EMLY MSS. into Great Britain upon low duties from Ireland only, when the price thereof is at or above 46 sh., and other sorts of coru, when the prices shall be in like proportion, the said regulation to take place whenever the Parliament of Ireland shall make a similar regulation in favour of British corn, yet the opinion of the committee seems to preponderate in favor of the measure, especially if coupled with another regulation, to allow wheat to be exported without bounty, when the price thereof is between 44. and 46.; and as no particular objection to the measure is stated by the committee, it may be hoped it will take place in the whole as to all sorts of corn, the Parliament of Ireland having already made a similar regulation in favor of British corn. But if any unforeseen obstacle shall prevent its being carried into execution with respect to wheat and other sorts of corn, of which Great Britain generally produces sufficient quantities for its own consumption, yet oats and oatmeal seem to deserve a different consideration as Great Britain does not produce a sufficient quantity thereof in any one year for its own consumption, and it cannot be of any prejudice to Great Britain to allow Ireland a preference to foreigners in that article, and I have reason to believe would be of considerable advantage to the latter. I make no apology for troubling you upon this subject, knowing your disposition to promote the interest of this country in everything which does not appear to interfere with that of Great Britain. Upon the same principle, I must request your thoughts upon another subject of still more importance to this kingdom, indeed I may say to the empire. The consumption of hoine-made spirits by the lower ranks of the people here is encreased to such an alarming degree as to threaten the most fatal consequences. It not only destroys the health, morals, and industry of the people, but it endangers the safety of the state and is the cause of those tumults and outrages, which you see detailed in the public prints. To find out a remedy for this evil, which has been too long neglected by government, perhaps from too much attention to revenue, seems to be very difficult, but I hope it is not impracticable. If any man can, I am persuaded you can point out the probable means of applying a remedy to this disorder. I therefore most earnestly request your thoughts upon this subject and I shall consider [it] as a strong instance of your friendship, which I have already experienced. "Copy to Lord Hawkesbury." 66 90. HAWKESBURY to PERY. 1790, Dec. 25th. London.-I was happy to receive a letter from you, as it always gives me pleasure to hear of you, or to be honored with your commands. I laboured earnestly last year to induce the members of our House of Commons to give a preference to Ireland in the importation of corn. I proposed it in the representation of the committee at council in the manner that appeared to me to be the most likely to ensure success. I offered the farmers a boon in return for it by allowing them to export corn at a higher price than was before permitted. The country gentlemen accepted the boon and made it part of the new system, but they would not allow Irish corn to be imported as I had proposed. I am clear that this was a wise measure, and that it might have been of some service to Ireland, without being of any detriment to Great Britain, particularly as far as relates to oats, of which sort of grain this country in no year grows so much as it consumed; but the Scotch country gentlemen and those of the North West of England would not consent to it. There is now another proposition made, but of a more doubtful nature, viz. to allow the importation of Irish corn at the present prices, but to stop the importation of the like sorts of grain from other countries, till the price per quarter is 3 or 4 shillings higher. This measure would have the effect of raising the price of corn in this country and even at the present prices the poor are often starving, and there is frequent danger of popular insurrections. In a business of so much risk, I cannot venture to have a decided opinion. The House of Commons must take upon themselves this measure. There will be some country gentlemen for it. The members of cities or manufacturing towns will be in general against it. With respect to the other business you mention, I remember when there was some complaint in England of the drunkenness or profligacy of the common people from the habit of drinking drams. This was many years ago. Various measures were taken to correct this evil, but all were ineffectual, till very high duties were laid on spirits, and, since that was done, the complaint has ceased, and the English have been in general a sober people. At the same time that the duties on spirits were raised, it would be wise to lower those on beer, particularly the smaller sorts, so as to lower the price and encourage the use of it. I know that there are objections to this plan, arising principally from considerations of finance, but it is the best that occurs to me. It gives me great pleasure to find that I am in your lordship's remembrance. I have the honour to be, etc. HAWKESBURY." 