L30/11/329/31

Letter from Elizabeth Yorke, Lady Hardwicke to Lady Lucas. Sent from Phoenix Park. Mainly relating to the Irish rebellion of 23 July 1803. [Typed transcript available].

23/26 Jul 1803

From: 1803 To: 1803

Reports a wish expressed by Lord Rosslyn to improve the appearance of St. James Square by planting the middle and enlarging it. The scheme meets Lord Hardwicke’s approbation. Describes the rebellion of 23 July. Has every reason to expect an attack on the Lodge, but no attack was made. There was reinforcement of 180 men which gave confidence, but the night was passed in much anxiety and constant messages. In the morning the writer heard of Lord Kilwarden’s death and that of his nephew. Arrived in Dublin under an escort of 50 horse and without difficulty; the streets were full but quiet. The privy council met under much sorrow for the death of Lord Kilwarden. The disturbance appeared completely quelled or rather suppressed for the present, however the Castle looks like a besieged town, the gates shut and cannon planted behind them. The country continues quiet – mail coaches have continued to come and go as usual. The attack which was intended on Belfast was so feeble that they dispersed on the garrison beating to arms. Had the attack on Dublin been successful, there is doubting that many of those that are now quiet would have risen up, yet the writer is sanguine enough to hope that there is a change in the mass of the people for the better since the last rebellion. Yesterday there was a false alarm that showed the readiness and zeal of the yeomanry – in an instant every creature was at their posts, and in less than an hour 4000 yeomanry were operable in arms. Today the castle gates are opened and the cannon drawn a little aside. The writer’s windows look on the castle yard where there is always such business, as the different offices are all round it. Many prisoners and suspected persons are being brought in; they will be tried in a regular manner provided no further acts of rebellion render martial law necessary. The Irish gentlemen seem very anxious for prompt justice, leaving law, as they say, to more quite times. ‘Do not quote this however.’ ‘…we are all in good spirits, yet do not suppose that any of us imagine that here the business ends..’ The houses at Nass in county Kildare are filled with wounded men, probably from the business of Saturday night, and it is supposed more have suffered than it at first appeared. In the house where pikes and ammunition were found there was also a print of Madame Bonaparte ‘I shall keep it as a memorable prize.’

item

Yorke, Elizabeth,
Lucas, Amabel, Baroness,
de Grey, Amabel,
Yorke, Philip (3rd Earl of Hardwicke),
Rosslyn, James St Clair-Erskine, 2nd Earl,
Wolfe, Arthur, 1st Viscount Kilwarden

family correspondence, Dublin Phoenix Park, Westminster St.James Square, public disorder, Ireland, Privy Council, Belfast, Dublin, Kildare