Espionage. Arrest. Tower of London.

Chapter V.

1799.

**Disengagement from Politics - Hostile intentions of the Government towards me - Their unsuccessful Efforts to procure Evidence - Proposition to Except me from the benefit of a General Pardon - “Private and Secret” good wishes of Lord Castlereagh - My own freedom from apprehension - Letter to my Sister - Espionage - Second Arrest - Examination before the Privy Council - Committed to the Tower

• Sufferings there - Consequences to my Prospects, Health, and Fortune - The Story of my Imprisonment - Letters from Colonel Cockburn, Myself; my Father, Mr. Foulkes, Mr. Reeves, my Sister - My Father’s Death - Letters; from my Sister, the Duke of Portland, Mr. C. Crawford - Refusal of Permission to attend my Father’s Death-bed - Letters; from Mr. Hume, the Duke of Portland, my Sister, Mr. Hume, Mr. Cooke.**

 

During the short period of my detention in May and June, 1798, the crisis of the Irish rebellion had passed, and most of its unfortunate martyrs were finally disposed of in the interval that succeeded before my return to London. Throughout the whole of that interval I was entirely disengaged from politics and political connexions; my time was passed, as I have stated, in a manner incompatible with political pursuits. Nevertheless, as is shown by the recent revelations in the Castlereagh papers, I was still the object of the anxious care of the ministers. It was not their fault if I escaped being driven to desperation by being excepted by name from the bill of indemnity, or even specially attainted by a bill of pains and penalties, in consideration of its being impossible to convict me “by the ordinary course of law.”

The latter mode of making traitors was, I find, recommended to be adopted towards a class of persons against whom nothing could be proved - “offenders who cannot be convicted by the ordinary course of law” [Castlereagh Memoirs, vol. i., p. 163.] - (in which category I presume I should have been included) and was made the subject of two elaborate communications from Lord Grenville to members of the Irish government. The same thing was done, argued the noble lord, [Ib. p. 163] against Atterbury, “in very good times, and under the direction of some of the ablest lawyers we have had.” “It would be best,” he continues, in a subsequent letter, [Ib. p. 210.]] “(but I do not think it at all *necessary) *that these bills [of pains and penalties] should be grounded on previous indictments found in the usual course of law. If that cannot be done, there must then, I conceive, be some examination of witnesses, either at the bar of the House of Commons or in a secret committee, or at least some papers produced to such a committee, such as may personally implicate the individuals in the charge of treason.” I confess it seemed to me to be matter for marvel when I read this passage, that Lord Grenville’s advice was not followed, and that *some kind *of evidence was not provided, either public or private, to warrant my attainder. I read a little further on, however, and found the reason for that forbearance: an able purveyor of false testimony was out of the way.

On the 9th August, 1798, Mr. Mrickham wrote to Lord Castlereagh as follows:-

“To enable the Duke of Portland to do this [to fill up blanks for exceptions in the bill of pardon], Mr. Cooke had referred me to a man, who, I have no doubt, is well able to give the greater part, if not the whole, of the information necessary for that purpose; but unfortunately he is now, and has been for some time, at Paris; and all my endeavours to find a person capable of supplying his place, have been hitherto without effect.” [Castlereagh Memoirs, vol. i, p. 252]

In the same letter, my own case, and those of two of my fellow-sufferers, together with an exposition of the benevolent intentions of the Duke of Portland towards us, are so fully set forth, that I cannot avoid quoting a rather long extract from it

Among the persons excepted (writes Mr. Wickham), there is one upon whose case his Majesty’s law officers have made particular observations - I mean Mr. Stewart, of Acton. From the secret information in the Duke of Portland’s possession, independent of that which has been transmitted from Ireland, his grace can have no doubt that this gentleman is a very proper person to be excepted from his Majesty’s pardon. But a difficulty has arisen from the circumstance of his being now at large in this country. Your lordship will remember that Mr. Stewart, with several other persons resident here, known to be connected with the rebels, were taken into custody on the breaking out of the rebellion in Ireland. They were all afterwards discharged upon bail, as the rebellion assumed a less alarming appearance, and as the probability of the peace of this country being disturbed by the United Irishmen became less.

It is therefore contended, that it would have a very strange appearance, were his Majesty’s Ministers *here, *to advise the King to except from the benefit of a general pardon a person who is now at large, not even proceeded against, and who was not thought by them sufficiently dangerous to be detained in custody, even at the time when the Rebellion was not yet suppressed, however its force might have been diminished; and the Duke of Portland (agreeing entirely on that point with the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney and Solicitor-General) is decidedly of opinion that the inserting his name among the exceptions should be preceded by an order to take him again into custody, for the purpose of sending him over to Ireland; which, under all the circumstances of the case, can only now be done on a direct application from the Lord-Lieutenant, founded on the particular knowledge his Excellency has of the part that Mr. Stewart has taken in the Rebellion, and of the evidence by which his guilt may be proved.

The Duke of Portland desires me to observe, on this occasion, that Mr. Lawless and Mr. Bonham appear to stand nearly in the same situation with Mr. Stewart, as far, that is, as their respective cases are known to this government, and as far as they are affected by the circumstance of their having been taken into custody here on a charge of treason, and afterwards admitted to bail; and his Grace is of opinion that the decision with respect to each of these three persons ought to be governed by the same rule. They have all been the active agents of the United Irishmen in this country, and, as such, are extremely proper objects of punishment. But unless they, or some one or more of them, have committed some overt act *in Ireland, *which may be proved by such evidence as is required by the regular course of law; or at least by attainder in parliament, it is thought that it would be too much to except them, or any of them, from an act of pardon; nor, indeed, would it answer the end required, as, conscious of the want of evidence against them, they would probably come forward themselves, and demand a trial; and, in every case, the inserting of the name of any of them - in the exceptions of the bill, must be preceded by their being taken into custody, and sent. over to Ireland to be tried.

---

These were the “private and secret” sentiments of these conspirators - for such they confessedly were -against the lives and liberties of their fellow - subjects such were the reasons of state that influenced them to stop short of the final destruction of their victims. The “private and secret” despatch of Mr. Wickham elicited the following reply from Lord Castlereagh, dated “Dublin Castle, August 12,1798” [Castlereagh Memoirs, vol. i, p. 260.]:-

“After a full consideration of Mr. S.’s case, his Excellency is of opinion that the evidence against him in this country will not warrant his being transmitted to Ireland; consequently that it is most eligible, under all the circumstances, that his name should he omitted [from the list of exceptions in the bill of pardon]. Mr. L--- and Mr. B--- stand, as you observe, in the same predicament, in point of criminality; and, I am sorry to say, we are equally destitute of evidence to prove their guilt.”

