MARQUESS OF TAVISTOCK TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. London, February 27. 1760. My dearest Father, I cannot thank you enough for sparing a moment from all the business which this descent of the French must have engaged you in, to let me hear from you. I am in hopes so trifling a force will not wait your arrival, but that General Strode will be able, at least, with his five companies and the militia, to retaliate the affair of St. Caz upon them, especially as in this country they give us a most despicable account of Thurot's equipment; and I think it can be no affront to the Irish nation to believe all their accounts extremely exaggerated, if not entirely false. I have, however, the comfort to think that if your presence should be necessary (which I hope in God it will not), the men you command will I am certain do their duty. I am very sorry that four companies should be made prisoners, but as I am ignorant of the circumstances, I am in hopes it is not owing either to want of spirit or conduct. I hope this will find all at the castle in perfect peace and quietness, and that so trifling an attempt will not have alarmed in the least my mother and sister, whose quiet I am the most concerned for. Believe me, &c. F. T * Only son of the Duke of Bedford. 1760. 1760. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO MR. SECRETARY PITT. (Separate.) Dublin Castle, March 2. 1760. Having in my letter to you of the 23d of last month, mentioned that Lieut.-Col. Jennings with four companies of Major-General Strode's regiment under his command, had suffered himself and them to be made prisoners of war in the castle of Carrickfergus, which was the best account I could then give you in consequence of the only accounts I had then received relating to that affair from Major-General Strode, I think it incumbent on me, in order that no aspersion may be thrown on that gentleman's character as an officer, to inform you, that upon the strictest inquiry I have made into it, from the Earl of Rothes and other officers who have since been upon the spot, to declare that no man could have made, with the small number of men under his command, a gal lanter or better judged defence of any place, under the circumstances he was in, than Lieut.-Col. Jennings did, and that had he had 150 men more with ammunition sufficient (which was not the case), he would undoubtedly, in my opinion, have preserved Carrickfergus, which though he did not succeed in, he was undoubtedly, under God, the cause of preserving Belfast from pillage, and saving the loss of at least 100,000l. to his Majesty's subjects, that town having had at least to that value in linen goods and money. The very soldier-like behaviour of this gentleman, obliges me in justice to give this ample testimonial of his merits on that day, and to recommend him, on that account, to his Majesty's future favour in promoting him to a lieutenantcolonelcy in an older regiment.* 1760. DUKE OF BEDFORD TO MR. SECRETARY PITT. Powerscourt, March 24. 1760. I was on Thursday last honoured with your letter of the 13th instant, inclosing to me that very extraordinary one (not to give it a harsher name) of Mr. Haven the sovereign of Belfast to you. The assertion in it, of no arms having been put into the hands of any Protestant in that part of Ireland since the commencement of the present war, is most manifestly false, I having denied them to no one Protestant gentleman who has asked for them, as has been candidly confessed in the House of Commons, even by those very gentlemen who have been most adverse in parliament to my administration; and it is very remarkable, that this very *Thurot set sail again, after the capture of Carrickfergus, taking with him the Mayor and two other gentlemen. But the Duke of Bedford having given intelligence of his departure to Captain Elliot, a brother of Sir Gilbert Elliot, who commanded 1760. gentleman who, in his letter to you of the 22d of last month, taxes me and my predecessors with so shameful a neglect, had never applied to me, and was indeed unknown to me even by name at the time the letter was wrote. I leave it, Sir, to your judgment to determine whether so insolent and so unprovoked an attack upon his Majesty's lieutenant of this kingdom, shall not receive from you such a check, as may prevent the like impertinencies to me, and trouble to you for the future. SECRETARY PITT TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. (Private.) My Lord, St. James's Square, April 19. 1760. My office letters will acquaint your Grace that I lost no time in laying before the King your Grace's desires with regard to the Lords Justices; and which, from his Majesty's reliance on your Grace's views for his service, and from the known merit of the subjects in question, could not fail to meet with the royal approbation; it is with great satisfaction that I congratulate your Grace on your approaching return by the middle of next month into his Majesty's presence, after so successful a conclusion of affairs in Ireland; at which time it will be a very sensible pleasure to me to assure your Grace in person, that I shall ever esteem it a The packet due this day arrived last night at eleven o'clock; and I think it better to send your letters by Foster the messenger, who I hope will be with you before you go to bed to-night, rather than wait for the post to-night. He will attend your Grace's commands, and bring back any orders you may have. I enclose your Grace copies of letters which I received last night from Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Wood. I hope from Sharpe's letter that it is not quite impossible but some bills may be returned to us by the end of this week: the minutes of yesterday will show your Grace that we adjourned till Friday on that account. By Wood's letter and its enclosure, you will perceive the measure of Lord George's (Sackville) fate is not yet full. I take for granted he will be expelled the House of Commons.* When * "Well, the big week is over! Lord George's sentence, after all the communications of how terrible it was, is ended in proclaiming him unfit for the King's service. Very moderate, in com parison of what was intended |