91. LORD ALDBOROUGH to PERY. "1798, Jany. 10th. Great Denmark Street, Rutland Square [Dublin]. -My Lord, I was to wait upon your lordship this morning with my acknowledgments for the good offices you did me yesterday, and on Lord Clare informing me the only way of getting rid of this business was by an address of the lords to his Excellency for a nolle prosequi to stop further proceedings, I hoped he would make the motion. His lordship declined that, but, if I understand words, he said he would make no opposition to such a motion, and that he had no obloquy to me. To-day, however, he followed me into a shop to tell me that, from a conversation with Lord Carleton, he found I expected from him what he took that opportunity to undeceive me in, for that he intended to carry matters to every extremity, and had sent me a letter to that effect. I yet hope he will think better of it and return to his milder sentiments of yesterday. If not, I trust the lords will not see their dignity wounded through the sides of at least an unintentional offending a member of their body, and if your lordship would be so good as to make the above motion for me, what would come from a nobleman of such weight, humanity, integrity, and honour would have great influence and effect. If I can obtain this boon of respectability, I must intreat your lordship's early attendance at the house on Monday, but was it to be attended with the smallest injury of a health I hope God will long preserve, I do assure your lordship I would suffer the utmost rigor of persecution sooner than put you to such inconvenience. I have the honor to be, etc.-ALDBOROUGH. P.S. My eyes are weak. I am near my sixtieth year, which will apologise for this bad writing, etc." Endorsed: "Under all the circumstances which have passed, the Chancellor feels it impossible on his part to say anything upon the subject of Lord Aldborough's message." EMLY MSS. HARE MSS. THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THEODORE J. HARE FRANCIS HARE to his COUSIN [GEORGE NAYLOR]. 1704, August 14. Hochstadt.-For want of paper I can give you but a short account of the greatest victory that has been won in the memory of man; after five days continued march we came on Monday to Munster, the Elector having passed the Danube before and being encamped strongly on this ground, their right at Dillingen and the left at this place. On Tuesday morning early my Lord Duke reconnoitred their camp, and some French forces appearing there was some appearance of action, but they retiring upon our army drawing out, nothing was done that day; it is probable they did not know we had joined Prince Eugene and hoped to have engaged him apart. Early yesterday morning the whole army marched in nine columns, first to the left a detachment of 20 battalions commanded by Lord Cutts and Brigadier Row, and 15 squadrons of dragoons commanded by Major General Wood (who has escaped perfectly in this hot service and is much your humble servant), these were to attack a village which was the enemy's head quarters on the left of this place; then there were two columns of English horse, then two of English foot, next two columns of German horse, and last two columns of German foot. The right having much further to march, and the way being bad, the left came up with the enemy long before the right. They came within reach of their batteries before nine, and stood a very fierce and quick fire till past one, till the right could be ready, which lost us a great many men: for they had many batteries with which they flanked us on the left, and fired very furiously. About a quarter after one the small shot began from the detachment under Cutts and Wood, between two and three it began in other parts of the left. The French, notwithstanding they were surprised, and thought so little of our attacking them that they foraged in the morning, yet had disposed all things in very good order, and having a very strong camp with a rivulet before it, pressed our men so hard that before three I thought we had lost the day. They drew all their force down to the village to repulse the detachment before mentioned, the action in other parts of the left was soon over, the heat of it, and all was drawn to the village, wherein they put 28 battalions and 12 squadrons, and they had besides hedges about it and those palisaded. This made the action in that part very obstinate, and a great while doubtful. Between five and six we that were spectators had the news of Count Tallard's being taken prisoner, and by this time all action in the left was quite over except in this village where the French behaved themselves extremely well. At last (about eight I believe) they were forced to capitulate and were made prisoners of war. These 26 battalions were the whole body of foot that came with Tallard, and every man with the 12 squadrons of dragoons is killed or taken prisoner; this you may depend on as true: what were killed in other places we can yet make no judgment of their number nor of our own loss. Brigadier Row is mortally wounded, Lord N[orth] and Grey dangerously wounded. Philip Dormer was shot in the thigh and is since dead, his brother is wounded but not mortally. Major General Wood was for several hours said to be killed, but is not hurt, he was all day within half-musket shot, which makes his escape very exiraordinary. I do not pretend to give you a list of officers wounded or killed and therefore name no more. We have lost no general officer, as I hear, besides Brigadier Row, but a great many men. My Lord Marlborough was everywhere in the action to encourage our men and exposed to infinite dangers. One of the first cannon shot came between his horse's legs and beat up all the dirt into his face, but God. be thanked has received no wound. What Prince Eugene did in the right wing I cannot give any particular account, but he was everywhere in it and was twice or thrice repulsed, and then carried it, but my Lord Duke was forced to assist him with some forces from the left. This at present is all the account I can give of this glorious action, which for the length of it, the number of men killed and taken, and its consequences, cannot easily be matched. It is a very entire victory in all parts of it. Some of