'Mr. Fitzpatrick, while presenting to us a collection of moderate extent, has not only woven them into a web of fair average continuity, but has, as a sculptor would, presented to us his hero "in the round," so that we may consider each of his qualities in each varied light, and judge of their combination into a whole, whether it is mean or noble, consistent or inconsistent, natural or forced.... Few indeed, as I think, of those who give a careful perusal to these pages, will withhold their assent from the double assertion that O'Connell was a great man, and that he was a good man. Upon this issue the volumes now before us will enable us to try him: and in trying him to try ourselves. For who can any longer doubt that some debt is still due to him; that he was, to say the least, both over-censured and undervalued?'--Mr. GLADSTONE, in _The Nineteenth Century_. London: JOHN MURRAY, Albemarle Street. SECRET SERVICE UNDER PITT BY W. J. FITZPATRICK, F.S.A. AUTHOR OF 'LIFE, TIMES, AND CORRESPONDENCE OF BISHOP DOYLE' 'LIFE OF LORD CLONCURRY' 'CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMOIRS OF DANIEL O'CONNELL' 'IRELAND BEFORE THE UNION' ETC. LONDON LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16ᵗʰ STREET 1892 _All rights reserved_ PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON PREFACE These rough notes--begun long ago and continued at slow intervals--were put aside during the onerous task of editing for Mr. Murray the O'Connell Correspondence. The recent publication of Mr. Lecky's final volumes, awakening by their grasp a fixed interest in pre-Union times, and confirming much that by circumstantial evidence I had sought to establish, affords a reason, perhaps, that my later researches in the same field ought not to be wholly lost. Mr. Lecky's kindness in frequently quoting me[1] merits grateful acknowledgment, not less than his recognition of some things that I brought to light as explanatory of points to which the State Papers afford no clue. This and other circumstances encourage me in offering more.