AND TEE DUKES OF EICEMOND. 63 



In connection with the friendship which the hero 

 of Waterloo so long manifested towards the fourth 

 Duke of Richmond and his family, I must not omit 

 a letter written to Lady de Ros upon the Irish 

 question — a letter which in the light of 



" Experience did attain 

 To something of prophetic strain." 



" Strathfieldsaye, January 19th, 1838. 



"Dearest Georgy, 



" I am astonished at the effect produced by Lord Ox- 

 mantown's and Lord Charleville's speeches upon Whigs as well 

 as Tories. How could anybody expect any other result from the 

 system which all know has been carried on in Ireland for many 

 years ? 



" In other countries men of modern times may feel secure 

 against the danger of assassination. Formerly assassins looked 

 for their reward in heaven ; in these degenerate days they look 

 for pelf from an employer. They must live to receive and 

 enjoy it. 



"I consider it absolutely impossible for a man to assassinate 

 another, who does not frequent in secret some place, on the access 

 to which the assassiu might conceal himself, prepared to commit 

 his crime. A man can assassinate another anywhere — in the 

 street, in the park, in the theatre, provided he will sacrifice his 

 own life. But then he cannot receive and enjoy his pelf ; he 

 must be discovered, delivered up to justice, tried, and executed. 



"But this is not the case in Ireland. All mankind would 

 favour the execution of the design of the assassin, and his escape 

 after it should be carried into execution. Then, if by accident 

 he should be brought to justice, witnesses will not appear against 

 him ; if they do they will not tell what they know, and if, not- 

 withstanding all, the case can be made out, the jury will not 