I was, of course, at the time, altogether ignorant of the friendly intentions entertained towards me by those noble members of the paternal government of the day. Their thoughts did not appear in the daylight, under their own authority, until half a century bad elapsed. I was therefore, on my return to London, in the beginning of 1799, quite free from apprehension on that score, as will appear by the following passages from a letter written at the time, and which accidentally remained among my sister’s papers *

The Hon. V. B. Lawless to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

London, Feb. 16, 1799.

“Dearest Cha. - I am pretty sure I shall receive a letter from you to-day, for I am told that seven Irish mails are just arrived, so I shall begin an answer in anticipation. Lady Clonmell has at length condescended so far as to leave tickets at Mrs. Cockburn’s door; at the same time she wrote me an elegant apology for inattention, which I answered with all due form. I have also written to my father, as he was indisposed. * * *

All my snug little party here will break up in a few days. I have seldom passed three pleasanter months than the last, everything being considered. * * *

I hope you like the “Case of Ireland Re-considered,” as I claim a share in it, though it don’t go directly to what I wish. I have sent a short address to the people of Kildare, whom I saw called by their rascally sheriff. By way of excuse for his lordship’s foolish vote, I tell them that “many of the *best *men in the country favour the Union, from a conviction that enemies of Ireland will not cease to intrigue amongst us until the parliament is either reformed or annihilated.” This really would be a famous time to press the question of reform (for emancipation is nothing), because the parliament and the people must see that Pitt will never give up the Union, and if some steps are not taken to strengthen the cause of the country, he will certainly catch our new-fledged patriots napping, and poor Erin will either be lost for ever, or become the scene of war between French and English armies. I was sorry to find George Ponsonby pledge himself so strongly, along with Mr. Barrington, to support *all *the measures of government; for you may be sure there will be such heavy taxes laid on, and such severe laws passed, as will drive the people into new violences, and finally break down the country to the desire of *ministers. *The taxes, Pitt has already declared, you shall have. Lord Harrington is going over as commander-in-chief if Lord Cornwallis likes to remain, for he has his choice, which I am glad of; but if he returns, either Hobart or Hertford takes his place.

Did you ever read anything so insolent or ignorant as the ministerial speeches relative to Ireland m the English house? I am surprised that neither Curran nor Grattan publish anything on the present occasion: the latter has a very famous work almost ready. I expect him here soon.

Ever your own, V.

P.S. - I have just received the dear letter of the 6th, for which receive my constant and unbounded thanks. I had already written to my father on the 13th, in the best style I could in my present state of mind, which, though made up, is not at ease. If you think I should not say a word at all of politics, my letter to Kildare, which I sent to Mr. Dillon of Parliament-street, should he stopped; but it is so mild and gentle, I hardly think it can do harm, or vex the poor invalid. * * *

The official accounts of the capture of Naples are at length arrived. The Neapolitans, 120,000, made some resistance. The French were not more than 25,000. People here still think the Union will be carried in Ireland.”

That I was not, 50 years ago, regardless of a subject which has never since ceased to interest me, is manifest from the foregoing letter. I was then as now convinced that the Union was pregnant with mischief to Ireland. I was conscientiously opposed to it at all times, and I felt, what I still feel, that it was the duty of every honest man to express his sentiments openly upon a subject admitted by advocate and opponent to be of the last importance to the kingdom. In the eyes of the ministry of that day, however, to oppose their project for the enslavement of Ireland, and for the interruption of her rapidly-growing prosperity, was treason, and I was warned, as before my arrest in the preceding year, that in my case anti-unionism could be so considered and dealt with. I was not at the time desirous of another collision with government, and accordingly I took the precaution, upon receiving (again from Dr. Hussey) the warning to which I have alluded, to write to the Duke of Portland and to my friend John Reeves, who was then one of the clerks of the Council, referring to the information I had received as to the disposition of ministers towards me, and declaring that, from the time of my liberation, I had not, by act or word, meddled in political proceedings of the kind for which my conduct was then questioned.

My precaution was of little avail; it was thought necessary to make an example that might serve to terrify those Irishmen, whose assent to the dishonour of themselves and the ruin of their country, it was impossible to buy with hard cash. I was considered a good subject for such an experiment - sufficiently known and loved among my fellow-countrymen to insure notoriety and fearful sympathy for my misfortunes, I was yet not sufficiently powerful for self-defence, or to cause anxiety in the minds of my oppressors, from the fear of a public reaction against their illegal conduct. I was also young and active, and, above all, enthusiastic and incorruptible enough to render my exertions in defence of the independence of Ireland in some degree formidable, and therefore it was thought advisable to remove me from the scene of conflict.

I was accordingly arrested for the second time, on the 14th day of April, 1799, and although at the time in my bed, in consequence of an attack of slight fever, I was immediately taken to the house of a king’s messenger, and from thence to the Council. The warrant under which I was apprehended was signed by the Duke of Portland, and was issued under the authority of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act; it was not, as on the former occasion, for treason, but for “suspicion of treasonable practices.”

This time my arraignment before the Council was obviously a form, observed for appearance sake only. The old ground was, however, gone over, and I was interrogated as to my acquaintance with O’Coigly and Mr. Bonham, and my having gone to the singing-club at Furnival’s Inn with the latter. Of these matters I gave the same account as I had done before, telling the exact truth as to the facts, and adding that, even if my conduct in reference to these particulars had been matter of offence, it had been already forgiven. This did not avail me; the course of my persecutors was already fixed, and I was accordingly committed to the Tower upon the 8th of May, 1799, where I remained until the expiration of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act restored me to liberty in March of the year 1801.

