Falkinek — The Phcenix Park, its Origin and early History. 485 



elephant. It was proposed to present tlie Lodge and grounds to Henry 

 Grattan, and thus to associate the Crown witK the people in doing 

 honour to the illustrious author of the legislative liberties which had 

 just been conceded to Ireland.^ Mr. Connolly was accordingly deputed 

 to assui'e the House of Commons "that the Duke of Portland felt 

 equally with the Irish people the high value of Mr. Grattan's services 

 to Ireland, and that, as the highest proof he could give of his admira- 

 tion and respect, the Lord Lieutenant begged to offer, as part of the 

 intended grant to Mr. Grattan, the Yice-regal Palace in the Phoenix 

 Park to be settled on Mr. Grattan and his heirs for ever as a suitable 

 residence for so meritorious a person." 



So flattering an offer, conveyed in a manner so gracious, as the gift 

 of the King's only palace in Ireland, seemed likely for a moment to 

 achieve the impossible and to unite the Government and people of 

 Ireland in the person of Grattan. But it was only for a moment. 

 It was soon discovered by the opposition that the Viceregal compliment 

 was no better than a base attempt to divide the merit of the nation's 

 gift to its liberator between the people and the ministry. As Sir 

 Jonah BaiTington puts it, ' ' this magnificent and unexampled offer, at 

 first view, appeared fiattering and showy, at the second it appeared 

 deceptions, and at the third inadmissible " ; and the offer was eventually 

 declined.^ 



The Lodge now known as the Chief Secretary's was acquired fi-om 

 Lord Blaquiere at the same time.^ It is the latest in date of the 

 existing Lodges in the Park, and the circumstances in which it origi- 

 nated deserve to be noticed. The Patents of appointment of the 

 Hangers and Keepers of the Park required the holders ' ' faithfully 

 and diligently to discharge and execute the office and trust of Keeper, 

 and either in person or by some trusty servant, constantly to walk the 

 round of the said Park."* The patentees being gentlemen of position, 

 invariably discharged their duties through a deputy known as the Bailiff. 

 For this functionary a salary of £9, with living allowances and a small 

 residence, was provided in the estimates, and his office became in time 

 the subject of an eminently characteristic eighteenth-century job. On 

 the death, in 1774, of one Crosthwaite, who had for many years filled the 



^ Sir Jonah Barrington's Historic Memoirs of Ireland, ii., p. 3i. 



2 See also as to this episode Lecky's History of England, vol. iv., p. 559. 



3 Country Letters, Irish Eecord OfHce. 



^ Ormonde to Sir W. Flower. Carte Papers, Bodleian Library, May 28, 

 1664. 



