Folios 87-97. Letter marked 'Private' dated at Dublin Castle from Lord Harcourt to...

Folios 87-97. Letter marked 'Private' dated at Dublin Castle from Lord Harcourt to Lord Rochford 'that last night at 11 o'clock, the House of Commons agreed to a resolution upon a division of something more than two to one declaring their allegiance to His Majesty and their abhorrence of the American Rebellion; nor must you be surprised that the resolution itself brings you the first account of my having engaged in this serious matter. But the truth is that the determination upon it was only lately had. I saw the moment approaching, when this important question, would have been pressed upon me by the Opposition to the King's Government in this country, who are daily gaining strength upon this ground with such advantages that I should have had great difficulty in resisting it. Therefore it became absolutely necessary for me and for the honour as well as the support of the King's Government, that I should take a decisive part - It became necessary as well in point of humanity, as expediency, that we should declare to the lower orders of people through their representatives in Parliament, the just sense that we entertained of this unnatural rebellion, for I am confident, and of nothing more, that silence would not only have been criminal in me, but would have involved in it, consequences the most distressing, if not fatal to the peace of this Government - I would not hesitate upon it. The Presbyterians in the North, (who in their hearts are Americans) were gaining strength every day; and letters wrote by designing men, whom I could name, from your side of the water, have been repeatedly pressed of late to engage Ireland to take an adverse part in the contest, attacking these foolish people by their pride, and telling them the balance of the cause, and the decision of the quarrel, was on this side of the St George's Channel. I have therefore for these last four days been incessantly employed, and in order to give it effect, I have been obliged to conduct myself with all possible secrecy not daring to trust too much to certain interested persons, whom it is not necessary for me at this time to name to your Lordship. The debate was conducted with great vehemence on the part of the Opposition, which was composed of Mr Ponsonby and the Duke of Leinster's following and a few county members. Our majority consisted of the most respectable people and the debate mostly if not entirely conducted by Sir John Blaquiere and Mr Scott the Solicitor-General whose zeal and whose abilities are so well known to your Lordship that I shall not add another word.' Harcourt hopes that what he has done will meet with the King's approval and confesses that for his own part , he has never felt such happiness since the question was determined. With the letter are enclosed: folios 90-97: Minutes of the proceedings in the House of Commons of the Irish Parliament.