, and could not
pass into a precedent. Having come to London, to see Mr. Pitt on the
subject, he writes thus to Lord Buckingham:

MR. FITZGIBBON TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

No. 5, Arlington Street, Oct. 6th, 1788.

My dear Lord,

Immediately after my arrival in England I saw Mr. Pitt, and
mentioned to him that I had your Excellency's authority to say
that Lord Lifford had, a very few days before he left Ireland,
intimated a wish to resign the Great Seal. Under the impression
of the opinion you were so good to give me, I did not go further
than to request of Mr. Pitt that he would apprise me of any
vacancy which might happen in the first instance, that I might
have a fair opportunity of stating my claims, which I considered
to be pretty strong, upon the King's Government, not to be
passed by in any promotion which might take place in the line of
my profession. This he has promised to do; but I have not since
heard from him. However, I waited upon the Chancellor a few days
since, and he told me that Lord Lifford had, when he was in
town, intimated his wishes to Mr. Pitt, as he had done to your
Excellency, not to return to Ireland. I am confident, however,
that nothing is finally arranged, either with respect to
accepting Lord Lifford's resignation, or appointing a successor
to him, or I should have heard from Mr. Pitt.

The Chancellor's reception of me was very flattering, as he was
pleased unequivocally to declare his good opinion of me as a
public and a professional man; and from what fell from him, I
have reason to suppose that with your Excellency's support, and
Mr. Pitt's approbation, I shall not meet any opposition from
him. What Mr. Pitt's sentiments upon the subject may be, I have
not a conjecture, as he never in any degree opened himself to
me, further than in general terms of his personal good opinion
of me. With him, however, I must conclude that your Excellency's
recommendation would be decisive.

Lord Lifford returns to London on the 20th of this month, and I
must suppose that very shortly after, something decisive will be
done. One thing is extremely clear--that if he should return to
Ireland, he cannot very long remain in his present situation.
And, circumstanced as I am in that country, your Excellency
cannot wonder that I wish fairly to see my way