like a torrent into
the country by a free trade. To this he agreed, but said that
laws might certainly be devised by which such remedies might be
brought forward and hastened. Then he went into the nature of
absentee laws. Direct absentee taxes were, he said, highly
objectionable, but many things might be thought of which would
produce the effect so reasonably to be wished, that the money
arising from land in Ireland should not be spent elsewhere. All
methods to raise the value of that land would operate to that
effect; because, when the person residing in England saw the
means of getting an equivalent, he would certainly prefer an
estate at his own door to one in Ireland. Still, however, this
would be gradual.

With respect to the Volunteer force, he apprehended less
embarrassment from them, because he could not believe that five
thousand of them would ever bring themselves to march ten miles
together. I said, perhaps not, but that they had each the means
of resisting the execution of any law they disliked in their own
places of residence; whilst your whole army did not amount,
without the Provincials, to six thousand men. And in time of
peace, the Provincials were to be disbanded, and only twelve
thousand men could be brought back upon the establishment. He
asked whether the Provincials could not be made permanent. I
said, I apprehended not, and that possibly the attempt would not
be wise; for that, although you had, by the most determined
perseverance and by an unremitted firmness, carried the point
with respect to their being raised, yet I thought that would be
sufficient to show the steadiness of Government, without seeking
unnecessary grounds of discontent.

There were many other general heads of Irish Government touched
upon in the course of the conversation, which I do not now
remember. He spoke to the reports about the situation of English
Government. I never heard any man, in the whole course of my
life, affirm any one thing more distinctly, positively, and
unequivocally, than he did, when he told me that Government were
upon a sure foundation here. He said that I was too wise to
expect him to explain to me upon what grounds he said this, but
that it was upon sure grounds; that there was a moral certainty,
and as a rational man he proceeded upon it. This lan