Of the sufferings and privations I was made to endure throughout that protracted and rigid imprisonment, I will not trust myself to write at length, but allow the tale to be told in the words of letters written at the time, both by my friends and persecutors, and such brief memoranda of passing events as I find in my own contemporary communications, which have escaped destruction. The authenticity of these documents will scarcely be doubted; but I confess I could hardly hope for belief, in this age of prison humanity, were I to state from my own recollection simply, the fact, that I, an untried and innocent man, against whom, as the Castlereagh papers now conclusively prove, no criminatory evidence could be found, after the most diligent search at home and abroad - that I, the immediate heir to a peerage, having numerous and influential friends, and not unprovided with sufficient pecuniary means, could have been dragged from a sick bed, in the heart of the metropolis of British freedom, incarcerated in a filthy and loathsome cell, subjected to the continual companionship (even in my hours of sleep) of a double guard, deprived of the society of my nearest relatives, and even of the use of pen and paper, and finally dismissed from my prison, after the lapse of two-and-twenty months, without charge made against me, or reparation offered for the monstrous insults and injuries to which I was exposed during that dreary period.

In the course of those two-and-twenty tedious months I lost my father and grandfather, and the woman to whom I was upon the eve of being married with every human prospect of happiness. Her life, I have every reason to believe, fell a sacrifice to her continued anxiety for my fate, in respect of which the known circumstances of my prison treatment were sufficient to justify the most gloomy forebodings. To loss of friends and health were added pecuniary losses, heavier than were perhaps ever inflicted as punishment for the gravest established political guilt. My father, fearing the consequences of a persecution so unrelenting, altered his will towards the close of his life, and left away from me a sum of between £60,000 and £70,000, in order to provide against the contingency of confiscation, which it was not unreasonable to look to as a possible result of the malice of enemies who had already shown themselves so powerful for evil. If to this direct loss be added the waste and dilapidation of my estates, in consequence of the impossibility of my exercising control over my affairs, during the interval between my succession and liberation, I do not think I overrate my entire losses in money, directly consequent upon the arbitrary deprivation of my liberty, at less than £100,000. *

Colonel (afterwards General Sir George) Cockburn to the Hon. V. B. Lawless.*

Dublin, 11th April, 1799.

“My dear Lawless - I received your letter yesterday. I have seen your father twice lately. He is much better, and is now able to go out. He never mentioned a word respecting your marriage, and I therefore could not begin the subject. I have seen Burne, and I understand from him that your father *has *positively consented; but Burne says has never varied from his *first declaration *of the year. He thinks violence will not do, and you must either submit to wait the end of the year, or try what conciliation and coaxing will do. As to your marrying without his leave, I assure you I hear from the best authority that he has made the most positive declaration of his determination to resist such a step in the strongest manner; and the year is so nearly out, that it really would not be acting with your usual good sense if you ran any risk of his displeasure. Burne tells me *he is determined *to have you called to the English bar, and therefore insists on your remaining in London till June; that you are then to come over to him, by which time he will have determined what property he will settle on you; and Burne thinks that your submission to his will in these particulars will certainly bring matters to a conclusion by July. * * *

I did not go to Naas. I hear such a grand jury never was heard of. Most respectable names left out - Keatinge not called on the panel. Dillon says, at dinner, they refused to drink the duke’s health. You will be concerned to hear that 30 *Ancient Britons *have died of a contagious fever at Athy. I had it from an officer of the regiment.

Yours, G. C.

P.S. - There is no doubt but the King of Prussia has consented to take all the men government will send him. Some hundreds have embarked, and Prussian officers came to receive them. He is to make soldiers of them. I think it disgraces him to become a sort of bridewell-keeper or Algerine to any nation.” *

The Hon. V. B. Lawless to the Hon. Volentina Lawkss.*

Tower, Sunday, May 19th.

“It will be as unwelcome a novelty to you, my dear sister, to receive, as it is to me to write a letter from a prison: we must, however, submit to necessity, and I endeavour to do so with the best possible grace. This day ends the fifth week of my confinement, and you should have heard from me before were it not that I was under great restrictions at the messenger’s, and was in daily expectation of being liberated; besides, the very day of my first examination, I met a friend who undertook to set you all at ease with respect to my safety and ultimate vindication. After my six weeks’ confinement of last year, I should hope my present misfortune would be less shocking to you or my father; but I cannot express to you the pain I feel for the situation of my poor M---: what a miserable disappointment to her, after a month’s expectation that I should join her at Cheltenham. Write to her, I beg of you, my dear Valentina; assure her that I am quite well, and full of hope that we shall soon meet. Tell her that I have got a good and airy room, with books to read, and that I never cease to think of her; but I will not write, because my letters should be inspected, which would be an injury to her, in ease she should withdraw her affection from a poor *branded *rebel; for although I do not much fear, still I will make some allowance for the proverbial inconstancy of you ladies. When you write to Merrion-street, let my father know that it will be the greatest relief to me if he will rest assured that, in word or act, I have never said or done anything illegal, disloyal, or unworthy of him. In ease I am tried, I fear not I shall make this appear; but I am chiefly afraid of a long confinement, though hitherto, thank God, I have borne it pretty well: last year I should have thought nothing of it, though in a very bad state of health. I think government owes it to his services, if not to justice or humanity, to bring me to trial, or to liberate me. I believe I am the first person who has been committed to the Tower for a *suspicion *of high treason; and it is only under the new act I could be detained. However, I shall patiently wait the result, provided I still possess the good opinion of my friends. From what I recollect of my examination, I am accused of meeting Colonel Despard and some United Irishmen, at some period previous to my former arrest; but this can be explained to you better by Mr. Reeves, or some other official man. R. has been very friendly to me, and spoke in my favour to Colonel Smith, who commands here; but so he ought, for my foolish letter to him is an excuse for my detention. I suppose my father will be told that I refused to answer questions; but I did the same last year till I was liberated, when I offered, of my own accord, to give every account of my conduct; and Mr. Vaughan afterwards told me it was right, as my answers would be twisted so as to justify my detention. The same rule was followed by Mr. Sayre, in the year ‘75, when arrested on a charge of high treason, and he was soon liberated. All my letters and papers have, I suppose, been ransacked and plundered, as they were last year. I hope my lodgings have been given up; I shall settle that and other accounts when I get out. In the meantime send the enclosed to whoever has got possession of my goods and chattels. In case any money is wanted on my account, you can draw on my agent in my name. Send me £15 now, and the same every month whilst I remain here; it is the outside of my expense. I was offered a guinea per week, government allowance, but have refused it, as none of our family have as yet been pensioners. I am surprised I have received no letter or visit since my removal, but shall expect a few lines from you in a day or two, *open, and enclosed to Colonel Smith, Tower. This gentleman has been extremely polite to me; has lent me books, and got leave for me to walk about the Tower: this last I have not profited of, except once on the roof of my apartment. I get on pretty well in the daytime, but am very feverish at night; but I will keep off the sick list as long as I can. I am not allowed newspapers, which to me is a great, as it is certainly a very useless, privation. My fellow-prisoners, a Swede and a Manx, being married, are allowed to see their wives; I do not know whether they are suspected of being United Irish. I have always two warders, or beef-eaters in the room with me, and am alternately amused and annoyed by their loquacity; a sentry at my door, who, on taking post, views my person, and being of that excellent school, the Guards, will probably, some of those days, swear some other crime against me, if I escape the punishment due to my manifold treasons. These grand forms would amuse me if I thought them likely soon to end, and that the name of rebel will [not] hurt me as much in society as the title of mad would a dog. As I shall not write again soon, you must be my secretary, and give what consolation you can to all my friends, especially Ninny and Charlotte; and tell Reeves he will find me ” integer vitae scelerisque purus.” *I hope the desire of getting me out will not induce my father to do anything he would otherwise not approve of. I owe it to him and to myself to prove the rectitude of my conduct. If he had allowed me to follow my own plans, this would not have happened; but I am now so deep, that, like Macbeth, I must go through. Remember me to Tom and the countess. I used, indeed, to see you often drive by the messenger’s, where I was; and I yesterday saw the captain) and one or two friendly faces under my window, but they deigned not to look up at the poor prisoner. Tell me all the news you can, and what conjectures are formed about me. Adieu, my dear V.; my hand is tired, and I can scrawl no more; let me hear from you soon, and believe me ever yours.

