the less
convinced of the truth of my own opinion, which is unhappily
already confirmed by too many instances of the effects which this
delusive security, as I think it, has produced, and is daily
producing. I can see no grounds, in the state of this country, to
hope for such an exception in our favour, and I do verily believe
that we must prepare to meet the storm here, and that we must not
count upon the continuance of a state of domestic tranquillity
which has already lasted so much beyond the period usually allotted
to it in the course of human events. I trust that we shall at least
meet it with more firmness than our neighbours, but even in order
to do this, we ought not to blind ourselves at the moment of its
approach. It seems too probable that it is decreed by Providence
that a stop should be put (for reasons probably inscrutable to us)
to the progress of arts and civilization among us. It is a
melancholy reflection to be born to the commencement of such a
scene, and to be called to bear a principal share in it, but I
trust we may hope that our strength may be proportioned to our
trial.

With respect to what you say of Ireland, I am not ignorant of the
reports upon the subject, though perhaps a little mortified at the
facility with which you seem to have given credit to them. I know
of no such measure as you say we _have adopted_. I have never
varied in my opinion as to the impolicy of the conduct held in
Ireland during the time of Lord Rockingham's Administration, nor
do I believe that any one is disposed to repeat that conduct now.
On the other hand, I must say that I think we, least of all people,
and yourself less than any man existing, have reason to feel any
particular interest in a system which experience has always shown,
at least in our time, to be neither able nor disposed to carry any
support to English Government whenever England can think such
support material. It has long appeared to me, and I believe to you
also, that to make the connexion with Ireland permanently useful to
Great Britain, that connexion must be strengthened by a systematic
plan of measures, well considered and steadily pursued. Whether the
present moment, or any other moment that is in near prospect, would
be favourable to such a plan, is another and a m