ost sincerely on public grounds, I cannot but rejoice that
Tom is not to be embarked _dans cette maudite galere_. For what
satisfaction or honour could he receive from it? If he had gone at
first, he might have acquired and exercised some influence over his
principal, and God knows that could not but have turned to good.
But now the _pli_ is taken, the system is set up, and what can
alter it I know not. With respect to Lord Castlereagh, I have
always heard him spoken of as a man of parts and character; but he
cannot have, with Lord Cornwallis, or with the public, the weight
which his peculiar situation requires.

You will easily do me justice enough to believe that I am not blind
to the difficulties which all this heaps on the object (already
sufficiently difficult) which we have in view. I have had no
opportunity (and I am vexed at it) to discuss this subject in
private with Lord Clare. He was to have come here in his way to
Ireland, but he now writes me word that his letters from Ireland
are so pressing for his immediate return that he cannot lose a day.
I can well enough understand that his absence dissolves the little
government that did exist; but I fear, from what Pitt tells me, he
has not spoken out to him, nor would probably to me, as to the real
state of affairs there. I am assured that he talks not only
decisively of the necessity, but also _very sanguinely_ of the
success of our measure, provided always that no attempt is made to
change, as a part of the Union, the existing laws about the
Catholics. And in this last point I am very much disposed to agree
with him now, though before the rebellion I should have thought
differently. For, the doing this thing as a part of the present
measure, would be to hold out an encouragement to rebellion,
instead of showing that every endeavour to disunite Great Britain
and Ireland only makes them "cling close and closer" to each other.

I send you the sketch of our ideas--beyond that, I am sorry to say
we have not yet proceeded, though time presses so much. Many points
of detail will obviously arise from the discussion of these general
ideas, but who is to discuss them if the Lord-Lieutenant is afraid
to communicate with anybody? Forster has been written to twice, to
come over here; he holds back, but