THE RIGHT HON. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
East India Office, Four o'clock.
My dear Duke,
I am just come from the House, which was not made, owing to the horrid weather and fall of snow, therefore I cannot move the writ till to-morrow, when I shall certainly do so.
I saw Spring Rice,[109] ] who had just received letters from Dublin, giving an account of the first day's trial. His letters were from Maurice Fitzgerald, Mr. Goold, and another whose name he did not mention, but he read them all to me, and they perfectly agreed in stating that nothing could have been more favourable to the proof of the conspiracy than the first day's trial. The Sheriff evidently attempted to secure a good jury; there were six trials, and he had only collected sixty individuals for the formation of the juries; the Court directed him to enlarge his numbers, which he was obliged to do, and the jury was considered tolerably good, though not a single Catholic upon it, only one individual who they knew to be a sworn and decided Orangeman. Nothing could exceed the eloquence, temper, and firmness of Plunket, exceeding his acknowledged powers. One witness only examined as yet, but all agreeing that if he [Plunket] only proves half that he has stated himself prepared to bring forward, a conviction must follow. In the course of his speech he stated that Lord Wellesley was supported in all the steps he had taken by the Government in England, and by the personal sanction and approbation of his Sovereign. He laid it very heavily on the Sheriff, Thorpe, and others of the Corporation. Altogether, from these letters (which of course must be taken with some abatement, from the character and opinions of the writers), it would appear that Plunket will not only come out most triumphantly, but that the Orangeists are fallen beyond all belief in their triumphant expectation.
Fitzgerald's phrase is, "The case even exceeds the most sanguine statement which Lord Wellesley had made me the day before."
Ever truly yours,
W. H. F.
I merely add a few words, to say that our first day has been most favourable to the Government, and that we are all in tip-top spirits. No one can yet believe that France will be mad enough to march troops into the Peninsula. Brougham's certainly one of the most, if not the most eloquent speech he ever made, but most bitter and vindictive towards the allies and the magnanimous Alexander. Nothing can be better than the accounts from Dropmore.
W. H. F.