Quand aurai je le bonheur de te revoir?” *

Nicholas Lord Cloncurry to the Duke of Portland.*

(Endorsed in my father’s handwriting, “13th May, 1799. Copy of my letter to the Duke of Portland.”)

“My Lord - Although I have not the honour and advantage of being personally known to your Grace, I am not a stranger to the humanity and benignity of your Grace’s character, to excuse the anxiety of a parent, where the character, and, perhaps, future happiness, of an only son are so materially con corned. I am very sorry to find that he has again incurred the observation of his Majesty’s government. I trust, however, that it arises merely from precaution, in consequence of his former indiscretion, and the persons with whom he had, at that time, the misfortune to connect himself. God forbid; that I should ever allow myself to consider him as criminal. That he may have entertained vain and idle notions of liberty and reform, I am perfectly aware, from the principles of certain persons with whom he kept company, which I always disapproved as well by my example as by my advice. I owe it, in justice to him, to assure your Grace that he wished to withdraw himself from them, and to settle himself in this country, to which I had consented; but, at *my desire, *he was to remain in London until next month, in order to finish his terms at the Temple.

It my Lord, your Grace’s warrant for again confining him was granted, which I trust in God it was, merely as a measure of precaution, in consequence of any former indiscretion, and that he has not been guilty of any act of a serious tendency, I hope your Grace and his Majesty’s ministers will think him sufficiently punished, and permit him to return to his family; and being then under my own immediate observation, I can have no doubt, from the contrition and concern he formerly expressed, and the promise he made to me, but that his future conduct will be such as becomes a dutiful and a loyal subject; and in acting as such he will always have the advice and example of his father. I have the honour to be, with much respect, my Lord,

Your Grace’s most humble and obedient servant.” *

Mr. Foulkes (solicitor) to Hon. V. B. Lawless.*

Hart-street, Bloomsbury-square, 26th June, 1799.

“My dear Sir - For fear you should think yourself neglected, or that I have been unmindful of my duty, I think it proper to enclose, for your perusal, copies of the letters that have passed between me and Mr. Wickham on the subject of your imprisonment, &c.

I hope my being denied access to you at *present *will not have occasioned any inconvenience or injury to you in any of your private affairs, and shall be glad to hear that this letter, with the enclosed, has been delivered to you, as it doubtless will be, by the Governor of the Tower, to whom I mean to send it unsealed. I hope, too, that you have your health.

I am, very respectfully and faithfully yours,

John Foukes.” *

The Hon. Valentina Lawless to the Hon. V. B. Lawless.*

Portman-square, August 7th, ‘99.

“My dearest Val. - Mr. Calwell’s having seen you before I leave town; has given me the greatest comfort, as he assures me you continue in good health. I almost despaired of his obtaining the permission, it is so long a time since he applied for it; but his goodnature and perseverance at length succeeded.

I fear Mr. Lees’ intentions in your favour will not answer our expectations. I have just received a letter from him, in which he tells me that, from the best information he can obtain, he has reason to believe his interference at present would answer no good purpose; and that permission to see you in private would not be granted. I own that this is a great disappointment to me; but we must be patient - all will be well yet. I saw Mr. Reeves last night, and he has promised me to send your money regularly during my absence, and also any new publications that he thinks may amuse you. I have not heard from our friends since I wrote to you last, as they suppose me to be at Cheltenham now; we set off to-morrow for certain. You shall hear from me soon.

Believe me, dear brother, ever sincerely yours,

V. Lawless.

I hope you received my letter of the 2nd, enclosing one from Cha. I send the magazines by the bearer.” *

John Reeves, Esq. to the Hon. V. B. Lawless.*

6th August, ‘99.

“Dear Lawless - Your sister tells me she is going with Lady Clonmell to Cheltenham the day after to-morrow; and she requests I would undertake to supply you with your £15 per month, which I certainly will do. I will send or call upon Colonel Smith in a day or two. Pray do not think I have forgotten you, because I have not made application to see you; believe that in this forbearance I do what appears to me, in the present circumstances, to be prudent and proper. You may rely upon my being ready to do anything that can be useful to you. God bless you, and believe me,

Yours ever truly,

J. Reeves.

P.S. - Our friend Lees is in town. We have talked about [you], and we both agreed, it was better not to interfere just at this moment. He thinks very kindly about you.” *

Nicholas Lord Cloncurry to the Duke of Portland.*

(copy endorsed in my father’s handwriting, “My letter to his Grace the Duke of Portland.”)

20th August, 1799.

