for support. My trust, under God, was in your
Majesty's goodness and protection; and I acknowledge, with pride
and gratitude, that I have been honoured with the most
unequivocal proofs of that goodness.

Judge then, Sire, the pain which I felt in that moment, when I
thought myself called upon by every principle of public duty to
solicit officially your Majesty's permission to retire from this
high station. I have not vanity enough to conceive that my
presence in Ireland is material to your service further than as
it will be always eligible to preserve, particularly in this
kingdom, some settled system of Government. And upon this
ground, I hold it my indispensable duty to lay at your Majesty's
feet the reasons which induced me to believe that my residence
in this kingdom can be no longer useful to that service, to
which I will beg your permission to say I have dedicated every
hour and every faculty since my arrival. And as those reasons
cannot be deposited in the office with safety to the interests
of both kingdoms, and as, for many reasons, it might not be
judged eligible that they should fall into the hands of every
description of gentlemen who aspire to high office, I have
ventured upon the unusual measure of depositing them in your
royal breast, still trusting to that indulgent goodness, which I
have experienced, for my excuse. And if any part of these
reasons shall appear to your Majesty to be painted too strongly,
I must apologize truly for them, though I solemnly declare that
the state of facts which I am about to draw, is the result of
cool deliberation; and I will venture to hope that your Majesty
will believe that I will not attempt to mislead your judgment
either upon facts, characters, or opinions.

From the first moment of my arrival in Ireland, I have struggled
with infinite difficulties. I was told in England, that the
situation of this kingdom held out every hope which could be
suggested by perfect confidence in English and Irish Government,
and by unanimity arising from the spirit of gratitude for the
liberal concessions made by England. And I was likewise told,
that I should find prepared to my hands such a mass of solid
strength, as would effectually secure the means of conducting
the ordinary purposes of Government not only with facility, but
even