138 



the alarming state of this country. A secret com- 

 mittee of the two Houses of Parliament have just 

 published their Reports. I wish I could send them 

 to you ; they are worth your looking into, and are 

 curious historical documents. The Lords state that 

 it was calculated by one of the leaders of the con- 

 spiracy, that 30,000 persons must be massacred. I 

 understand, however, this was only from oral testi- 

 mony, and therefore to be received cum grano. 



The Report of the Commons is satisfactory, and 

 seems well supported by evidence. Great ability 

 and contrivance is shown by the conspirators, and 

 yet many of the managers perfectly illiterate, and 

 not able to spell common words. If the French 

 could land a tolerable force here, the country is lost. 

 I perhaps, if I escaped with my life, should be a poor 

 emigrant ; but I have not strength to work in a 

 garden like Mr. M'Mahon ; — I don't know what I 

 am fit for. Alas ! I have this moment received very 

 melancholy news, — the death of a brother-in-law, a 

 most worthy man, and of great consequence to his 

 family ; and a niece, an amiable young woman, very 

 happily married in Yorkshire. Between the public 

 and private distresses, every thing around me wears 

 gloom and melancholy." 



From the same. 



My friend, Dublin, July 11, 1798. 



What have I done, that you should forget me en- 

 tirely, and in the hour of peril and distress ? I am, 

 it is true, alive and safe; and that probably I owe to 



