CHRONICLE, 
&¢ My only merit has been, that I 
- was not insensible to so much good- 
ness ; the perpetual and irresistible 
impulses of a mind deeply afiected 
by innumerable obligations, could 
not but produce that behaviour 
which you have so kindly and so 
publicly rewarded.—lI shall for ever 
remain, gentlemen, your affectionate 
and faithful humble servant, 
6¢ ERSKINE.”” 
&¢ Lincoln’s Inn Fields, 
Feb. 9, 1806.” 
8th. This morning the committee 
_ appointed to try the merits of the 
_ Middlesex election assembled, the 
right honourable I. Corry in the 
chair. No opposition was made by 
sir Francis Burdett-to the petition 
of Mr. Mainwaring; and two of 
the votes of the former being dis- 
qualified, the latter has since been 
returned duly elected. ‘The above 
was a matter that had been pre- 
viously understood by both parties 
for some time past. 
Oth. ** Mr. Ryan, at whose house, 
in Marlborough street, Dublin, the 
meetings of the Roman Catholic 
committee were held, wrote to Mr. 
Fox, congratulating him on his ac- 
cession to political power, and hoped 
that he would not forget his friends 
the Irish Catholics, who had always 
supported him. Mr. Fox answered 
_ the letter rather in a general manner ; 
thanked the gentleman for his con- 
_ gratulations ; said, that, either in 
or out of office, he would not forget 
the Irish Catholics, and that Mr. 
Ryan might make what use he should 
think proper of his letter. 
In the Irish court of chancery lord 
Redesdale took an opportunity to 
allude to the change of ministers, 
' and thank the barristers for the 
attention they bestowed during his 
chancellorship. 
Vor. XLVIII. 
369 
13th, A deputation from the 
university of Dublin waited upon this 
royal highness the duke of Cumber- 
Jand, at St. James’s Palace, with 
the grant of the office of chancellor 
of the university of Dublin. 
Came on the election of a member 
of parliament for Westminster. 
After the usual proclamation, Mr. 
Fox appeared upon the hustings, . 
supported by Mr. Byng. The lat. 
ter gentleman addressed the electors, 
and congratulated them on the 
change that had taken place in his 
majesty’s councils : he observed that 
Mr. Fox, in accepting a place of 
great public trust, was not actuated 
by personal or interested motives. 
In the present momentous crisis, 
his object was to serve, and, if pos- 
sible, to save his country. He was 
not a man who would deceive or de-« 
sert them; and it was only by the 
firm support of the people, that his 
friend and his colleagues could hope 
to make this nation safe and happy 
athome, andglorious and respectable 
abroad. He then proposed there-elec- 
tion of Mr. Fox, which motion was 
seconded by Mr. Wishart. Mr. Fox 
afterwards addressed the electors, 
and explained the meaning of the 
Jaw which rendered a new election 
necessary for a man who had ac. 
cepted a place in his majesty’s coun- 
cils. He declared that he could 
have but little inducement to accept 
such a situation, at a period when 
there was much more reason to fear 
disappointment than to expect suce 
cess. ‘* We-can discern (said Mr. 
Fox) little consolation for the past, 
and but small hopes for the future. 
There is, undoubtedly, one splendid 
exception to the general gloomy 
state which we have to look to, I: 
mean the very high reputation so 
justly earned by the British navy. 
Bb Let 
