My dear Lord Duke,--The Irish Lord Chancellor is _very doubtful_ whether the office of Private Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant is, or is not, a ‘new office.’ I believe it appears from old almanacks that Lord-Lieutenants had private secretaries before the date of the Act, as one would naturally suppose. But in one case a _Bishop_ appears to have held the appointment; and the Lord Chancellor thinks that since that time there may have been such changes made, either in the duties of the office or in the mode in which its holder is paid, as technically to make it a ‘new office.’ This, however, is to a great extent a question of fact; and I have therefore asked Sir Bernard Burke, who is _the_ authority here upon such things, to look into the point and let me have his views in the shape of a memorandum, which I will forward to you. Please let me know whether you have _quite_ settled to come over on Monday night, 11th, reaching Dublin on Tuesday morning; as I must, in that event, summon a Privy Council for Tuesday. And I hope you have got the ‘Queen’s letter’ and your patent, or will have them by that time. Your Grace’s very truly, M. E. HICKS-BEACH. And again:-- Rockingham, Boyle: November 28, 1876. My dear Lord Duke,--I fear you will think my letters a decided nuisance; but it is not my fault if I have to convey unpleasant intelligence. At my request Lord Chancellor Ball has given me the enclosed opinion as to Lord Randolph’s position. You will see that it does not in so many words touch the question whether Lord Randolph, if re-elected, could hold the office of your private secretary together with a seat in Parliament; but it rather implies that he could. I will, however, on my return to Dublin on Friday next, ask the Lord Chancellor to look into this point also. I am bound to say that I attach great importance to any view which the Lord Chancellor may take on such a subject. Perhaps the only lawyer in Ireland whose opinion on it might be more valuable is, oddly enough, Mr. Butt. But his opinion could only be formally taken, and it would be hardly wise to do this. Believe me Your Grace’s very sincerely, M. E. HICKS-BEACH. [Sidenote: 1877 ÆT. 28]