508 THE WELLINGTON GOVERNMENT. [1828. 



this I conclude that he must feel the urgent and 

 unavoidable necessity of making concessions such as 

 he thinks will conciliate. I nevertheless cannot help 

 fearing that these concessions may be accompanied 

 with conditions and securities that, in the present 

 temper of Ireland, may lessen their salutary effect, if 

 not destroy it. 



"I agree with you in the persuasion that great 

 numbers of the rich and influential Catholics, and even 

 many of the priests, are so much alarmed at the awful 

 aspect of the power they have conjured up, and the 

 evident difficulty of controlling it, if any violent pro- 

 vocation be given by the Orangemen, and Catholic 

 blood be spilt to any serious extent, that they will be 

 glad to catch at any reasonable arrangement, and by 

 their means, if the matter be managed with firmness 

 and address, the country may be saved, and the more 

 violent spirit kept under for the moment. With peace 

 and conciliatory government for a little time the 

 Catholics will be divided, and the government may 

 be quietly administered ; but there can be no doubt 

 that all hostile proceedings by either faction must 

 be instantly controlled by military force. I wish the 

 Duke may see the importance of taking his measures, 

 and declaring his intention with little delay; for much 

 danger will be incurred by loss of time, and I don't 

 see what he can gain by it. But if I am right in my 

 reasoning and my speculation upon his wishes and 

 purposes, we must suppose that he has some good and 

 powerful reason for his present inaction ; for consider- 

 ing his whole conduct and character, I cannot bring 

 myself to impute it to indecision. I return Aber- 

 cromby's letter. Yours faithfully, ROSSLYN." 



