thus brought into intimate relations with Lord Castlereagh, the chief secretary, an association which was maintained and strengthened in later years.
In 1798 he published, anonymously, ‘Arguments for and against an Union between Great Britain and Ireland considered.’ This pamphlet, which was taken to represent views held in higher quarters, called forth many replies. It is a temperate examination of the problem, resting the case for the union on grounds conciliatory to all classes of the Irish people. Large concessions to the Roman catholics are foreshadowed as the natural sequel to a measure which, in other ways, the writer did much to forward. He was the intermediary in most of the transactions, questionable and otherwise, by which legislative support was obtained for the Union Act. Sir Jonah Barrington describes a scene in which, aided by Castlereagh, he bought over in the face of the Irish House of Commons a member who had previously declared against the project, and who pronounced his retractation on the spot (Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation, p. 405). Cooke was sent to London to confer with Pitt and others on the question, and his reports to Castlereagh are important documents in the history of the negotiations. On the passing of the act he shared the disappointment of the statesmen responsible for the Irish government caused by the refusal of the concessions promised to the Roman catholics, and in spite of pressure he resigned his appointment. ‘I could not embark in an administration founded upon one principle alone, which principle, after mature consideration, I think dangerous and untenable’ (Castlereagh Correspondence, iv. 28–9). A letter addressed by him to the lord chancellor of Ireland in vindication of the Roman catholic claims is a noteworthy illustration of political sagacity and prevision (ib. iv. 41).
Cooke's administrative ability and great knowledge of Irish affairs are attested by many evidences. His influence was not that of a subordinate official, he was felt as a governing power. Fitzwilliam complained that while in Carlisle's time Cooke was a clerk he found him a minister. A later lord-lieutenant, Cornwallis, recognised that he was a man to be reckoned with, and described him as of an unaccommodating temper, and ‘much more partial to the old system of government than to the measures I have introduced’ (Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 310). This opinion was subsequently modified, and it is clear that Cooke's views on Irish administration were marked by growing liberality (ib. iii. 315). Between Cooke and Castlereagh the understanding was complete, and for many years they exchanged views on public affairs on a footing of practical equality. Returning to England, Cooke served as under-secretary for war and the colonies 1804–06 under Lord Camden and 1807–09 under Lord Castlereagh, and under-secretary for foreign affairs 1812–17, again under Castlereagh. He retired from official service in 1817, and died in Park Lane, London, 19 March 1820.
[Gent. Mag. April 1820; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 630; Coote's History of the Union, 1802; Plowden's Historical Review of the State of Ireland; Sir Jonah Barrington's Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation, Paris, 1833; Brit. Mus. Cat.; authorities cited in text.]
COOKE, EDWARD WILLIAM (1811–1880), marine painter, son of George Cooke [q. v.], the line engraver, was born at Pentonville, London, 27 March 1811. At an early age he exercised his love for art by copying animals engraved in Barr's edition of Buffon and Bewick's woodcuts. When he was nine years of age he was employed, although at school at Woodford, in drawing upon wood plants from nature, in the nursery grounds of Loddidge's, at Hackney, to illustrate John Loudon's 'Encyclopaedia of Plants.' These were followed by others, afterwards published in the 'Botanical Cabinet' (1817) by Loddidge, whose daughter Cooke married. About 1825 he made the acquaintance of Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., and made sketches of boats, anchors, &c., after him. In order to increase his acquaintance with ships, he studied under Captain Burton of the Thetis. He now tried oil-painting, and in 1825 produced the sign of the 'Old Ship Hotel' at Brighton. He then began to study architecture under Augustus Pugin, but soon gave this up for the study of boats, and etched two series of plates entitled 'Coast Sketches' and 'The British Coast.' In 1826, Cooke was sketching about Cromer. In this year he painted a 'View of Broadstairs', his first picture purchased by Mr. James Wodmore, a well-known collector, and at whose sale it realised 78l.
Several other pictures followed, amongst which were 'The Isis at Oxford ' and 'The Isle of Wight Coast.' Between 1825 and 1831, when the new London Bridge was being constructed, Cooke made seventy drawings of the operations, most of which were engraved and published,with scientific and historical notices of the two bridges, from information contributed by George Rennie (Lond. fol. 1833). About this period he made numerous draw ings for Mr. Edward Hawkins of the British Museum, illustrating the various aspects of the Egyptian galleries while the antiquities
