ough
which the writer had just passed.

I told you, two months ago, that my friends would not blush for
me--that I might be beaten, but that I would not be disgraced. I
write to you now in the moment, and with the transports of the
warmest exultation and of honest pride, to tell you, that on
Saturday night I closed the session in the House of Commons, having
thrown out every measure brought forward by Opposition. They would
not divide after their second defeat, where, though our majority
was the same, yet, as fewer members voted, it was more in
proportion than before; and the illness of Lord Clanbrassil and of
Lord Lifford lost us three votes. The House of Lords still sits for
a cause which they are hearing, and for some private Bills. The
House of Commons adjourned to Friday, and on that day both Houses
adjourn to the 25th, when I shall pass the Bills, and shall finally
prorogue them.

In the space then of six weeks, I have secured to the Crown a
decided and steady majority, created in the teeth of the Duke of
Leinster, Lord Shannon, Lord Granard, Ponsonby, Conolly, O'Neil,
united to all the republicanism, the faction, and the discontents
of the House of Commons; and having thrown this aristocracy at the
feet of the King, I have taught to the British and Irish Government
a lesson which ought never to be forgotten; and I have the pride to
recollect that the whole of it is fairly to be ascribed to the
steady decision with which the storm was met, and to the zeal,
vigour, and industry of some of the steadiest friends that ever man
was blessed with.

While these anxious events were passing in Ireland, the old passion of
the King for interfering with military promotions, as if he were
resolved, as Mr. Grenville remarks, to absorb that branch of patronage,
involved Lord Buckingham and the Cabinet in another series of protocols
similar to those which passed concerning Colonel Gwynne's appointment.
Another lieutenant-colonelcy had fallen vacant, and Lord Buckingham
desired that it should be bestowed on his nephew, Colonel Nugent, who
had been disappointed of a similar favour on the former occasion; but
His Majesty directed that it should be given to Colonel Taylor. Even Mr.
Grenville, who exercised a philosophical patience in these matters, was
so hurt at the manner in which Lord Buckingham's wishes w