816 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
which, in that unhappy country, 
the friends and partizans of the 
lord-lieutenant and commander in 
chief, endeavoured, in mutual re- 
crimination, to affix on each of 
those characters. The result may 
be easily conceived ; it was found 
impossible to carry on the neces- 
. Sary business of the administration 
of affairs in Ireland, under circum- 
stances so discordant ; consequent- 
ly general Fox was removed thence; 
but as soon as a situation of credit 
and importance presented itself, it 
was immediately conferred upon 
him—lord Hardwicke was con- 
tinued in his lieutenancy, The 
English government, thus manifest- 
ing its intention of hushing up the 
affair, and of suppressing all farther 
inquiry. 
From an attentive consideration 
ef the circumstances we have nar- 
rated, it must be deduced, that 
either the government of Ireiand 
was completely surprized, which, 
under every appearance and even 
fact, connected with the conspi- 
racy which must have previously 
come to its knowledge, argues a de- 
gree of security totally inconsistent 
with wisdom or prudence ; or, that 
being well served, and early ap- 
prized of the threatened insurrec- 
tion, it neglected those means 
which the nature of the case sug- 
gested, and which were abundantly 
within its reach, of guarding against 
consequences so much to be dread- 
ed. The judgment is thus sus- 
pended, between the imputation 
of incapacity, and one of a far more 
serious nature, 
Certain however it is that inform- 
ation of the impending insurrection 
was given to the government, the 
extent of which, and the credit that 
should be attached to it, we cam- 
not pretend to ascertain, early on 
the day of the insurrection ; and we 
must ever regret that it was not 
thought proper then to set on foot 
such precautionary measures, as 
might, if not entirely have diverted 
the meditated attack, at least have 
saved the lives of the innocent 
individuals, who were its ~ vic- 
tims. The heart sickens at the re- 
flection, that the venerable lord 
chief justice, who might, at the 
short distance of four miles from 
the capital, have expected a sum- 
mons to council; or the parti- 
culars of the information receiy- 
ed; or the escort of a few dra- 
goons, if any intimation of tdmul- 
tuous assemblage had been com- 
municated to the lord lieutenant, 
hesjtated, between the doubts rais- 
ed in his mind, by the rumours 
which were, towards the evening of 
that fatal day, continually pouring 
in upon him, and the total silence 
of government, until the moment 
when the increase of the former had 
amounted to conviction, and im- 
pelled him, though too late, to 
seek refuge in the metropolis ! 
The last subject, connected with 
the affairs of Ireland, which occur- 
red within this year, worthy of en- 
gaging the attention of our readers, 
was a correspondence of an extra- 
ordinary nature, which took place 
within a-short period of the sup- 
pression of the rebellion, between 
the lord chancellor of Ireland and 
the earl of Fingall. 
The latter is a Roman catholic, 
and, from his long line of noble 
ancestry, possessed of consider- 
able property in Ireland. From 
his high rank, extensive influence, 
and universally acknowledged good 
character, 
/ 
