by the Government in England, and by the personal
sanction and approbation of his Sovereign. He laid it very heavily
on the Sheriff, Thorpe, and others of the Corporation. Altogether,
from these letters (which of course must be taken with some
abatement, from the character and opinions of the writers), it
would appear that Plunket will not only come out most triumphantly,
but that the Orangeists are fallen beyond all belief in their
triumphant expectation.

Fitzgerald's phrase is, "The case even exceeds the most sanguine
statement which Lord Wellesley had made me the day before."

Ever truly yours,

W. H. F.

I merely add a few words, to say that our first day has been most
favourable to the Government, and that we are all in tip-top
spirits. No one can yet believe that France will be mad enough to
march troops into the Peninsula. Brougham's certainly one of the
most, if not the most eloquent speech he ever made, but most bitter
and vindictive towards the allies and the magnanimous Alexander.
Nothing can be better than the accounts from Dropmore.

W. H. F.

I forgot to say that Plunket has two Orange informers to produce as
witnesses, who were parties to the conspiracy. There was no
prevarication or difficulty with the only witness examined.

[109] In 1839 created Baron Monteagle.

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

House of Commons, Five o'clock.

MY DEAR DUKE,

Nothing is talked of but Lord Wellesley's business; he really seems
to have lost his head, though Plunket and Newport are come full
primed and most loud in his defence; the Opposition, I have no
doubt, will support him, and I have as little doubt that the
Cabinet will do the same; but all the Orange part of the Government
are trumpeting forth his misconduct, and folly, and madness. The
real fact I believe to be, that he has been guilty of great
imprudence, but that the Orange faction in Ireland were determined
to drive him away, and Lord Manners was at the head of this
faction. It is impossible that they can both now remain, and
therefore I have not the least doubt that Lord Manners will be
recalled. There is a story in town to-day, of a message having been
sent by Lord Wellesley to Lord Manners, in which the former
upbraids the latter with the most culpable, unf