L30/11/329/35

Letter from Elizabeth Yorke, Lady Hardwicke to Lady Lucas. [Typed transcript available].

Dec 1803

From: 1803 To: 1803

Thanks for congratulations on the Order of the Garter being conferred on Lord Hardwicke. As yet ignorant as to the manner of investiture. Reference to Lord Hardwicke enjoying his position as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ‘the constant attention to business seems to agree perfectly both with his health and inclination.’ Depending on various circumstances, the writer may go to England for a couple of months in May and June with her two girls. Mention of General [Henry Edward] Fox – ‘I have been very angry with all the Ministers for their screening General Fox who would have been broke with ignominy had he been an unprotected captain – why the Ministers are anxious to save his character at the expense of Lord Hardwicke it is difficult to conceive, unless on the simple ground of fearing it would bring them trouble to call him to account.’ [Note: Fox was Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in 1803. He was caught off-guard by the 23 July 1803 uprising and was replaced by Lieutenant-General William Schaw Cathcart]. Writer will get the rest of the trials [of the instigators of the 1803 rebellion] and send them to Lady Lucas. Is told that Russell’s trial is extremely ill taken. Relates another anecdote relating to [Thomas Paliser] Russell; he requested a Greek testament while in prison, which he constantly studied. ‘When he was sent to the north he desired to see the Solicitor General (then Mr Maclelland, who is now a judge) the days before his trial, and requested he would inform him the probable time which would be allowed him before his execution. The Solicitor General replied that he could not answer the question as it would be prejudging his case, the law held every man to be innocent till pronounced guilty – he [Russell] smiled and begged that all ceremony might be waived, he knew the evidence against him was sufficient but his meaning was to obtain a certainty as to the time before him – he was employed he said on an important work of a religious nature, if his execution followed his condemnation as immediately as Mr Emmett’s did, he should be obliged to deprive himself of his natural rest, which without an absolute necessity he did not wish to do, that he might conclude the work which he should leave in Mr Maclelland’s hands, convinced that from its importance to the salvation of mankind, it would be instantly made public….’ The writer has not seen the paper but understands it is of a wild nature such as Mr [Fransis]Dobbs gave out in the Irish Parliament and like [Richard] Brothers and [Nathaniel Brassey] Halhed in England. ‘Emmett and Russell seem to me to have been formed with talents but quite devoid of reason.’ The new solicitor general [William Conyngham Plunket] is said to be a man of great wit and talent. His brother[Patrick] is an eminent physican. From the first week of the insurrection there was no difficulty in going through the streets of Dublin either in uniform or with a pass. Mention of ladies who did not have passes being detained for a while, one of whom was Mrs Jeffries, the late Chancellor’s sister, who has lately taken the names Groves for an estate. There were parties almost every evening for it was not wished that the town be kept too dismal; the playhouse was opened for the same reason and the hours extended. After the first three plays went off perfectly well the writer and Lord Hardwicke attended in state, at the wish of the manager. They were greeted with great applause and enthusiasm.

item

Yorke, Elizabeth,
Lucas, Amabel, Baroness,
de Grey, Amabel,
Yorke, Philip (3rd Earl of Hardwicke),
Fox, Henry Edward,
Russell, Thomas Paliser,
Maclelland,
Dobbs, Francis,
Brothers, Richard,
Halded, Nathaniel Brassey,
Emmett, Robert,
Plunket, William Conyngham,
Plunket, Patrick,
Jeffries,
Groves

family correspondence, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Solicitor General, Dublin, theatre