The general want of common humanity, both for O’Connor and Ld. E., is disgusting. Party opinions may, and always must, run high in critical moments, but when things come to life and death, as in these cases, one should think the speculatists might yield to the man, and pity creep in and soften the rigour of the politician; but alas! I find none made of penetrable stuff. Ld. Morpeth thinks O’Connor guilty and unfairly acquitted, and is as violent against Buller as they are against Eyre who acquitted Hardy and the others.[206] C. Ellis, who does not allow himself to form an opinion, and if he could make the effort would stifle the embryo of it did it not coincide with Canning’s assertion, is naturally mild, but upon the cases of these unhappy men his bitterness is wonderful. I put it to him fairly whether it did not at the first hearing strike him to be a measure of unusual harshness. He would not reply for some time, as he said it might make him commit himself in a way he did not mean if taken as an A and B case; but if I asked whether it was hard for O’Connor he should not hesitate to say no, because the more cruel it was, the stronger was the proof of its being necessary and he being guilty, as Ministers were incapable of injustice. I told him that I regretted he had not lived in the middle ages and given his faith to orthodox points, as he would have made one of the firmest pillars of the Church, instead of being a milk and water politician now. Mr. Fox was extraordinarily pleasant and full of acute and judicious observations upon ye trial; he came and stayed here twenty-four hours.
O’CONNOR’S TRIAL
June 10th.—Death has placed the gallant Ld. Edward beyond the reach of his enemies. His confinement and illness and all the previous transactions were accompanied with circumstances so disgustingly cruel, that for the sake of the human character one feels almost inclined to suppress ye details, but as it is essential for the unfortunate victim that all should be known, I hope a faithful narrative will appear well attested. It appears that he was sick with a bad sore throat, and lying upon his bed, when Ryan fired at him through the door, burst it open, and seized upon him. He naturally (as any man would) resisted, wounded Ryan in the scuffle, and was seized himself by Swan and a file of musketeers; not, however, until by repeated wounds he had himself been disarmed. Those into whose custody he was placed were violent against him, and did not attend to his wounds for twenty-four hours. As he was carried to prison six persons separately attempted to rescue him, and, as might be expected, perished in the endeavour; the man at whose house he had been secreted, on the first impulse of honest zeal and rage, flew with his drawn sabre upon the soldiers. He was seized and hanged.[207]
Such was the winning character of poor Lord Edward that without patronage, wealth, no very superior abilities, he had the faculty of attaching men of all ranks to his person. He was universally beloved both among his family and country and acquaintances. His loss has brought forth more genuine, unfeigned tears of sorrow than would perhaps the death of fifty other individuals, even in his own rank of life, and taken out of a family as numerous. Ly. Edward was sent out of the country upon his apprehension; it was notified harshly, intimating that unless she obeyed speedily she would be arrested and tried for her life, as Government could hang her from proofs they had against her. She said she would stand ye trial, provided she might be allowed to share the prison of her ever-to-be-lamented husband. This was denied her, and she was compelled to set off with her two children, one only a month old, to this country, with a passport limiting her stay. Ld. Henry, upon his arrival in Dublin, was peremptorily refused an interview with his brother. I shall not give the particulars of what passed when he did see him, until I have heard it from himself, as he returned last night. The D. of Richmond came forward in the warmest manner. He had an audience with ye King, and laid before him the letter he had written to Ld. Camden.[208]
LORD E. FITZGERALD’S DEATH
When the excellent Duchess set off full of hopes and anxiety, she was overtaken at Coleshill, after travelling night and day to reach Dublin as soon as possible. She bore the dreadful news with composure and resignation. Lord Henry is in such an agitated state, that he cannot yet see any of his family. His state of mind is violently affected by the shock of seeing his dying brother perishing by wanton cruelty. Upon his first application to see Ld. E. he was refused. On Saturday, the 2nd of June, Ld. E. was roused from sleep by an unusual noise under his window; upon enquiring he was told that the military were in the act of hanging a man just condemned by martial law. The man’s name was Clinch, a friend and adherent of his. The effect upon his nerves was immediate; he became raving mad, and a keeper from a madhouse was necessary to attend him. The next day, the surgeons declared that the symptoms of death were upon him.
The titled murderers, when they heard what had caused his approaching dissolution, began to relent, and acceded to the prayers of Ld. Henry. He was admitted with Ly. L. Conolly to see him; they found him almost expiring, but even at that moment anxious to do what he knew would be acceptable to the opinions of his mother and aunt. He entreated her to read him the service for the dying.[209]
Upon Ld. H.’s[210] arrival at Holyhead he wrote a violent, reproachful letter to Ld. Camden of such a nature that personal danger may be the effect; no answer has yet been returned, and Ld. C. is upon ye point of returning to England, so it remains to be seen whether another calamity will overtake ye unfortunate family of Fitzgerald.
Upon ye Land Tax Ld. H. spoke, and I hear very well: ye subject was dry.
The explosion has at length taken place in Ireland, civil war rages with all its fury; the insurgents daily gain adherents and strong posts.[211] Ld. Camden is recalled, and Ld. Cornwallis is to succeed him, but not to conciliate. On Monday the D. of Leinster made a motion, which was seconded by ye D. of Devonshire and others; Ld. H. spoke remarkably well. The division would have been larger if the Opposition Lords had been sent to in time. My friend Ld. Boringdon did as shabby a thing as was ever done. He spoke against ye Bill for sending out ye Militia, with much heat, and the very next day he voted as readily as if it had been his own measure. Ld. Carlisle did the same thing, but he is so hackneyed in shabbiness that one neither is surprised or angry. But in a young man it is a bad debut.