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
My dear Sir,--Agreeably to your desire I send the letter which
Mr. John Sheares addressed to me, and which I received from his
own hands on Saturday morning after his participating in the most
solemn rite of our religion. However criminal I may consider his
conduct to have been in other respects, of the charges from which
he is so anxious his memory may be vindicated I acquit him from
my soul; under this conviction I shall chearfully comply with
his request, and embrace every opportunity of explaining his
real intentions in writing the paper which has so much irritated
the public mind. You, I trust, will exert yourself in a similar
manner; when you have taken a copy of the letter you will be so
good as to return it. The two unfortunate brothers, who forfeited
their lives last Saturday to the violated laws of their country,
were the sons of an eminent banker in Cork with whom I had lived,
many years since, in intimacy and friendship. The elder brother
I was but slightly acquainted with, but Mr. John Sheares I knew
more intimately. I admired his uncommon talents, and still more
the distinguished humanity and philanthropy which marked the
whole of his conversation and demeanour. It was, therefore, with
equal surprise and concern I heard of his being under confinement
on a charge of high treason. With still greater astonishment,
if possible, I heard a paper had been found in his handwriting,
the tendency of which was to excite the people to violent and
sanguinary proceedings: this was so entirely irreconcileable with
the humane and liberal principles which I was persuaded had
ever directed the conduct of J. S. that I ardently wished for an
explanation. An opportunity soon occurred. On Friday morning I
received your letter informing me of the conviction of the two
brothers, and conveying an earnest request from J. S. that I
should visit him as soon as possible. I undertook the melancholy
office with mingled pain and satisfaction. I continued with them
some hours that day. What past during the solemn interview was,
I trust, suited to the awful circumstances in which they were
placed, and becoming the character and situation in which I stood.
I shall only trouble you, however, with what relates immediately
to the subject of the letter, or is connected with it. The charge
of sanguinary intentions he disclaimed as most abhorrent to his
nature and repugnant to his principles, asserted his object to
prevent the effusion of blood, and assigned more fully and more at
large the motives and reasons contained in his letter. The whole
was delivered with a serious, solemn, and unembarrassed air, such
as usually accompanies truth, and must have imprest on my mind
the fullest conviction of his sincerity. There is one fact he
mentioned on this occasion, which I shall relate to you as nearly
as I can in his own words: 'To the taking away of the life of a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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