stand. You will see the necessity of Mr. G. Ponsonby's having the kindness to state those grounds specifically and distinctly; for in no other way can my justification, or his claim, be judged of by me, or by others. This, I think, even a stranger might expect; but I cannot think so slight ly of what is due to the recollection of our intercourse for five-and-twenty years, as not to hope to find in him a prompt and generous ardour in doing justice to my feelings and my reputation. I do not refer the matter to his decision-it is not for either of us to decide. Should my judgment acquiesce in the claim (if any can be made), I will comply with it instantly if it does not, I will concur in referring it to yourself, Lord Moira, Lord Grey, Lord Erskine, Lord Holland, or Lord Ponsonby, or any other common friend, or friends, that may be appointed. I wish them to decide, upon the most liberal principles of justice and of honour, what ought to be done under all the circumstances of the case. "Whatever that decision shall be, I shall comply most promptly. In doing so, I shall have the satisfaction of acting rightly, and be relieved from the painful apprehension of being thought by any man capable of acting otherwise.-I am, &c. "J. P. CURRAN. "April, 1808." ** Lord Moira, Lord Grey, and Lord Holland, were accordingly named as arbitrators. Copy of the Engagements which Sir Michael Smith required in favour of his dependants in Office, before he would resign his situation of Master of the Rolls; and which was sent to the late Chancellor Ponsonby at his request. "May, 1806. "The Lord Chancellor engages, on the part of Government, to Sir Michael Smith, as follows, viz. : 66 First, That as soon as conveniently may be, after the 25th of March, 1807, a pension of one hundred pounds a year, free and. clear of all charges for pells, poundage, or otherwise, shall be granted, in due form, to John Hevey, the late Crier of Sir Michael Smith, to hold to the said John Hevey from said 25th of March, 1807, for and during his natural life. "Secondly,-That a like provision of one hundred pounds a year shall, at the same time, and in like manner and form, be granted to James Gar-diner, the late Trainbearer of Sir Michael Smith, to hold to him from said 25th of March, 1807, for and during said James Gardiner's natural. life. Thirdly, That a like pension of one hundred pounds a year shall, at the same time, and in like manner and form, be granted to James Leonard, the late Tipstaff of Sir M. Smith, to hold to said John Leonard, from said 25th of March, 1807, for and during his natural life. "Fourthly,-That a pension of five hundred a year, or a place worth six hundred pounds a year, not inconsistent with his profession, as a practising attorney, shall, at the same time, and in like manner and form, be granted to Joseph Ridgeway, Esq., the late deputy of Sir M. Smith, at the Rolls, to hold to said Joseph Ridgeway, from said 25th day of March, 1807, for and during his natural life. A COPY OF THE CHANCELLOR PONSONBY'S LETTER ΤΟ SIR MICHAEL SMITH. "Ely Place, May 28th, 1808. "DEAR SIR,—I laid before my Lord Lieutenant the statement which you sent me, as containing the Engagement of Government, respecting the provision to be made for those inferior officers of your court who wish to retire at the same time you do, and for whose comfort you express so much solicitude; and I am authorised by his Grace to assure you that he will comply with your wishes, and fulfil the engagement, as I, by his permission, have made it. I shall be much obliged to you (when you have taken a copy of the engagement), to send back the original, and to write me a formal and regular notification of your wish to resign, as the letter you have just now sent me, though sufficient to authorise me to inform the Lord Lieutenant of your desire, is not sufficient to authorise him to recommend the acceptance of your resignation, the grant of your pension, and the appointment of your suc cessor. "I have the honour to be, "G. PONSONBY, C. COPY LETTER FROM EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ., TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY, "Wednesday, 15th Fune. "MY DEAR SIR,-I know you are apprised that Mr. Curran has appointed me to represent him in the reference between him and you. You will have the goodness to appoint some friend of yours, to act with me in conducting the business. "I am, dear Sir, 66 Your very sincere "Right Hon. G. Ponsonby." COPY OF LETTER FROM E. HUTCHINS, ESQ., TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY. "Monday, June 20th. "MY DEAR SIR,-When on Wednesday last I wrote to you to request that you would appoint some friend of yours to act with me, in conducting the reference between you and Mr. Curran, I did suppose that you would prefer the good offices of a friend to acting yourself in the business; if, however, you prefer the latter, I shall be extremely happy to confer with you, whenever you please, on the subject. To me the necessity of your co-operation, in a reference to which you are a party, appears indispensible; if, however, any other mode of conducting it occurs to you, I assure you I shall be very happy to attend to any suggestion of yours. I am the more anxious that this business should not be longer delayed, as the season of the year will soon arrive in which we cannot expect the presence of the arbitrators in town. "Right Hon. G. Ponsonby." COPY LETTER FROM THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY TO EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ. "Tuesday Morning. "MY DEAR SIR,--When I came home last night, I found your second letter, which put me in mind how long ĺ had suffered your first to remain unanswered, for which neglect I beg you to excuse me. In truth, I opened it when engaged in talking over some political affairs; and, putting it into my drawer, forgot to write to you. "Mr. Daly will be in London in ten days; and, when he comes, he will converse with you upon the subject you mention; but I suppose you are apprised that I have nothing to say to the matter, farther than having, at Mr. Grattan's importunity, yielded to Mr. Curran's desire of what is called a reference. I always felt, and feel, that I have nothing to refer. "Very truly yours, "G. PONSONBY. COPY LETTER FROM THE RIGHT HON GEORGE PONSONBY TO EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ. Newlands, Rathcoole, July 25, 1808. MY DEAR SIR,-Mr. Daly has, I believe, reached London, and is, I believe, to be found at Batt's Hotel, in Jermyn-street. If the gentlemen are in town, and you are disposed to go on now with the business, Mr. Daly will, I am sure, be ready to attend them. As he was the person who managed the whole transaction with Sir Michael Smith and Mr. Curran, he is the properest to inform them upon it. If any statement is to be laid before them, I shall be obliged to you to shew it to him, and he will judge whether it is necessary to send it to me. "I am, with much esteem, "G. PONSONBY." COPY LETTER FROM EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ., TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY. If you 160, Piccadilly, October, 1809. DEAR SIR,-I write at the instance of Mr. Curran, who is here, to request that, as the referees are now in this country, you will be pleased to state in writing the claim on which their decision is to be had. would favour me with a copy of it, it would expedite the termination, which Mr. C. has felt great pain at being so long deferred. quest that you will have the good ness to send me a copy of the agreement entered into with Sir M. Smith, previous to his resignation. I also re "I am, &c. "Right Hon. G. Ponsonby. "N.B.-No copy of the agreement required by Mr. Hutchins, was given by Mr. Ponsonby; the copies of Sir Michael Smith's terms, and of Mr. Ponsonby's letter in answer thereto, were fortunately obtained long after, from the gentleman who has the originals in his possession." COPY LETTER FROM THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY TO EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ. "Newlands, Rathcoole, Oct. 26,1809. "My DEAR SIR,-Having been from home for some time, I did not receive your letter until yesterday, which must plead my excuse for not sooner answering it. I have no claim to state; I desired no reference; but at the repeated instances and importunity of Mr. Grattan, urged by the desire of Mr. Curran, I consented to one; and, therefore, it is for Mr. Curran to state what he wishes to be referred. When he shall do so, and when that statement shall be shown to me, I will signify my assent or dissent to it, or any part of it. I entered into no agreement with Sir Michael Smith, previous to his resignation, but what related to the amount of the pensions to be granted by Government after the 25th of March, 1807; everything else was transacted verbally, and almost, if not entirely, by my brother-in-law, Mr. Daly. "I am, with much esteem, COPY LETTER FROM EMANUEL "150, Piccadilly, April 20, 1810. "DEAR SIR,-Ever since the nomination of arbitrators on the question between you and Mr. Curran, he has been most anxious to have it decided. He has now, a third time, come hither for that purpose. In your last letter to me, you propose that he shall begin by laying his case before the referees. It appears to him that this would put him under strange difficulties, indeed; but he is willing, and I now propose, on his part, to refer your proposition to the arbitrators if they think the statement should begin with him, it shall be so. You will excuse my earnestly requesting an immediate answer to this. "I am, dear Sir, &c., "Right Hon. G. Ponsonby." THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE PONSONBY EMANUEL HUTCHINS, ESQ. ΤΟ "Friday Morning, May 20, 1810. "MY DEAR SIR,-I have this moment received your favour of this date, and lose not a moment in answering it. I have now before me a copy of the letter which I As the head of the magistracy, Ponsonby conducted himself with great prudence in the midst of many difficulties, His anti-Orange leanings were far from warping his judgment when an unsustainable accusation had been made against an Orange magistrate. In the County Tyrone the Orangemen were accused of wrecking the farm-house of the Catholic inhabitants, amongst whom was a man in humble life, named O'Neil. His house was burnt by an Orange mob, headed, as it was alleged, by the two sons of Mr. Vemes, a magistrate for the county, and an Orange man. Mr. Wilson, a Tyrone magistrate, represented the outrage to the Government. His representations were so earnest, demanding an inquiry and redress, that Serjeant Moore and the Crown Solicitor were sent down to conduct an inquiry into the facts. The young Vernees were accused of being the house burners; but nothing whatever came out in evidence to justify the opinion that either of those