Lord Cloncurry's Memoirs.

[Lord Cloncurry was very much a “nearly” man. He nearly got himself into trouble in 1798 and 1803. However, since the Government had thoughtfully thrown him into prison, he eventually managed to rehabilitate himself. He seems to have the knack of annoying people in power and they, in turn, paid him back in kind whenever the chance arose. It’s not a particularly interesting book to read - it was exceptionally boring to scan and proof - but id does add detail to the period 1790-1846. The first few pages are missing, so I can’t tell when it was printed. KF. December 2000]

Lord Cloncurry’s Recollections of His Life and Times

Chapter 1. Introduction - Birth in 1773 - School Friends - Dublin Schools in 1785-6 - College - House-property in Dublin, in 1791 and in 1801 - The Historical Society - Sojourn in Switzerland - Society of the Swiss Towns in 1793-4 - Its effect upon a young Irishman - The Amenities of war - The Irish Brigade - The French Army - Le Beau Dillon and Pat Lattin - Lausanne.

Chapter 2. Ireland in 1795 - My Father’s Settlement in France - Honours of the Church there - His Return to Ireland - Position of the Catholics - An Octogenarian student - Objects of the Irish Patriots after ‘82 - The French Invasion - Progress of Ireland - Hopes and Desires of the People - Parliamentary Reform - The Emancipated Irish Legislature - Traffic in Corruption - Efforts of the Patriots - Lord Strangford’s Pension - The United Irishmen - Catholic Emancipation - Protestant Liberality - Humility of the Catholics - The Fatal Enfranchisement of 1793 - Establishment of Religious Discord.

Chapter 3. Become a student of the Middle Temple - Hear of the Projected Union from Mr. Pitt - Consequent Essay in pamphleteering - London Acquaintance - John Macnamara - Mr. Macnamara, the London Agent of Irish Politicians - His Mode of Conducting the Business of his Agency - His Sunday Parties at Streatham - John Home Tooke - John Reeves - Colonel Despard - Progress of Irish Politics - Become a Supporter of the “Press and a United Irishman - Approaching Conflict of Parties - Murder of Christopher Dixon - Judge Toler’s Charge at the Trial of the Murderer - Kildare petition - Interference of the Government - Correspondence with Secretary Pelham - Withdrawal of the Patriot Members from parliament - Mr. Grattan’s Addresss - Suspicions of the Government - Correspondence with Under-Secretary Cooke - Lord Clonmell - A bra Pleasura.

Chapter 4. Take up my abode in London - Irish Refugees - Their Appeals to their Fellow-countrymen - The Free-quarters System - The United Irish club - Its Objects and Members - Duel with Mr. H---; - Disclosures in the Castlereagh Paper - Manufacture of Treason - Espionage - St. Patrick’s Dinner - O’Coigly - Assist him in his Defence - Arrested - Simultaneous Arrest of the Duke of Leinster, Mr. Curran, and Mr. Grattan - Intentions of the Government, as disclosed in the Castlereagh Papers - Their Failure - Examination before the Privy Council - Liberation - Letters; from Lord Cloncurry, from Miss C. Lawles - Projected Marriage.

Chapter 5. 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.

Chapter 6. Continued Imprisonment - Accession to the peerage - Communication of the fact of my Detention to the Irish House of Lords - Their Apathy - Precautions of the Government to prevent the Exertions of my Friends - Letters; from my Sister to Lord Cornwallis - Colonel Littlehales’ Replies - Disgust at the Treachery of the Government - Letters; from my Sister to Lord Moira - Rigours of my Prison Life - Comparison of the Treatment of Convicted and Untried Prisoners - Intrusions of my enemies - Ingenious Attempt to Rob me - Letter from my Sister - Complaints - Letters; from the Duke of Portland, from Mr. Reeves - Death of my Affianced Bride - Correspondence between my Sister, Mr. Burne, and the Duke of Porrtland - Renewed Impatience of Confinement - Letters to Mr. Foulkes and Mr. Burne - Petition to the House of Commons - Letters; from Colonel Smith, from Mr. Foulkes - Confirmed Madness of George the Third - Impossibility of Renewing the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act - Liberation - Letter from Lord Castlereagh - Proceed against the Ministers for False Imprisonment - Met by an Act of Indemnity - My Fellow-sufferer, Mr. Bonham - Letter from him - Return to Ireland - The Miserable Triumph by which it was celebrated - Letter from Lord Holland.

