of the predominancy in the cabinet; that he had already done all, that he could command by procuring the removal of Lord Redesdale; that the majority of the cabinet thought differently from him upon the system of governing Ireland; that they objected not to the leaven of Orangeism, with which it was so powerfully fermented, and were tender of making any removals of persons avowing the principles of the former administrations. That his principles and feelings were unshaken by place and power: and that he should be outvoted by his colleagues, were he to bring on their claims: but, true to his professions, he nobly pledged himself to propose and support them in the senate, if the Catholics called upon

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