Secret Service Under PittFitz-Patrick, William J. (William John)
History
Secret Service Under Pitt
Fitz-Patrick, William J. (William John)
Ireland -- History -- 1760-1820; Pitt, William, 1759-1806; Secret service -- Ireland
'She, Mrs. Matthieson, of this place, and Pamela[16] carry on a
correspondence. Lewins, Teeling, Tennant, Lowry, Orr, and Colonel
Tandy are at Paris. Tone expects to stay the winter there, which
does not look like invasion. Oliver Bond is treasurer. He pays
Lewins and McNevin in London. Now for myself. In order to carry
into effect the scheme which you and Mr. Pitt had planned, it was
requisite for me to see my countrymen. I called on Maitland,[17]
where I found A. J. Stuart,[18] of Acton, both of them heartily
_sick of politics_. Edward Fitzgerald had been inquiring of them
for me. I went to Harley Street, where Fitz told me of the conduct
of the Catholics to him and his friends. He said he would prevail
on O'Connor, or some such, to go to Paris. If not, he would go
himself in order to have Lewins removed. Mrs. Matthieson[19] has
just heard from Lady Lucy that O'Connor is to come. I supped last
night with Valence, who mentioned his having introduced Lord Edward
and O'Connor to the Minister here in the summer, before the French
attempted to invade Ireland. They both went to Switzerland, whence
O'Connor passed into France, had an interview with Hoche, and
everything was planned.[20]
'I feared lest Government might not choose to ratify our contract,
and, being in their power, would give me my choice either to come
forward as an evidence or suffer martyrdom myself. Having no taste
for an exit of this sort, I set out and arrived here safe, and now
beg you'll let me know if anything was wrong in my statements, or
if I have given offence. If you approve my present mode of life,
and encourage me so to do, with all deference I think Mr. Pitt may
let me have a cool five hundred,[21] which shall last me for six
months to come. To get the information here has cost me three times
the sum, and to keep up the acquaintance and connections I have
here, so as to get information, I cannot live on less.'[22]
The betrayer, before his interview with Downshire closed, supplied him
with a list of the Executive Committee of United Irishmen. This list,
duly given by Mr. Froude, includes--
Jackson and his son; Oliver Bond; John Chambers; James Dickson;
Casey, a red-faced Dublin priest; Thomas Addis Emmet; Dr. McNevin,
a physician who had great weight with the papists;[23] Braughall,
John Keogh and R. McCormick, who belonged to the committee, though
they did not attend; Samuel Turner; Lord Edward Fitzgerald;
Arthur O'Connor; Alexander Stewart; two Orrs, one an attorney and
a dangerous person, the other of Derry, described as a clever,
sensible, strong-minded man; B. Teeling; Tenants, of Belfast;
Agnew, of Larne; Lawless, Lord Cloncurry's son; Hamill, of Dominick
Street[24]; Inishry,[25] a priest, a canting, designing man, who
swore in Lord Edward Fitzgerald and Lawless.[26]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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