Chapter 7. Changes observable on my Return to Ireland - Reminiscences of Friend - Lord Edward Fitzgerald - His Affectionate and Enthusiastic Character - The Earlier and the Later Designs of his Patriotism - Separation from England an Afterthought - Its Foundation in the hopelessness of Prosperity coexisting with Political and Social Dependene - Neither Individual Men nor Nations grow to Maturity without Self-Reliance - why not adopt Lord Durham’s Colonial Policy? - Lord Edward’s Religious Sentiment - His Bravery - Refuge of Lady Edward in my Father’s House - Seizure of her Effects there - Capture of the supposed Great Seal of the Irish Republic - The True History of that Instrument - Curious Error in Treasonmongering and in Contemporary History - Reversal of Lord Edward’s Attainder, and my Trusteeship of his Estate - William Duke of Leinster - His Political Views - Efforts of the Government to drive him into War - Outrages committed on him, and their Favourable Effects upon his Fortune - Arthur O’Connor - Character of the Movement of which he and Edward Fitzgerald were Types - Patriots of those Days Men of Substance and Independene - Archibald Hamilton Rowan - His Personal Characteristics - His Chivalry - Letters from- Pedestrian Tour in company with him and Sir Thomas Frankland - An Interview with Sir Richard Arkwright - Rowan’s Social Position - His Means of Livelihood in America - Our Last Interview - Thomas Addis Emmett - M’Nevin - Bond - Sampson - Robert Emmet - General Lawless - His Narrow Escape - His Success in France - Letters; from Chancellor Ponsonby; from General Lawlass - The Rebel General Aylmer - His eventful History - Curran - His brilliant Social Qualities - His Decline after the Union - Misunderstanding between him and George Ponsonby - Monument to Amelia Curran - Grattan - His Transplantation to the English House of Commons - His Opinion of the Union - Political Lesson deducible from that Measure - Letter from Grattan - Patrick Lattin - Wogan Brown - His Dismissal from the Magistracy for kicking Football - His Narrow Escape from being Hanged - Characteristic of Irish Misfortune exhibited at his Funeral.

Chapter 8. Effects of my Imprisonment upon my Health and Fortune - Difficulties in Repairing the Latter - A Pugnacious Middleman - Begin my Travels - My Sisters and their Husbands - Jerusalem Whalley - Paris - Presentation to the First consul - His Court - Ceremonial on his Acceptance of the Consulate for Life - Bonaparte’s Personal Appearance - Curious Instance of his Ignorance - Feelings of the Republicans towards him - The Corps d’Elits - Kosciusko - Helen Maria Williams - Parisian Society - The Officials and the Financier - Madame Rocamier - Journey to Italy - Nice - Foreign and Irish Climate - Florene - Friendly Warning from the Duc de Feltre to evade Verdun - Rome - The Palazzo Accaioli - House-rent and Accommodation in Italy in 1808 - Impoverished Condition of the Roman State - Vertu-Market - The Earl-Bishop of Derry - His Eccentricities and Death - Removal of Antiquities - History of the Pillars of the Golden House - Roman Civilisation - Mixture of Bigotry and Feebleness with Urbanity - Trasteverini - The Jew - Kindness to strangers - Weakness of the Fabric of Society - The Papal Fleet and its Admiral - Apathy of the Upper Clases - Their Epicureanism - Their Submission to the Popular Superstitions - Prince Massimo and his Shrine - The King of Sardinia and his Cross - Ignorance of the Nobles - The Prince Borghese - Contrasted Vigour of the Artists - Canova - His Statues of the King of Naples and of Napoleon - Pius VII. - His Departure to France - The Cardinal York - His Hospitalities at Frescati - Estimation of English Manufactures in Italy - Madame D’Albany - Alfieri - Foreign Resident - Duchess of Cumberland - The Princes of Mecklenburg - Count Orloff - Prince Potemkin - Count Pablen’s Constitution of Russia - Father Concanen - The Abbé Taylor - Letter from him - Travelling Companions from Rome - Madame de Stael - United Irishmen in Vienna - Prince Xavier of Saxony - Princely Hospitality - Return through Denmark to England.

