This day, I had real pleasure in receiving the American
Papers—as your hand appeared on the Cover. I imputed your long
silence, as I wrote many Letters, to your being unwell; our paper
(the Court one) gave Several accounts of your being dangerous ill
and gone to the Jerseys for a Change of Air, Even a Captain of a
New York Vessel declared on our Change that the Letter report was
fact. I assure you, Lady Newenham felt as a Sister for you.
The Papers are agreable, as they indicate Such an Unanimity as
will consolidate the discording and Local Interests of Eleven
States, and as to the two Seceders they must hereafter Join, for I
should imagine the European Nations will not readily enter into
Seperate Treaties or Alliances with them; besides in Case the
United States, of 11, should be engaged in a foreign War, how
would these 2 be protected; Neutral they could not remain; Rhode
Island would be forced to receive the Navy of one side or the
other and the Carolina Rice rot in their Ware-houses. I hope they
will still Join and make one Great Republic from Main to the
Missisippi; but Speaking of that River, induces me to hazard an
Observation, Viz, that your new settlers on its Banks are too
precipitate, as the Great Body of the Union is not able to Support
their Pretensions untill a Fleet of American Men of War can be
opposed to that of Spain, or Such a Treaty with Brittain or France
as would Engage their Support. They may conquer by Land, but they
could not Export or Trade from the Mississipi, as two or 3
frigates would Guard that River, but Certainly if it could be
Obtained that River would be a Noble Boundary to the states.
I anxiously wish for your opinion in respect to what is now
transacting in Congress, particularily in respect to Equale
Taxation, and raising of Men for the Union &c &c.
For two Months and some days my Life was lately despaired of,
and untill within these 2 or 3 Weeks, I could not be said to be
out of Danger; I had two fevers Succeeding each other; the last
was on my Lungs, which are still affected, and for remedy thereof,
I am now going about the Country for a Change of Air; My Diet is
solely Milk and Vegetables, and no Wine, directly contrary to my
former mode of Living; your s ? Well Wisher Lady Newenham,
by her Incessant attendance Day and Night on me, took the Fever,
but is now recovered and perfectly well.
On account of the distress of France, there has been as much
Corn and potatoes exported, as we could Spare, at Present; but
should our Harvest turn out well, we shall part ? with them;
for Seven Weeks we have had incessant rains, but, as yet, the Corn
has not Suffered, though the Meadows have, as our Spring has been
remarkably backward. We have not had much thunder and Lightning;
the Latter was often fatal in England Last Month.
The Connection between your Country and France and the
Principles brought to Europe by those who returned from Amer[ica]
have raised the Spirit, and, I believe, fixed the Principles of
Liberty in that powerfull Monarchy; nothing can prevent the
Completion of it, but being engaged in a War, before the Glorious
Fabrick is finished. The Duke of Orleans has turned the Scale, in
the House of Nobles and the A:Bishop of Bourdeaux Led the Clergy
the road to Honor and Fame. In Ireland we Cannot boast of Virtuous
A:Bishops, Bishops or any high Church Dignitaries; they Worship
Mammon. On a Late trying occasion, we had only 5 out of that
hostile band. I call them hostile, as they threw out an Act last
Session, that could not Injure them or their Successors, at the
same time, that it would have enriched and Improved the whole
Kingdom. The Act was, to exempt, for 7 years, from Tythes all
Lands (Mountain and Bog) that were reclaimed within 5 years from
the passing of the Act.
The accounts just arrived from the South west of this Kingdom
have Created fears for our Corn harvest, as the wheat is Lodges
and the oates not filling, the Floods have done much damage. There
were four Ships freighted with Potatoes Sent to Bologne and the
Mob would not Let them be Landed, so they went to Holland where
their Cargoes sold at an amazing Profit; the Cargo was the
Property of Some Merchants at Corke. As to Butcher’s Meat, we have
Sufficient for Two years, as all the farmers reared a Double Stock
this year. Yet the Price of Mutton and Beef is nearly as high as
last year.
Our Present Vice-roy (Buckingham) is one of the Most artfull
Hypocrites that Ever Cursed this Kingdom; he pretended to oeconomy
in all private and public conversation, yet we Shall have an
accumulation of Expence and ven pensions, against the Latter he
always declared, even in the most Violent Terms; he is doing what
Lord Townshend was near being Impeached for Viz, Creating a second
Board of Revenue Commissioners—though Parliament had Twice
determined against that Measure; our Revenue could be Managed (if
our Trade was trebled) by the present Number. Our Custom house is
large enough for the Trade of London and Bristol united; Many of
the officers are to have suits of Apartments. It is a Noble
Building, but situated so low, that the Salt water gets into the
Cellars where wine is to be Stowed. The City of Dublin is
encreased in Buildings and Inhabitants doubley in proportion to
any City in Europe, but the Inland parts are much desolated to
Contribute thereto; few Gentlemen reside on their Estates, as they
used to do in Good old Times; the Squire does not Spend his money
among his industrious Tenants, the Parson leaves his flock, to the
Parish Clerke, and attends the Court Levies. Gaming houses are
encreasing and Churches deserted; Scarse a Bishop resides more
than one Month in a year in his Diocess; and some of them are
running their Lives against their Leases; If Derry? was to
Compleat that plan, the Revenue would be at least £40,000 a year.
I wish they would compleat their plan, for then Parliament would
be forced to take it up, and fix their Revenues at a proper
Medium. It is well if America at a future Period, does not repent
at having Bishops within her states.
Just as I get so far, the Im[por]tant News of a Revolution in
France arrived; which you will have heard of before you can
receive this, as I see two ships Left Bristol a few days ago bound
for New Yorke. This Rev[olt?] is begun in Blood and with more
Violence than any former one. Was a Prophet to have come on Earth,
and said that the City of Paris would Storm the Bastile, that the
Guards of the Gra[cious?] Monarch would fight against him, that
Arch Bishops and other Dignitaries of the Church would Support the
Cause of the People, that the French King should throw himself on
his Citizens of Paris for to Save his Life, that any Body of Men
in France should sit in Judgement on, and put to Death Pee[rs?] of
the Realm, that the kind troops should refuse to obey the
paymaster, that any Assembly of Men should dare to put the word
People before that of King in their Resolutions, and de[mand?] the
discarded Minister must be recalled, and to Vote, the [pay?] of
the Army to be encreased without the Royale Assent, that the Brave
Invalide Veterans should join Citizens in Arms against their
Monarch, that two Marshalls should refuse the Commands of their
Soverign, that a Reward should be of[fered] for the head of a
Prince of the Blood by a Committee of Paris Magistrates—If such a
Prophet did come on Earth, he would not be believed.
If Richlieu or Mazarine was to peep out of their Grave, and see
this Revolution, they would scarsely believe their Eyes or sences.
Many Families have reached Dublin on account of the troubles in
France, but on which side they were, [we?] cannot find out, for
they do not enter into any conversation on the Subject. One of
them has brought over a good Sum in Louis? and Visits your Old
Acquaintance Mr. Deane.