Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/11/329/28
  • Title
    Letter from Elizabeth Yorke, Lady Hardwicke to Lady Lucas. Sent from Dublin Castle. Describes the Irish rebellion of 1803 [Typed transcript available]. See also L30/11/329/22
  • Date free text
    [18 Sep] 1803
  • Production date
    From: 1803 To: 1803
  • Scope and Content
    ‘You will be well pleased I am certain, to have the falsehoods asserted in Cobbett’s paper of the 3rd completely refuted and upon oath.’ Understands that Cobbett is to be prosecuted for so gross an attack. The information that the Government had ‘was fully equal to the plot, which now assumes more the appearance of a conspiracy than a rebellion. And since our Commander of the Forces [General Fox] is absolutely recalled and his successor appointed there need no longer be any delicacy in stating the embecility [sic] of his conduct previous to the tumult and his irresolution and incapacity after it had commenced.’ General Fox was supported by the Duke of York, who appointed him without the participation of ministers, who nevertheless appear to have had a good opinion and confidence in him. Had Fox continued in Command, Lord Hardwicke would have had a dilemma, to have resigned would have laid on him all blame that belonged to Fox, but to have continued responsible for the safety of Ireland with such a man at the head of the Army would be impossible. There seemed to have been no hesitation on his removal; the facts themselves bore down all favour and all opposition. The writer has Lord Hardwicke’s consent to state the circumstances previous to the 23rd July. As soon as war was certain it became the wish of Lord Hardwicke to obtain in Ireland the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. The delay and the necessity of an application to Parliament was not overlooked by the Irish Government and it was repeatedly urged by the Chancellor during both his visits to London in April and June. Mr [Henry] Addington [Prime Minister] could not be brought to consent to undo in the House the impressions of the quiet and security in Ireland. On the Saturday previous to the 23rd a man was killed by an explosion and another taken to hospital. The following morning two men carrying a cask at a very early hour were questioned by two watchman as to its contents; the answer was unsatisfactory, and they accompanied the men to the door of a Mr Palmer; where they knocked and threw gravel at the window before running off, leaving the cask. Palmer came out of his house and walked off, ignoring the cask. The watchmen took up the cask and were carrying it away when they were attacked; as the number of attackers increased to about thirty the watchmen made off, but not before the cask fell and burst open and disclosed its contents to be flints and cartridges. A search took place in the house where the explosion had happened the night before and some suspicious matters were found, including a small machine which seemed to have been used for making gunpowder. No additional information was discovered, despite questioning the man at the hospital and Palmer. Lord Hardwicke wrote to Addington again demanding the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act; several people had fallen under suspicion but none could be detained. Had Mr Yorke possessed the situation he now holds the delay would probably have been easily removed, but Lord Pelham ‘who was as ill witted as he was weak’ has been a perpetual stumbling block in the way of Irish Government. The Commander of Forces, General Fox, had been absent on a military tour but returned on Friday. During a meeting between Fox and Lord Hardwicke on Saturday, a message arrived from Marsden requesting the Lord Lieutenant to bring Fox to the Castle. They went together in Lord Hardwicke’s carriage, a sight so unusual as to alarm the conspirators. The enemies of Marsden suggest he did not believe there would be insurrection, but his actions prove that he thought it absolutely necessary that all precautions should be doubled and patrols stationed at Chapel Izod. ‘I thoroughly believe he would have done whatever they desired him, but it never occurred to Lord Hardwicke or to Mr. Mardsen that there was the smallest necessity or even propriety in their charging themselves with military arrangements.’ The garrison of Dublin which includes the castle guards and a regiment at a hundred yards from it was considered more than equal to any desultory force that could be brought against the city, or could rise up within it. Instead of immediate precaution, General Fox left Lord Hardwicke at half past four, rode home to Kilmainham and summoned his generals and officer to attend him there at quarter past nine to receive orders. The tumult began before that hour, and some of his officers narrowly escaped with their lives in attempting to reach the Royal Hospital. The irresolution and imbecility that followed sufficiently proved the incapacity of the Commander – he ordered Sir Charles Asgill to the barracks to assemble the troops declaring he would instantly follow, thus depriving Sir Charles (who was general of the district) the power of issuing orders. Fox never arrived and thus in waiting for him or his orders, more time was lost. ‘This paltry effort of rebellion was quelled by a handful of men but had the proper precautions been taken, many of the poor wretches would have met an immediate fate.’ The discovery of the depot of arms and ammunition was a providential discovery, as this information had escaped the knowledge of Mr Marsden. ‘I think and feel that every part of the apparent disaster has been ….providential – the murder of the excellent Lord Kilwarden seems to have been permitted for the safety of his country…’ ‘I do not know nor do I like to consider whether the life of this amiable and venerable judge would have been spared had better measures been passed by our unfortunate General..’ General comments describing General Fox’s leadership – he offended the officers by discouraging parade and military discipline, recommended officers to leave off their uniforms unless on parade, and deprived them of their side-arms. All the circumstances have been laid before His Majesty and His Ministers, and Lord Hardwicke has received the fullest assurances of approbation of his conduct. Reference to the opinions of the populace following the uprising, and their reaction to the enforcement of martial law. Reference to the trial of Emmett [Robert Emmett, the leader of the conspiracy]; the demand for places shows the interest taken in the event. Gives some biographical details. Also some details of Carran, the man appointed as Emmett’s chief counsel until letters addressed to Emmett were found to be from Carran’s youngest daughter. Mention of Redmond, another conspirator, the man in whose house the pikes were found. He escaped and got on a vessel which was driven into Newry by a hurricane, where he was arrested. He endeavoured to shoot himself just as he was to appear in court. He is now recovering, and the writer has not heard much lately, but he will be tried soon. He left a violent and incoherent letter to the government and a passionate one to his love, the daughter of a respectable tradesman in Dublin. Gives an opinion on what appears to the writer a point of false sentiment relating to the prosecution of women implicated in rebellion. ‘The very man who would hesitate to employ a brother or a son on a dangerous mission will trust it freely to a sister or a mistress, they are free from suspicion and from danger if detected.’ P.S. There was no post the previous night, and now Emmett’s trial is concluded and sentence passed. [He was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered] His behaviour was cool during the trial but bold, mischievous and enthusiastic in his speech ‘it is a strange thing that he seems totally to have failed in exciting that commiseration which courage and enthusiasm in a misguided young man of twenty four under such circumstances would naturally have raised.’ ‘This letter is of course in confidence.’
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