Chapter 9. Ireland after the Union - Insincerity of the English Government - Disappointment of the Catholics - New Enlistment of the Protestant Garrison - Obliteration of all traces of Union among Irishmen - Elements of strife - Operation of the Franchise of ‘93 - Progress of the Power of the Catholics - Effect of the Penal Laws in driving them to Industrial Pursuits - Effects of Placehunting in crushing the spirit of the Protestants - The Clare Election - Surrender of the Duke of Wellington - Zenith of Catholic Power - Social Changes observable in 1806 - Dublin Society before the Union - Change in Feeling between the Classes - Settlement at Lyons - Traces of the Condition of Irish Society visible there - Loyal Invasion and Robbery of my House during my Absence - Kindness of Lord Hardwicke - A Hint of what I was to expect from the Powers that were - Lord Redesdale’s Refusal to grant me the Commission of the Peace - Letters; from Mr. Borne, Lord Redesdale, and Myself - Intervention of Lord Hardwicke - Submission of the Chancellor - Letters from him and Mr. Burne - Accession of “all the Talents” - The Magistracy, and their Mode of doing Business - Ancient and Discreet Constables - Their Protestant Qualification - An Embarrassing Inquiry - Care taken of the King’s Windfalls - Kenny’s Case - The Dublin Police - Affair at Saggard - Working out of the Policy of Discord and Corruption.

Chapter 10. Improvements in the Administration of Justice - Petty Sessions - Origin of the System at Celbridge - A Case of Appeal - The stipendiary Magistracy - Effects of the System; in widening the Breach between the Classes; in stimulating Placehunting - Letter from Lord Chancellor Manners - Memorandum on required Changes in the Law - Letters; from Sir John Newport, from Sir Wm. Gossett, from Mr. Peel, from Lord Campbell, from Attorney-General Ball, from Mr. Drummond - Use of Petty Sessions to solve the Landlord and Tenant Question - The Constabulary - Letter from Mr. O’Connell.

Chapter 11. Viceroyalty of the Duke of Richmond - My second Marriage - Domestic Circle and Occupations - Associates - Mr. Kirwan, the Geologist - Mr. Chenevix - Mr. Jephson - Viceroyalty of Lord Whitworth - A new Persecution on the score of my “d---d Politics” - Letters from Lord Whitworth - Memorandum of Mrs. Douglas’s Interview with Lord Chancellor Manners - Letters to and from Lord Manners - Affidavit of Mrs. Douglas - Letters; from Lord Whitworth, from the Earl of Limerick, from the Earl of Donoughmore - Viceroyalty of Earl Talbot - Letter from him - Lord Talbot’s Private Kindness - Public Policy - Meeting at Kilmainham to address the King - Its Conduct and Dispersal - A Characteristic Incident - Letters; from Sir Francis Burdett, from the Duke of Leinster, from Mr. Murphy - Mot of the Duke of Wellington - Visit of George IV. to Ireland - Ebullition of Loyalty - Renewal of Discord - The Lord Mayor’s Dinner - Recall of Lord Talbot - Viceroyalty of the Marquis Wellesley - His intended Policy - His Rupture with “the Castle” - Protestant War declared against him - The Bottle Riot - Stretching of the Law - Letters from Lord Holland - Enlightened Opinions of Lord Wellesley on the leading Irish Questions.

Chapter 12. Waifs and Strays of Memory - A pregnant Question from Sir Francis Burdett - Mr. Peel’s Opinions on Irish Distress and Government Interference in 1817 - Ditto in 1826 - Ship Canal from Dublin to Galway - Efforts to advance that Project- Letter from Mr. Killally - Ireland, the Natural Centre of Commerce between the Hemispheres - Letters from Secretary Grant - Letter from Sir F. Burdett - His visit to Ireland - Letters from Dr. Drennan - Letter from Earl Fitzwilliam; from Lord Holland - The Ex-Judge Johnson; Authorship of Juverna; his turn for Military Affairs - Letters from him - Letter from Baron Smith - Letter from Dr. Doyle.

Chapter 13. The Three Irish Political Questions of the 19th Century - Their real Value - The Catholic Question - Kildare Meeting in 1811 - Wariness of its Promoter - Absence of Professional Agitators from the early Catholic Meetings - Growth of Violence - Its effects upon Protestant Sympathisers - Evidence of the early existence of Good Feeling - Letters; from Mr. O’Connell, from the Marquis of Downshire, from the Earl of Fingall - The Rotunda “Tin-Case” Meeting - Letters from Mr. O’Connell - Indications of the Workings of Professional Agitation - Refusal of Messrs. O’Connell and Sheil to merge their Sectarian Grievances in the common cause of Ireland - Letters; from Mr. O’Connell, from the Earl of Donoughmore - Arrival of Lord Anglesey in Ireland - Policy of the Government in appointing him to the Viceroyalty - Its Effect - My own Connexion with Lord Anglesey - His Recall - Progress of the Catholic Question - Letters Illustrative of the time; from Lord Anglesey from Myself to Mr. O’Connell - Position of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel in 1829 - Triumph over their Fears - Their spiteful Treatment of Mr. O’Connell - Its Evil Effects - Perpetuation of Religious Discord - Effects upon the Country - Letters; from Father L’Estrange, from Lord Holland, from Lord Melbourne.