“My Lord - I had the honour of writing to your Grace, three months since, on the 13th day of May last, a few lines in favour of my unfortunate son. It was at the earnest entreaty of the young man’s sisters and friends that I troubled your Grace; for there are very few persons who like less to trouble great men, or men high in office, than myself. I have had the honour of a seat in the Houses of Commons and Lords near thirty years, yet may say that I never solicited nor obtained the least pecuniary favour or emolument for myself or any friend; if I have obtained any honours, they cost me the full value. During your Grace’s residence here I heartily supported your administration; and your Grace well knows that I claimed no merit for it. One reason for this long preamble is, to show your Grace that I am no importunate courtier, and had some reason to hope, at least, an answer from your Grace: indeed the few friends who know that I have written to your Grace, cannot believe, from your known character of urbanity and humanity, that you have received my former letter (for which reason I have desired that this letter should he dropped in the post-office chest.)

I hope, my lord, that your Grace will excuse this trouble, and honour me with an answer, however short. I have the honour to he, with great respect, my lord,

Your Grace’s, &c.

Your Grace may know that I voted in the House of Lords for receiving the proposition for a Union; I also gave it my interest in the county of Limerick, where I have some property, and which, perhaps, few would have done, treated as I have been.”

The foregoing was written on the 20th of August, and on the 29th my father breathed his last. All that I was permitted to know of his last moments was communicated to me in the following letters *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to John Reeves, Esq.*

Blackrock, August 25th.

“My dear Sir - I write to you in a moment of great distress, being assured from your constant kindness to my beloved brother that you would assist him and us all in any way you could. My poor father is in a sad state; his physicians give us no hope that he can recover though he may linger for a short time. You may conceive how cruelly the being deprived of his son’s presence at such a time weighs upon his mind. Val, who is much attached to his father, will be made completely miserable. Do you not think that if the Duke of Portland was informed of my father’s situation and ardent desire to see his son, he would not, taking proper security, allow him to come pay the last duties to a kind and good parent? Mr. Lees’ being away is a great loss to us, as he might put us in the right way to communicate this matter to ministers, who, I am sure, when they punished a little imprudence, did not mean to destroy the happiness of a family. The mystery that has been observed has made my father so unhappy, and particularly his letter to the Duke of Portland never having been answered, that I fear much of his rapid decline from robust health is to be attributed to anxiety be endeavoured to conceal but which he now says he felt. Lord Carleton is, I understand, now in London: he was always very friendly to our family, and, perhaps, would undertake to inform the duke, or any one who has power to interfere, of this business.

I am sure I need not apologise for giving you this trouble, nor importune you farther on a subject which the goodness of your heart will make you take every interest in.

Believe me, dear sir, very much yours,

C. Lawless.

P.S. - If leave should be given to Val. to come over, give him the enclosed; if not, it would be too cruel to let him know his father’s situation.” *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to John Reeves, Esq.*

Thursday, August 29th.

“Dear Sir - Soon after I had written to you yesterday, every alarming symptom prepared us for the loss of our dear and excellent parent. He died this morning, at five o’clock, of a disorder in his bowels, which defied every effort of medicine. He suffered much pain, but preserved his mental faculties to the last moment; was perfectly resigned, and even desirous to quit the world; and had no care or anxiety but what the constant recollection of poor Val.’s situation gave him: this has long weighed most heavily on his mind; I would not for any consideration Val. should know how heavy. It will be a most severe blow to him, and require all the kind management of friendship to break it to him. His passions are high, and I dread the first burst of feeling upon knowing he has for ever lost a father whom he never designed to offend, but whom the circumstance of his arrest (the cause of which has been variously represented and exaggerated to him by every idle talker he met) had much irritated against him.

If his enlargement is not to be obtained, how is all the communication absolutely necessary upon his private affairs to take place? I shall be truly obliged to you to tell me plainly what can be obtained, and what should be done, and also to break this painful news to my darling brother.

Excuse all this trouble; it is a great tax on your kindness. Believe me, dear sir, most sincerely,

Your obliged servant,

Charlotte Lawlesss.” *

The Duke of Portland to Valentine Lord Cloncurry.*

Bulstrode, Monday, 2nd September, 1799. Forty-five minutes past Eleven, P.M.

“My Lord - I have the honour of transmitting your Lordship the enclosed, which I received this evening, and am very sorry that my absence from town has delayed the communication of this melancholy event, which must so materially interest your Lordship in various respects. I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,

PORTLAND.

The Right Hon. Lord Cloncurry.” *

Mr. Cooper Crawford to Valentine Lord Cloncurry.*

Hume-street, Dublin, 29th August, 1799.

“My Lord - An event happened this morning which must necessarily be very painful to you to hear, and which I feel much concern in communicating: however, my attention to you calls upon me to discharge that duty.

The late Lord Cloncurry was, on Friday last, attacked with a complaint in his bowels, which did not seemingly become serious until Monday. He had every medical assistance and attention; but in vain. This morning at five o’clock he departed.

On Monday evening he called upon me to prepare his will, which I did. You have enclosed a short abstract of the disposition he made of his fortune.

The demesne of Lyons was managed by Mr. Ryan, who is still there. He is a man very capable, in every respect, of managing it; and has conducted himself very much to the satisfaction of the late lord. He means to continue the same plan of management for your Lordship, and will wait your directions upon that subject.

I have not now time to state to your Lordship the business which the late Lord was pleased to commit to my care, but I will do so very soon. I have the honour to be

Your Lordship’s very faithful and obedient servant,

Cooper Crawford.” *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to Lord Cloncurry.*

Saturday, August 31st.

“Dearest Val. - Before you receive this letter you will have been informed, I trust with the precaution and attention to your feelings which I requested, of the severe and sudden loss we have all suffered. It is no small aggravation of so painful a circumstance that we are deprived of the comfort and assistance of the best of brothers. Perhaps it would be doing an injustice to those who have it in their power to restore you to us, to suppose that we should not see you very soon: we have done whatever ourselves or friends thought could be done, to represent the urgency of the occasion, and shall live in hopes of your being at liberty to come once more amongst us.

