CHAP. he wrote and circulated among his friends the following explanation of his conduct: CLXXIV. A. D. 1801. Lord Lough justifica tion of his conduct in these trans actions. "The only period in which, from the time of my entering into office, I had been absent from the correspondence amongst the persons principally concerned in the public business, was in the course of the autumn of 1800. Obliged by the duty of my own office to a constant residence in town, except in autumn, I had during that season never removed farther than Tunbridge Wells, or the coast of Kent, each of which brought me nearer to Mr. P. and D., who lived together, than if I had remained at Hampstead, and of course placed me in the way of knowing all that was passing, as well regarding the external as internal business of the State. ...... I was not conscious of any reserve towards me; believed the communication to be perfectly frank; and, being naturally indifferent to penetrate into any details of business, had not the least suspicion that there could be any reserve observed towards me on any great measure. . . . . . . In the autumn of 1800 I went early, and without any particular occasion to require my presence, to Weymouth, where for two or three years successively I had been obliged to go on public business, and had staid for a few days each time. It was not my intention to have remained here long; but the King seeming to desire that I should remain some time, and having the goodness to remark that the air and the bathing agreed with me, and his Court being so small that even the addition of my niece and of Mr. N., who was ready to join our party, was not indifferent, I decided to remain there during H. M.'s residence. "Mr. Windham and Mr. W. were there on my arrival, who also prolonged their stay on the same grounds. "Soon afterwards it became necessary to hold a Council at W. for the meeting of Parlt., and the presence of W. and myself was a convenient circumstance. "The D. of P. came down for that occasion, and returned immediately. In a few days after his return, a messenger arrived with a minute of the Cabinet (of which there were very few men in town), the purport of which was not very agreeable to the K.'s ideas, and still less so to W. . . . . . "This despatch was followed the next day by a private letter from Mr. P. to me, explaining the grounds of the former despatch. I had had the good fortune to check the first emotion of disapprobation that the minute had produced, and to obtain the return of a moderate answer; that which was first written being (not CHAP. destroyed) but withheld. The sequel of that business made it CLXXIV. unnecessary to send it, as the state of affairs had changed. "On this occasion my presence had been of some use to the A. D. 1801. easier conduct of public business, on a point which, had all the King's servants been in a situation to have consulted together, seemed very likely to have produced a rupture; for D., who was at Ch., wrote to me a very warm letter, much irritated against the measure that had been taken, and in a degree reproaching me for the assent he supposed I had given to it. My answer explained to him the grounds on which I had not assented, but acquiesced, and prevented an absolute dissent; which must have led to an absolute separation of at least one servant. He, however, had felt so strongly the objection, that he thought it necessary to enter a formal protest against it, after the subject was in effect gone past. "There happened about the same time one other incident, neither object nor detail of which I distinctly recollect, in which my immediate intercourse prevented a like incident of quick disapprobation. "In the last days of September, about the 27th as I recollect, I read a letter from Mr. P., who had kept up a correspondence with me, desiring me to return to town for a meeting on the 2d of October, with L. C., who wished before his return to Ireland, to be instructed what language he should be authorised to hold with respect to the Catholics. This letter accompanied a box of papers containing L. C.'s exposition of the point in question. "Not having prepared to leave W. so abruptly, it was impossible for me, especially as the box and letter had been delivered to me by the messenger in the view of the King, not to inform H. M. of the occasion of my sudden departure, and I thought the best way was to show him the letter, in which there was nothing to be kept back. "The knowledge that a subject of this nature was in discussion, I was aware would occasion some anxiety in H. M.'s mind, and I therefore determined not to open the papers for the short time I should stay at W.-I. M., as I expected, did not fail to talk to me earnestly on the subject, which he supposed might be treated at the appointed meeting. I evaded the discussion by the excuse of not being able to enter upon the perusal of the papers, and confined myself to say, that I was persuaded nothing of material importance could be settled at such a meeting, nor without CHAP. CLXXIV. A. D. 1801. consulting L. C., who was soon expected in this country, and that for my own part, I must think that a subject of so much extent as the general description of it in the letter indicated, could not be brought in many meetings to any certain conclusion. "H. M. continued evidently anxious during the time I remained, (which he retarded for a whole day), upon this subject, but he permitted me to retain the same reserve. "I arrived in town the day of the meeting, 30th September; but having had in my journey ample time to consider the papers, and digest my opinion on them, I felt myself sufficiently prepared with my own opinion. 