young men had been concerned in the out rage. The learned Serjeant, having closed his inquiry, immediately returned to town. Some days after, Mr. Wilson was summoned to Dublin, and had an interview with the Chancellor, who then informed him that he was perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Serjeant Moore. Wilson next applied that his commission for Tyrone might be extended to Armagh. In his letter of application he accused the Government and the Duke of Bedford of being either unable or unwilling to protect the oppressed. The Chancellor, insulted at the accusation, thus replied: "Ely Place, Sept. 6, 1806. "SIR,-I am very sorry that a pressure of business, which could not be postponed, has prevented me from sending an earlier answer to the letter you did me the honour of writing to me in July last. That any attempts should be made at assassination must be a subject of the deepest regret, and will, I am sure, excite in the Government the most anxious desire to detect and punish those who are guilty of them; and I hope that no description of his Majesty's subjects in Ireland will ever have reason to consider those to whom he may be pleased to delegate his authority as either unable or unwilling to protect them. With respect to the administration of the Duke of Bedford, I can most confidently affirm, that there never was and never will be in this country one more sincerely disposed to protect with vigour and impartiality all its inhabitants; and that whoever shall violate the laws, will find his Grace both willing and able to vindicate their authority. "The application, which you have been pleased to make for a commission of the peace for the county of Armagh not having been seconded by the recommendation of the governor, or either of the members for that county, or of any resident privy counicllor, I am under the necessity of forbearing to comply with it.-I have the honour to be, &c., "GEORGE PONSONBY, C." Wilson, having made charges unsustainable, vas removed from the commission of the peace on the 3rd July, 1807. It must be confessed that Ponsonby's conduct concerning the magistracy did not win for him the estimation of the Catholic party, and yet whilst no Orange magistrate was dismissed, six Catholic justices of the peace were appointed for the County Wexford. The coalition ministry lasted but ten months, when it fell, to give place to a "NoPopery," with the Duke of Richmond at the head of the Irish Government, and Lord Manners Lord Chancellor. On the 28th of April, 1807, Ponsonby gave judgment in a case in his court of much importance. After he had concluded, the Attorney-general (Plunkett) rose, and asked his lordship whether he meant to sit on the following day; the Chancellor replied in the negative. The Attorney-general then addressed him as follows:-"My Lord, having by the desire of the Bar had the honour to present you with their unanimous congratulations on your appointment to the Seals, they cannot be silent on the present occasion, and through me are anxious to repeat to you the sentiments which they then expressed. It must, my lord, be permitted me to convey to you the high sense which is entertained, by the Bar, of the diligence, the zeal, the talents, and integrity with which you have discharged the duties of your office, and the deep regret they at this moment feel at your separation from them. I must also be allowed to express their grateful acknowledgments of the uniform courtesy and impartial attention which you always manifested towards every member of the profession." The Chancellor replied nearly in the following words. "I feel most sensibly this approbation of the Bar, which you have so kindly communicated; at the same time I must be permitted to ascribe it as much to their partiality as any merit of mine. When the King was pleased to appoint me to the high office which I had the honour to hold, it was my firm intention conscientiously to discharge the duties which belong to it, to the utmost of my ability; Ĭ been unsuccessful, having obtained am inclined to think, I have not the commendation of a body so carable of forming a correct judgme as the Irish Bar. I feel great satisfaction from the character of the nobleman, who has been appointed my successor, that the duties of the in a manner far beyond that to which situation will be discharged by him my humble talents could pretend." On the next day Lord Manners arrived in Dublin, and the Great Seal was put into his hands. Mr. Ponsonby, having ceased to be Chancellor, stood at the ensuing election for Parliament, was returned, and once more resumed his place and duties in the House of Commons. THE VETO. The accession of the No-Popery administration to power, in 1807, strengthened rather than diminished the exertion of the Irish Catholics in the cause of emancipation. Lord Fingal, acting on the advice of Dr. Milner, an English Apostolic Vicar, and author of a learned work on controversy, laboured without intermission in the Catholic cause; and as Dr. Milner was a kind of agent in England for the Irish bishops, though not for any such purpose as this, both those lords spiritual and temporal took it upon themselves to authorise Mr. Ponsonby and Mr. Grattan to reinforce the prayer of the Catholic petition, by offering to the Crown, in return, the mischievious power of objecting to the appointment of bishops and priests obnoxious to the Government. ment. This power was known a |