I shall not enter into the distressing detail of this unexpected event; but rest assured all that medicine and attentive care could do was done. Hume says, had it been possible to stop the rapid progress of the disease, a year or two of great infirmity was all could have been gained. When I wrote to you on Wednesday, this was the opinion entertained; but that night the inflammation of the bowels assumed the most fatal appearance. He suffered extremely at times; but in the intervals his resignation, firmness, and self-possession astonished everybody who saw him. His last will, which Crawford sends you a copy of through the Duke of Portland, was made on Monday, when he thought himself much worse than his physicians allowed us to apprehend: it was opened to-day in the presence of all who were thought necessary. The contents were known to Mary before, to whom he explained every particular of his affairs, and dictated what she should do. I must, in justice to her, mention what Crawford and others can vouch for, that you are indebted to her for some circumstances very essential to you, and for much solicitation to have them still more so, as also for his forgiveness of every uneasiness he suffered on your account. I know your heart too well to suppose you capable of thinking we have been too generously treated. I hope we shall ever be as united as we have hitherto been; and that you will believe the affection we have ever shown you cannot decrease when we have it most in our power to prove it. God bless and preserve the best beloved of my heart, and grant that I may soon see him in the enjoyment of all the happiness I think he merits.

Your

Cha.”

To the appeals to the mercy of the minister, for permission to attend my father’s death-bed, referred to in these letters, the following cold answer was returned:- *

The Duke of Portland to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

Whitehall 6th September, 1800,

“Madam - I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., and to inform you that I have granted the necessary permission to Mr. Burne to have access to your brother.

I am concerned to be under the necessity of adding, that the wish you have expressed for your brother’s enlargement cannot possibly be complied with. I have the honour to be, madam,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

PORTLAND.”

When permission was thus refused to a son, to attend (even loaded with the fetters of the law) upon the dying moments of his father, it was not to be supposed that any relaxation of my unjust imprisonment would have been conceded on the grounds of my own failing health, or of the necessity that existed for attention to my personal affairs, and to the duties that now devolved upon me, as the owner of a considerable landed estate.

Nevertheless, my zealous friends made an attempt in that direction also; with what success will be seen in the following letters:- *

John Burne, Esq., to the Duke of Portland.*

[Copy not dated.]

“My Lord - I address this letter to your Grace by direction of Lord Cloncurry, who is at present confined in the Tower, and trust your Grace will excuse me for making an application which want of pen, ink, and paper prevents him from making for himself.

I presume your Grace is apprised that his Lordship has lately become entitled to a considerable real estate in Ireland, by the death of his father. The peculiar situation of this estate, and of his Lordship’s affairs in consequence of his father’s death, renders his presence in Ireland at this time essentially necessary. I might add that, during a late interview which, by your Grace’s permission I had with him last Friday, his health appeared much impaired by his confinement; and so far as I am able to judge from my own observation, I really think him very ill, though he makes no complaint of that kind. He authorised me to inform your Grace that if permitted to go to Ireland for five or six weeks to settle his affairs, he is ready to enter into any security that may be required for the rectitude of his conduct, and to surrender his person at the end of that period, or dispose of himself in any manner your Grace may direct.” *

The Duke of Portland to John Burne, Esq.*

Burlington House, Monday, 23rd September, 1799.

“Sir - I this moment received a letter from you, which you state to have been written by the desire of Lord Cloncurry, who is himself unable to make the application it contains, by being deprived of pen, ink, and paper.

I am very sorry to say that my duty to the public will not suffer me to consent to the request you have made in Lord Cloncurry’s behalf, which I cannot but be surprised to find it alleged he had not in his power to make himself.

I do not know of any order which has been given to debar him the indulgence of pen, ink, and paper, or to restrain him from the use of them in the presence of those who have the charge of his person.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

PORTLAND.” *

John Burne, Esq., to the Duke of Portland.*

“My Lord - Permit me to return my humble acknowledgements to your Grace for your polite answer to my letter on behalf of Lord Cloncurry. I lament extremely that public duty prevents your Grace from consenting to his liberation, more especially because I believe his health, and I am sure his fortune, will suffer essentially by his confinement. I stated to your Grace that he was prevented from the use of pen, ink, and paper, because he mentioned so to me; and I should be more inclined to think that those who have the charge of his person might misconceive your Grace’s orders, than that his Lordship should be guilty of any intentional misrepresentation. He desired me, in case the application for his enlargement should fail, to apply to your Grace for the indulgence of pen, ink, and paper, newspapers, and the monthly magazines, and I am sure your Grace’s humanity will induce you to give orders for every kind of accommodation that can be extended to him consistently with your public duty.” *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to the Duke of Portland.*

Thursday, 19th September, ‘99, Blackrock, Dublin.

“My Lord - The recent death of my respected father has deprived my brother, confined in the Tower under a warrant from your Grace, not only of the best of parents, but also of the only friend who could consider himself as having a right to interfere in his behalf. It was the intention of my father, previous to his last illness, to have written to your Grace to represent his fears for the health of his son, and to entreat your consideration, whether, if his liberation could not be granted, a removal to some place where he could have the benefit of air and exercise, might not be acceded to. Death has put an end to the anxiety of a parent; but it has redoubled the affliction of sisters attached by every tie of grateful affection to a dear and only brother, whose constant kindness to them, and dutiful conduct to the excellent parents he has lost, impress on their minds the belief that whatever imprudence he may, from his youth and warm benevolence of disposition, have been led into, it is not possible that anything dishonourable or seriously wrong could be countenanced by him. But for the injury his health may sustain we have serious ground for alarm. The painful feelings he has had to combat during six months’ confinement, preying on a delicacy of constitution, which has made the most attentive care necessary from his childhood, may be very fatal to him. If permission to go to Lisbon, with whatever precaution may be deemed necessary, of bail, &c., could be granted, I am convinced such an act of kindness would be of essential service to his health, and have the best effect on his just and good mind. Placed now at the head of his family, he will be guarded in his conduct, and cautious of the connexions he makes. A short time before his arrest, he had received his father’s consent to an alliance most agreeable to all his family, and had repeatedly written to me his anxious wish to settle himself quietly in the country, and get out of the way of being importuned on subjects which he found he only incurred displeasure by interfering in.

I must now apologise for this intrusion on your Grace’s time. A sincere conviction that I am not soliciting anything you can ever have cause to regret having granted, emboldened me to venture an address where I could best hope for any relief that may be possible. I remain, with all respect,

Your Grace’s most obedient, humble servant,

C. L.

P.S. - Mr. Burne, my father’s lawyer and most confidential friend, is at present in London; if your Grace could permit his admission to my brother, it would be a great obligation and satisfaction to his family.

My father, about a fortnight after my brother’s arrest, wrote a letter to your Grace, which not having received any answer to caused him much uneasiness.” *

The Duke of Portland to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

Whitehall, 27th September, 1799.

