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MISCELLANIES.

MR. PITT ON THE IRISH PROPOSITIONS.

1785.

Or these letters, only two extracts, as material to the narrative, were given in my 'Life of Pitt.' Here the reader may not perhaps be displeased to find them at full length.

S.

Mr. Pitt to the Duke of Rutland,

MY DEAR DUKE,

[Most Private.]

Putney Heath, May 21, 1785.

I understand, by a letter which Mr. Rose received yesterday morning from Mr. Orde, that you would despatch a messenger with an answer to my former letter on Thursday or Friday. I do not wait his arrival, because there are some points on which I am anxious to write fully to you without loss of time. By the nature of what I have to say, you will perceive it to

be in absolute confidence between you and me, and meant only for your private perusal, though I trust it will appear to you to be of weight in influencing the public measures of which you have the guidance. I find Mr. Orde alarmed at our insisting on perpetuating the laws for the collection of the revenue, and apprehensive of the effects of other amendments. You will, I am sure, give me credit, my dear Duke, from every motive, public or private, for wishing to smooth the way to this great settlement as much as possible. Its speedy and prosperous conclusion interests me in every point of view; and to diminish your share of difficulties, I trust you will think is not a matter of indifference to me. But, really, this point does appear to me, both in itself and from the combination of circumstances, absolutely indispensable. The grounds have been often explained, and in a letter I have now written to Mr. Orde I have repeated many of them.

But, besides this, we are committed in the eyes of the public by a Resolution deliberately brought forward after an interval of two months; and we cannot recede without giving an advantage against us, which we might never recover. Do not imagine because we have had two triumphant divisions that we have everything before us. We have an indefatigable enemy, sharpened by disappointment, watching and improving every opportunity. It has required infinite patience, management, and exertion to meet the clamour without doors, and to prevent it infecting our supporters in the House. Our majority, though a large one, is composed of men who think, or at least act, so much for themselves, that we

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