Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 8.djvu/31

 ii s. vii. JA*. 11, Mia.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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SINGLE - SPEECH HAMILTON IN DUBLIN.

THE following extracts, transcribed into an old MS. book, are from letters written by Mr. Thomas Waite, Under-Secretary in Dublin Castle, to Sir Robert Wilmot in the Irish Office in London. Robert Wilmot of Osmas- ton, Derby, was for more than thirty years Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; he was created a baronet 15 Sept., 1772, and died the same year.

The first letter is undated, but was probably written in the spring of 1763 (see ' D.N.B.,' s.v. William Gerard Hamilton).

DEAR Sin ROBERT,

I will send to you before 7. There is a mistake in one of the Pensions which I desire may be rectified at any hazard, as I was the occasion of it. It is not William Birt who is to have a Pension of 300 per an upon the Primate's list, but Edmund Burke.

Thursday.

(Private and to be burnt.)

16 th Jan>' 1764.

It looks as if all apprehension about Mr. H's being dismiss'd was blown over. Mr. H. walked in the procession this day as Principal Secretary to His Exc y (Lord Northumberland) and is invited to dinner with the rest of the Privy Council. I fancy that hard expostulations and tart words passed between His Exc y and Mr. H. last week ; but I am apt to think it will all end in verbal abuse and scolding, and that they will squabble on to the conclusion of the Session. From what I hear and can collect every indignity has been and will be put upon Mr. H. to provoke him to resign, but he will put all that in one pocket so long as he is allowed to pocket the Salary of Secre- tary, and he will not resign.

10 Feb. 1764.

Your private note will be reduced to ashes in five minutes. Depend upon it His Exc v and Mr. Hamilton will go on hobbling and squabbling to the end of the Session. I do verily believe a resolution was once taken to dismiss Mr. Hamilton, but their hearts failed them when it came to the point, and then they tried to exasperate him by slights and contempts to give up. But he is proof against that. He knows the value of a good income too well to part

with it slightly. It is come to that pas that my Lord L fc will not ask him to write an office letter, but sends his orders to me to do it. There is a great appearance of fresh storms about Barracks in the House of Commons, and it is thought some attempt will be made to renverse the Treasurer Comp- troller and Architect to the Board of Works r and to declare that Power in the Patent of creating new Officers to be dangerous.

18 th Feb. 1764.

This is called the Primate's administra- tion. You may know it by the length of the Resolutions and addresses about the Insur- rections all which are the happy produce of his pen without any kind of communica- tion with my Master Hamilton, who remains in statu quo.

1 st March 1764.

It is reported that Lord Newtown made some discoverys last week in consequence of which we had it all over the town that a separation was to take place immediately but I believe the report is without founda- tion.

P.S. Mar. 1 st 1764.

Yesterday morning Colonel Molesworth brought a challenge to Mr. Hamilton from Lord Newtown ; a negotiation ensued betwixt the Colonel and Mr. Hamilton, and I fancy it will be made up on terms to be complied with by Mr. H. I have not heard what. It is 'suspected that Mr. H's going away will be the principal one, which I think Mr. H. will neyer comply with. The admission of a negotiation looks as if His Ldp. had no real stomach for fighting, and I dare say the whole will end as disadvan- tageously to his Ldp's Honor as the former aft'air did. But pray burn this and say nothing.

Since writing this I hear His Ldp has 1 consented to make up the affair upon Mr. H's writing his Ldp a letter declaring upon his honor that her Ladyship is innocent. Did you ever hear of any thing like it f Surely his Ldp must be out of his senses to expose himself in this manner.

4 March 1764.

I cannot send you any further intelligence about Lord Newtown's affair. It is con- fidently said His Ldp is so fond of his wife, that he is persuaded of her innocence, and will probably be reconciled to her in a day or two. She is at present confined in a