“Madam - I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 19th instant, and I am very sorry to be under the necessity of acquainting you that, under the present circumstances of Lord Cloncurry’s case; it is impossible that he can be liberated on the conditions you mention.

With regard to Mr. Burne’s having permission to see Lord Cloncurry on matters relative to his private affairs, I have given directions that the proper authority for that purpose should be sent to him.

Had it been in my power to have returned such an answer to the letter I received from the late Lord Cloncurry, as could have given him any sort of satisfaction, I should certainty not have subjected myself to the mortification which I could not but know I was liable to experience upon account of my silence, although nothing but a desire not to increase his uneasiness could have induced me to observe it. I have the honour to be, madam,

Your most humble, obedient servant,

PORTLAND.” *

John Burne, Esq., to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

“My dear Miss Lawless - I delayed answeing your letter till I could give you some account of my interview with your brother. Though I made an application to see him immediately on my arrival here, I was not admitted till yesterday. Mr. Reeves appointed me to call on him at 11 o’clock, and we went together to the Tower in his carriage. Upon arriving there we were obliged to wait some time, till certain formalities were complied with; but at length saw the poor prisoner. I remained with him near three hours, and during the whole time two beefeaters and the jailor remained in the room. He was very cheerful, and apparently in good health; but I think I could perceive that want of his usual exercise and free circulation of air, have somewhat affected his nerves, hut I hope not materially. We had a great deal of conversation relative to his private affairs, and he has communicated his sentiments fully to you in a letter which he dictated to me, and which Jane is copying to send you. He desired me to tell you that a power of attorney, vesting the entire management of his affairs in you, is to be executed in a day or two, and will be sent over by me. In the meantime, you are to have an advertisement published in the papers, directing the tenants to pay their rents to the former agents, and ordering all letters and applications relative to his affairs to be addressed to you; but you are not to send any papers of business to him during his confinement. I mentioned to him my intention of writing a letter on his behalf to the Duke of Portland, and of applying to Lord Yelverton, who happens to be here, to aid my application to the Duke in the best manner he could. I was well pleased that he approved of this, and authorized me to say that he was ready to accede to any reasonable terms government might propose, in order to obtain his liberty. He expressed a wish that Mr. Reeves and I should dine with him next week, which we agreed to do, and Mr. Reeves has promised to obtain permission for me to see him whenever I require it. This morning I went to Lord Yelverton, and was with him a considerable time. His Lordship has promised to go to the Duke of Portland on Monday, and to do what he can in support of my application to his Grace. Mr. Reeves assures me that there is no person whose interference could be more useful than Lord Yelverton’s, and the kind manner in which his Lordship promised to comply with my request, induces me to entertain some hope. I have written a letter to the Duke, representing the situation of our friend as strongly as I could, and soliciting his liberation, even for a limited time, upon the terms of entering into security to dispose of himself in such manner as his Grace may think proper. If allowed to go to Ireland for five or six weeks, he will afterwards go to Lisbon, or wherever else ministers may direct. If I should be able to bring about the liberation of our dear friend, I should feel a degree of pleasure fully adequate to reward my exertions. Be assured, nothing within the scope of my very limited powers shall be left undone to attain this most desirable object.

We shall remain in London till the 10th of October, but must leave it then. Miss Valentina, in her letter to Jane, says she will be in London the 6th, and will accompany us to Ireland. If we could but bring the poor prisoner with us! But I can scarcely indulge the hope. Though I have much more to say, I must conclude. Remember me in the kindest manner to Miss L---.

And believe me most truly yours.

J. B.” *

John Reeves, Esq., to John Burne, Esq.*

Tuesday.

“Dear Sir -I am sorry I have not yet had the permission to see Lord Cloncurry. I will inquire again this morning, and you shall hear from me.

We must give up all thoughts of dining there. It would not be proper, as Colonel Smith told me, and as we may easily believe.

I am, dear sir, yours truly,

J. Reeves.” *

The Duke of Portland to John Burne, Esq.*

Whitehall, 3rd October, 1799.

The Duke of Portland presents his compliments to Mr. Burne, and acquaints him that he has signed a warrant, and which will be forwarded to the Tower, for Dr. Turton to be admitted to Lord Cloncurry.” *

John Burne, Esq., to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

London, October 11, 1199.

“My dear Miss Lawless - From a conviction that your brother’s health was materially injured by his confinement, I advised him to call in a physician, to which he consented, and desired me to bring Sir John Hayes, which I accordingly did. When Sir J. Hayes saw him, he intimated his opinion that air and exercise were essentially necessary; but, at the same time, expressed an anxious wish to have the assistance of another physician, and requested me to call in Doctor Turton. In consequence of this, I appointed Sir J. Hayes and Doctor Turton to meet at the Tower yesterday, which they did; but though Sir J. Hayes was anxious to give such a certificate as, I think, must have procured your brother’s liberation, yet Doctor Turton positively refused, and because he saw no immediate occasion to prescribe any medical preparation, he objected to prescribing air and exercise, which, I am persuaded, are essentially necessary. Sir J. Hayes then said that he could not sign a certificate to which Doctor Turton refused to put his name; and thus a very important part of my plan has been defeated, to the great gratification of some *professed *friends here; but I still intend to present a memorial in your brother’s name, and with his approbation, stating some circumstances which, I think, must have an influence in his favour; and though appearances at present are not very promising, I am not without hopes that he will soon be liberated. At all events, I have the satisfaction to reflect that nothing which I was able to do has been left undone, and if my interference for him has had no other effect, it has certainly diminished the rigour of his confinement, and left him much more comfortable than I found him; and I assure you it is a fact, which I scarcely know whether to call fortunate or unfortunate, that he was infinitely better the day the physician saw him than when I first visited him. Captain Manby arrived here a few days ago; I like him very much, and he has obtained an order for liberty to see your brother next week. We dined with Lady Clonmell yesterday. Miss Valentina and Jane are very busy in buying bargains, packing, &c. We shall all set out on Sunday morning, and hope to be in Dublin on Thursday. Remember me to your sister, and believe me

Most sincerely yours, &c.,

J. Burne.” *

Memorial from Lord Cloncurry to the Privy Council. *[Draft in Mr. Burne’s handwriting.]

To his Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council. - The Memorial of Valentine Lord Baron Cloncurry.

