Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/270

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LIFE OF EDMOND MALONE.

ture to make his appearance amongst us, he will be treated very roughly.

Yours always very truly, my dear Malone,
Clare.

A letter has just been received by Lord Camden from Lake (General), stating that all the columns of his army had advanced, and that the rebels are completely surrounded. Poor O'Neil is dead.


Irish politicians of other opinions, at this moment seemed desirous of enlisting Malone in their views—probably from his known friendship with Mr. Windham. The topic indeed was a great and exciting one—the union with England; for while it mortified the national pride of the patriotic and really honest class, on the other hand it threatened the happy extinction of that corruption and jobbing, of which public men whether truly or not loudly accused each other. Letters to him against it came from Mr. Foster, Speaker of the House of Commons; four from Mr. James Fitzgerald; and three or four from others who evidently held high office, whose names are not traceable in their communications. Two of the number during this correspondence, were dismissed from employment—one of them with this explicit intimation to the critic—"Your opinion decided me. Ready to do anything to bind the countries, but to reserve the right of a separate legislature." From this stirring theme, if he really recommended a negative to his friends, he soon returned to more congenial studies.

So early as the completion of the edition of Shakspeare, he had formed the design of republishing,