you say the Catholics are disposed
to take is undoubtedly very important; but does this mean only
their leaders, who do _not_ lead them, or has this opinion been
spread among the parish priests and lower orders? Certainly, if
they knew their interest, those descriptions ought to be peculiarly
favourable to it, for they will come under the especial protection
of the mildest and most equitable government upon the earth. But do
they see and feel this, and are any pains taken to impress them
with it? Forster's language continues to be very hostile, and I
imagine he thinks the Government will be frightened out of the
measure. The appointment of Commissioners seems, on the whole, to
be unavoidable, and the Acts for that purpose should, I think, be
proposed on the same day to both Parliaments.

Much objection seems to be taken to any Committee or other body of
that sort resident in Ireland; and perhaps the novelty in our
Constitution of Members of Parliament who cannot attend Parliament
is a solid objection to it. Would it not be easier to make the
representation consist of thirty county members, eight or ten city
members chosen from Dublin, Cork, &c., and the remainder elected by
alternate choice from classes of four boroughs each? What I mean is
not that the four in each class should choose altogether by
delegates, &c., but that the choice should be in one of them for
each Parliament, and this rotation settled at first by lot, and
then to continue unalterable. If this will not do, we must then
class them and choose by delegates, as in the Scotch precedent. But
who shall regulate this classing? and how conciliate the jarring
interests of great men?

By the way, you got me into something of a scrape by giving Cooke a
copy of the queries in the margin of the paper I sent you. I
omitted to give you any caution on this subject, because I thought
it was quite safe that you would not communicate it, and you
probably thought that the communication was very unimportant and
indifferent. It happened otherwise, but do not say anything to
Cooke about it.

You see the French papers confirm our hopes of Minorca. The
Russians and Turks have begun their operations against the
_department of the Egean Sea_, and have taken Cephalonia, I
believe Zante. I expec