ance of Townshend's promise to me. In the meantime, I
should think you would do well to write a letter to Townshend,
stating your ideas upon the necessity of good faith, and the
impossibility of resistance, even upon the ground of simple
repeal, still more upon the more narrow one of external
legislation; and desiring an explicit answer _from the Cabinet_
on these points. This, if you would entrust me with it, I would
suppress in case the Cabinet should have met and come to any
satisfactory decision; and if not, I would deliver it to
Townshend, with every personal expression to him of regard, &c.,
&c.

The advantages which I propose by this conduct, and the mode of
reasoning upon which I support it, are as follows: In the first
place, if it is really their intention to reserve the external
legislation, the sooner you know it, and are able to wash your
hands of it completely, by returning to England, the more
popular you will be in Ireland, and the better ground you will
have here, both to your own conscience, and as a man who may be
called upon to defend his conduct. You will observe that I take
it for granted you agree with me as to the utter impossibility
of ever exercising such a right, and the impolicy as well as bad
faith of reserving it, to become, like the tea-duty, a ground
for contest and ill-blood; without the possibility of advantage.
Lord Shelburne seems to imagine that by a peace he should be
able to enforce it; you know the contrary, and that the hearts
and voices, and even hands, not of the Volunteers only, but of
the people, and even of Parliament, would be against it. And
with what face, supposing the thing in itself practicable and
honest, could we maintain that ground, after having repeatedly
stated the contrary, and pledged ourselves to it in resolutions,
and now in a bill offered under your recommendation for the
English Parliament? In this event, therefore, I think that by an
immediate resignation you will have satisfied your own feelings,
and at the same time found an honourable solution to a very
unpleasant situation--unpleasant from the situation of things
there, and possibly not less so from the complexion of affairs
here.

If, on the other hand, this measure drives them into an
immediate acquiescence with your proposals, you will certainly