them retired to the castle of this town-about 60 -but this morning they have surrendered. There was one battalion of Bavarians and five French cut in pieces in the right, and they say Count Arco is killed; but I know nothing certain of what was done there. The French are blamed for nothing in their conduct but in not bringing their troops down to the rivulet to hinder our passing it, which our generals all blame them for, and their own officers that we have prisoners agree in it. What will be the immediate consequences of this success you shall hear by the next if I can tell you. In the meantime I remain most affectionately yours This is sent with the express my Lord sends the Queen. F. H. Mr. Wyndham is wounded in the thigh and leg, but it is thought not dangerously. Almost all the generals were against my Lord's attacking the enemy, they thought it so difficult. There were seven battalions cut off and thirty squadrons driven into the river, besides what were killed and taken at the village which they call Schuningen. The right wing of the Germans has suffered more than we have. The Imperial horse behaved themselves very ill, and if my Lord had not succoured them, had lost the day. The left wing of the enemy stood but little after they knew the right was routed. Marshal Tallard. Prisoners. Marquis Montperu, Major General. D'avalliere, Brigadier. Marquis de Meirevon, Lieutenant General. Marquis de Blansack, Major General. Monsieur de Hautefeuille, General of Dragoons. Count de Rousy, Lieutenant General. Monsieur Duson, Marechal de Camp. Monsieur de Monfort, a general officer. We are now at Steinheim and I believe shall follow the army. 1705, Saturday July 18. Tirlemont. We are just come to this place having this morning passed the French lines with very little opposition. The army marched from Lens about ten last night, before eleven the Duke was on horseback himself. There was a strong detachment of horse and foot sent before to possess themselves of the proper posts and HARE MSS. HARE MSS. -- between four and five the army, taking to the right, which was not expected, to the great surprise of the French appeared before the lines near Leydeshem (?) near Landen and near Hespen and the villages adjacent. We had been there two hours sooner but that the general who led the march in the night lost his way. As it was, we were too soon for the French, and with the loss of half a dozen men passed those lines which was thought would have cost at least as many thousand. Our men were over them before one thought they were at them. There was in the plain on the other side about 25 squadrons of the enemy appeared, many of them Bavarians and all in armour, and yet behaved themselves so ill that they charged but twice and immediately after, each ran with the utmost precipitation. They were drawn up in one line, our horse that opposed them in two, the first entirely English, who behaved themselves with the greatest bravery and with hardly any loss destroyed six or seven hundred, which was a great number considering the little time they stood. They began between six and seven and over in a manner in less than an hour there were many taken, among them three general officers, one of them the Marquis of Allegre, a lieutenant general, my Lord J. Hay took with his own hands. His regiment (of dragoons) charged the French twice without the loss of one man. The number of standards, colours, and cannon you will have from the account that will be published. There never was so great success so cheaply bought. The French had suffered in their foot more than their horse but that their foot which was behind the horse retired before, our foot could get up, but for want of that they escaped. Only one regiment was taken in this place. This success was so entirely owing to the Duke, and the design kept so private that he dared not offer to persuade the Deputies of the States with it, but perfectly bubbled them into it. The Dutch and we marched separate, and Monsieur Auverkerque was to make a false attack while the Duke with his army was to try if there were room for a true one. They readily give the Duke the glory of it, and own they knew nothing of it. It is to be hoped the mortification this will give Prince Lewis will rid us of him, and then if the Imperial forces were in better hands, he might venture again to the Moselle, though I believe this success will fill his hands with business here. But the present fill us with too much joy to give us time to look forward: he will not fail to do it whose business it is. I have more letters to write and therefore will break off. I wrote to you last post under cover to Mann. This comes by Colonel Duret whom the Duke sends express to the Queen. Service to friends. Adieu. This design was kept so private, that the Duke was surprised to find the Dutch had any intimation of it and last night just before he marched, heard him enquire how it came about. You will 1705, Thursday, July 30. Meldert, near Tirlemont. expect to hear from me, and therefore though the news be not what you might expect I cannot omit giving you some little account of it. The Duke on Tuesday had so concerted matters and managed the Deputies of the States as to bring matters to bear, and accordingly the army decamped last night between ten and eleven with intention to pass the Dyle at Neer-Eysche and Corbeck, a detachment of about 18 battalions and 20 squadrons being sent away in the afternoon before who came to their appointed posts about three in the morning, found the posts slightly guarded as the Duke had been informed, and made their bridges with little opposition, the men they found there soon retiring and the army though they lost their way in the night came up time |