66 Except Lord L., Mr. D., and Lord W., all, I think, were present. Lord C. there also. The business was slowly opened, and for some time loosely discussed. I then stated shortly, but earnestly, my own opinion decidedly against the general question; proposing a measure as to tithes which had been thought of in this country, and not objecting to the idea of a pecuniary aid to the clergy, Catholic or Dissenting, but much more limited in its extent than the plan proposed, referring to a paper I had formerly given, before the Union was in view, to Mr. P., on that particular point. "I rested much on the different state of the questions to be discussed since the Union, and before that event, - that now, the churches of both clergies being consolidated, no point could be made in one that would not of necessity affect either as to tithe, or any other part of the ecclesiastical establishment, and the security of the Church of England was necessarily involved in that of Ireland, and the interest of the State was the same in both; that a change here would be most pernicious, and could not be attempted without the utmost hazard, especially as no one could be ignorant how totally adverse it must be to the K.'s opinion, founded on a high sense of religious obligation. The topics I urged did not seem to be new to any one, nor were they much combated by any except Lord G. I rather judged that they were strongly felt by Mr. P. "The plan I opened with regard to tithe met with very general concurrence, and I undertook to deliver it in writing. The result of the meeting was pointed and express, that Lord C. should be authorised to say, that some regulation with regard to tithe which might be adapted to the peculiar circumstances of Ireland was in contemplation, that there was also a disposition to give some pecuniary aid to the clergy, as well of Catholic persuasion as of Dissenters, the extent and mode of which required CLXXIV. more ample information to be gained from themselves. And as to CHAP. the question of further indulgence to the Catholics, it was a subject of so deep and serious consideration that no assurance on that subject could be held out to them, the Administration not having formed any opinion for or against their expectations. "From a letter of Lord C., after his return to Ireland, which came afterwards into circulation, there is reason to think that he had understood and followed his instructions. "It was particularly my part to deliver in the plan with respect to tithe, which consisted in a bill drawn by Mr. J. Heath, which two or three years before I had communicated to some of the Bishops and left with the Archbishop, who all seemed to approve the idea, but thought the time unfavourable for the proposal. "I sent the next day to Mr. J. Heath for a copy of it, and about two days afterwards transmitted it, with an explanation, to the Secretary of State's office for circulation. "I then, pursuing the other parts of the subject, drew up a minute of my opinion upon them at considerable length; one copy I sent to Mr. Pitt, the other to the D. of P.; and though I have no note of the date, I think this must have been about the 20th of October, perhaps later, for it took up some time, and prevented my going to Bath. "The D. of P. at first took it to be a private communication, and desired to take a copy of it. I informed him, that I meant it to be official and to be put in circulation, wishing also that the circulation might be extended to Lord Clare, who was then expected in England. "About the opening of the session of Parliament, the King asked me one day in the course of my attendance on him, what had been the result of the council for which I had been called to town. I said, nothing more than to encourage an idea I had formed in conversation with Mr. J. Heath in regard to tithes, and to hold out some hope of pensions to the Catholic and Dissenting clergy, neither of which were at all settled. He observed, these were not dangerous measures in themselves, and might be good or bad, according as they should be adjusted. But had nothing been settled as to the Catholic question? I assured him, nothing had been settled on that question, though it had undergone some discussion. He seemed desirous to know how it had been treated; and I said, so loosely, that I could not pretend to know any one's opinion but my own, which I had stated in writing and put in circulation. He then expressed a desire to see both that and my project with A. D. 1801. CHAP. CLXXIV. A. D. 1801. Lord Loughborough delivers up the Great Seal, and retires. respect to tithes ; in consequence of which I sent a copy of each to the office of his Majesty. At the next levee he was pleased to tell me, that I had not convinced him, but he had always been of the same opinion with regard to the Catholic question, but he thought I had reasoned it fairly, and as to the other subject he should have no objection if the Bishops had none. "This is all the intercourse I had with H. M. on this subject since the year 1795, when by his express command I delivered my written answers to some questions he was pleased to put to me upon this subject, which answers fell so short of the high sense of the obligation H. M. felt to be imposed upon him, that they were rather displeasing to him."* I abstain from the invidious task of commenting on this document. At last the inevitable hour arrived to Lord Loughborough when, giving up the Great Seal, he was to be civiliter mortuus. This sad catastrophe happened at St. James's Palace on the 14th of April. George III. affected to treat him very courteously, and thanked him for his very valuable services; but there was an alacrity in his Majesty's manner, and a twinkle in his eye, which, in spite of all attempts at concealment, betrayed his Majesty's high satisfaction at throwing off a man whom he never trusted, and getting a Chancellor whose sentiments he knew to be sincerely and steadily in accordance with his own. * Rossl. 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