That your memorialist was first arrested under a warrant from his Grace the Duke of Portland, on the 30th day of May, 1798, and was kept in confinement for a period of six weeks; at the end of which time, when liberated, he voluntarily offered to give the Privy Council a full and faithful explanation of his conduct.

That on the 14th day of April last, when your Memorialist’s health was scarcely restored from the effects of that confinement, your Memorialist was again arrested under a similar warrant, and has ever since been confined with a degree of rigour unexampled on any former occasion, or at least rarely exercised towards a person imprisoned for security, and not for punishment.

That your Memorialist, for six months past, has been totally deprived of that wholesome air and exercise to which he had been accustomed, and which the nature of his constitution peculiarly requires; and he has been prevented from availing himself of the permission to walk in one of the courts of the Tower, by the mortifying restrictions under which he must have taken that trifling indulgence.

That a melancholy event which has recently happened in your Memorialist’s family renders his presence in Ireland, at this time, of the utmost importance, for the arrangement of his affairs; and if your Memorialist be permitted to go there for four or five weeks, he is ready and willing to give the most satisfactory security for the surrender of his person whenever it may be required, or to go to Lisbon, and remain there till he shall be permitted to return.

Your Memorialist therefore hopes he will be liberated from a confinement which is no longer necessary for the security of his person, and which can have no other effect than to injure his health and embarrass his affairs. *

The Duke of Portland to Lord Cloncurry.*

Whitehall, October 16, 1799.

“My Lord - The memorial which I received from your Lordship on the 11th instant has been submitted to the consideration of his Majesty’s Privy Council, who are of opinion, on duly considering the same, that it is not advisable, under the present circumstances, that the prayer of it should be complied with. I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship’s obedient, humble servant,

PORTLAND.” *

Arthur Hume, Esq., to Lord Cloncurry.*

Dublin Treasury, Oct. 30, 1799.

My Lord - Enclosed I send you £20 British, according to your direction to Miss Lawless, and shall continue to do so every month till I bear from you to the contrary. I consider myself much obliged for your kind intentions towards me. I shall avail myself of them, and you may rest assured of the strictest punctuality on my part in all dealings with your Lordship. I was much concerned to hear your health not being good. I have the honour to be

Your Lordship’s very obliged, humble servant,

Arthur Hume.” *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to Lord Cloncurry.*

Friday, Sept. 27th.

---

“I have some reason to hope you will soon be enabled to attend to the management of your affairs. In the meantime, whatever I am authorized to do shall he done according to the exact letter of your directions. As soon as I received your first order, I wrote to Trenor, who is now at Balbriggan, acting as usher in his brother-in-law’s school. He came to town and received the £30. He looks as ill as possible, poor fellow, and will not, I fear, long enjoy your bounty. I shall inform him to-morrow of your further intentions in his favour, and shall write to Mr. Thomas Ryan as you desire, and inquire about your servant’s son. As to an advertisement of notice, &c., I have written Mr. Burne the reasons given me why I should not publish one at present, and shall wait his advice before I do anything more. I shall tell Arthur Hume what you desire he should do, and see what is best to be done with your house in Merrion-row. The service of plate, and books, and the pictures in Merrion-street, you must accept from your sisters, as they consider them by right yours, and have sincere pleasure in giving them up to you. It was our intention to have made an exchange with you, if you approved it, as we should prefer residing at Maretimo; and you might keep or dispose of the house in Merrion-street as you pleased. If you don’t like this plan, we shall dispose of it in the best way we can, and settle otherwise with you.

What you call the angry part of your letter is easily answered. I never yet received either reproof or advice from anybody whom I esteemed and knew to be my friend, that it did not fill my heart with more gratitude than the highest commendation could do. Be assured, then, my best and dearest of friends, that one of the greatest obligations I can owe you is your telling me when my ardent desire to comfort and assist you makes me lose sight of sober prudence. My third sister joins with Mary and me in commands to you to take care of yourself.

Adieu, dearest Val., your

Charlotte.” *

Edward Cooke, Esq., to the Hon. Charlotte Lawless.*

London, 6th November, 1799.

“Dear Miss Charlotte - I was much flattered by your letter, because it proved your conviction that I should ever be disposed to interest myself where your wishes were engaged. It is, of course, a subject of real mortification to me that my representations respecting your brother have not been successful. Several untoward circumstances respecting him have arisen even since I have been in London, which have contributed to increase the reluctance which is felt to grant him his liberty. These circumstances need not make you uneasy, and I will explain them when I have the honour of seeing you, which will be soon. You may have this consolation, that however Lord Cloncurry’s confinement may be irksome, it has not as yet in any degree affected his health.

I have the honour to be, with the most sincere regard, dear Miss Charlotte,

Your most faithful and humble servant,

E. Cooke.” *

The Hon. Charlotte Lawless to Lord Cloncurry.*

Blackrock, Thursday, Dec. 5.

“My Dearest Val. - However foolish it might appear to pay any attention to mere newspaper intelligence, I should certainly have been much alarmed yesterday, had not Mr. J. Hume’s very kind attention in writing on the very evening of the day in which the *Sun *reported your illness satisfied my mind, and relieved all your friends here from a momentary shock. We all depend on the uncommon firmness of mind you have ever shown, to prevent your suffering any material injury from vexatious few men could support as you have done. I had a long conversation with Mr. Cooke, on Sunday last. If you continue in good health, I shall not go to England, which I firmly intended, as I have *good reason *to think I shall see you about the meeting of Parliament.

We are at present very busy emptying Merrion-street house, which is let to Lord Castlereagh at £500 per annum. We pay taxes. Traineau has taken a complete catalogue of the library, which is packed in cases, and sent to Merrion-row, where it will remain safe until its dear owner arrives. Traineau, Andrew, and Fury are very snug in Merrion-row. He was wretchedly ill in a poor, cold lodging at Richmond, and could not afford to be in Dublin, but for your goodness. I want him to ride out, for he is indeed in a bad way; but he says he cannot afford to buy a horse. Mary, Valentina, and Minny send the usual injunctions, which they always think I omit. I suppose you have seen her brother by this time. Poor Captain Manby is, I hear from the Lees, still in Norfolk attending his dying sister. What selfish beings we are! I am always wishing him in London, as his seeing you so often was an inexpressible comfort to me. Mr. Reeves has not written me his bulletin for some weeks. I suppose he has not been with you.

Adieu, my love,

Your

Cha.

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