Chapter 14. The Church Question - The Church Establishment a Citadel for the English Garrison - its Failure as an Ecclesiastical Institution - Its Use as a Party Grievance - Value of the Reforms already made - Lord Anglesey’s Church Bill - Defeated by Mr. Stanley - Church Question still unsettled, and at the service of the Factions - Payment of the Catholic Clergy - Separation of Church and State - Letters; from Lord Dacre, Myself - Lord Holland, Mr. O’Connell, Sir H. Hardinge, the Marquis of Anglesey.

Chapter 15. The Education Question - Restrictions upon the Education of the Catholics - Evasion by the Protestant Clergy of their obligation to establish Schools - The Charter Schools - Struggles of the Peasantry to obtain Education - The Kildare-place Society - Discords in that Body, resulting from their enforcement of Religious Education - A pious Fraud - Mode in which the Education War between the Kildare-place Society and Myself was carried on - Letters; from Doctor Doyle, the Earl of Dououghmore, the Rev. Mr. Armstrong - The National System of Education - Mr. Stanley’s opposition - Withdrawal of the Parliamentary Grant from the Kildare-place Society - Combination of the extreme Factions against the National System - Ultimate Triumph over Bigotry - Moral of the Education War.

Chapter 16. The First Recall of Lord Anglesey - Reasons assigned by the Duke of Wellington - His Attack upon Myself - Lord Anglesey’s Reply - Ministerial surveillance of Hospitality - Letters from Lord Anglesey - Viceroyalty of the Duke of Northumberland - Unnecessary Irritation of Mr. O’Connell - Its Consequences - Renewal of Party Violence - Lord Anglesey’s Return to Ireland - His Reception and Difficulties - Letters from Lord Anglesey, from Mr. William Murphy, from Mr. George Villiers - My own Difficulties at this Period - The Campaign opened by Mr. O’Connell - His Attempt to force me into Collision with the Lord Lieutenant - Letter from Lord Anglesey - Arrest of Mr. O’Connell - His Arraignment and Escape from Judgement.

Chapter 17. Renewed Agitations and Party Struggles - The Parliamentary Reform Question - Negociations for a Peace with Mr. O’Connell - Letters; from Mr. O’Mara, from Mr. O’Connell - Memorandum by the Earl of Meath - Mr. O’Connell re-opens his Campaign - Letter from Mr. O’Mara - Subsequent Reconciliation with Mr. O’Connell - Letters; from Mr. O’Connell, from Mr. Wm. Murphy, from Lord Anglesey - Manly Struggles of the Lord Lieutenant - Letters from him - Termination of Lord Anglesey’s Second Viceroyalty -His Intercepted Letter to Lord Grey - His Irish Policy - Letters; from Mr. Littleton, from Lord Anglesey - Created an English Peer - Letters; from Myself; from the Duke of Leinster; from Mr. George Villiers.

Chapter 18. Abandonment of Lord Anglesey’s Policy - Statesmanship on the Whig Model - Its results in the Demoralization of the People - Testimony to this Truth; of Dr. Doyle, of Mr. Lambert - Persistence in the same Policy - Political Quietism - Letter from Lord Holland - Break up of the Grey Ministry - Wellington Dictatorship - Reheating of the Whig Mess, with the Old Condiments -Letters from Lord Holland, from Lord Durham - Working of the Normanby Government.

Chapter 19. The Moral of the Tale - Hope for Ireland - Its Foundation - Over-success of the Policy of the Unionists - The Irish Burthen upon England - Expatriation and Corruption of the Irish Gentry - Effects upon the People -Natural Results of the Policy - The Land Difficulty - The Land Inquiry Commission - The “Fixity of Tenure” Movement - The Potato Failure - Final Ruin of the Gentry - The Old Liens on Estates - The New and More Fatal Encumbrance - What can an Irish Gentleman do under existing circumstances? - Old English Party Politics - Decline of their interest in Ireland - The Political Inquiry proper for the Occasion - Determination of the Land Struggle - Mischievous Effects of the Fixity of Tenure Movement on the National Cause - Signs of the Effects of the Removal of the Barriers of Irish Society - Natural and necessary Solution of the Anglo-Irish Question - Conclusion.

Appendix.