Still this will not be known in Ireland, and its effect there will be most mischievous. I think the result will be the removal of the Chancellor; but Peel, with whom I have had most conversation, complains extremely of Wellesley's not having written to him a line, or I believe to any other person, on the state of Ireland or any of the late events. He says most truly, "The Lord-Lieutenant has a clear right to dismiss any of his household with or without a reason, but can we from that infer his feelings respecting the Chancellor, or can the Government take any steps on mere newspaper reports?" From Plunket's report I believe that the Lord-Lieutenant and Chancellor are on as bad terms as possible, and that it is notorious to all Dublin. The public good demands that decisive measures should be taken, but it is really hard upon the English Ministers to expect them to originate them without a request or intimation from the person in whose department they are, and who is most directly responsible.
If anything is now done, he [Lord Wellesley] will, you well know, make a merit of his not having complained against Lord Manners, and declare that he never wished his removal.
Ever yours,
C. W. W.
The Duke of Buckingham thought it necessary to write to Lord Wellesley in a friendly spirit, on his recent proceedings, to which the Lord-Lieutenant made the following reply:—
THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
Phœnix Park, Feb. 21, 1823.
My dear Duke,
I received with the utmost degree of gratitude and satisfaction your Grace's most kind and generous letter, which my long (but as you know) involuntary silence did not merit.
Your Grace's reasoning is most just, and all your observations judicious and useful. In a few days I hope to be able (by a safe hand) to send a more full and explicit answer to your letter. In the meanwhile, I will shortly state that I hope the extension to Ireland of the provisions of the Act 38th George III. will not be delayed: that the removal of some officers of the household was absolutely necessary for the maintenance even of my private honour. V—— is an old offender, and had received menaces of dismission several times for disrespect to the King, Lord Cornwallis, Lord Whitworth, Lord Wellesley, &c.