[108] Lord Dudley's "Letters," p. 321.

Though an able man, his subsequent political career was short and
unsatisfactory. His known devotion to Mr. Canning, who had long
endeavoured to bring him forward, after the demise of that eminent
statesman, exercised a prejudicial influence over his fortunes, and the
first opportunity that presented itself was eagerly seized to get rid
of him.

About the end of January, Lord Grenville had a serious attack of
illness--a paralytic seizure--that caused considerable alarm among his
relatives and friends; but Sir Henry Halford having been summoned to
the assistance of the ordinary medical attendants at Dropmore, an
improvement shortly took place, and in a few days he was pronounced out
of danger.

The proceedings going on in Ireland, arising out of the alleged
conspiracy and rebellion, were regarded with as much interest in
England as the threatened invasion of Spain by France.

THE RIGHT HON. W. H. FREMANTLE TO THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

East India Office, Four o'clock.

MY DEAR DUKE,

I am just come from the House, which was not made, owing to the
horrid weather and fall of snow, therefore I cannot move the writ
till to-morrow, when I shall certainly do so.

I saw Spring Rice,[109] who had just received letters from Dublin,
giving an account of the first day's trial. His letters were from
Maurice Fitzgerald, Mr. Goold, and another whose name he did not
mention, but he read them all to me, and they perfectly agreed in
stating that nothing could have been more favourable to the proof
of the conspiracy than the first day's trial. The Sheriff evidently
attempted to secure a good jury; there were six trials, and he had
only collected sixty individuals for the formation of the juries;
the Court directed him to enlarge his numbers, which he was obliged
to do, and the jury was considered tolerably good, though not a
single Catholic upon it, only one individual who they knew to be a
sworn and decided Orangeman. Nothing could exceed the eloquence,
temper, and firmness of Plunket, exceeding his acknowledged powers.
One witness only examined as yet, but all agreeing that if he
[Plunket] only proves half that he has stated himself prepared to
bring forward, a conviction must follow. In the course of his
speech he stated that Lord Wellesley was supported in all the steps
he had taken