council upon this occasion; but gentlemen would not come into it; which showed they had some wit in their anger. And I am still of opinion, that, with tolerable good management, this would have been as quiet a session as has been in Ireland: but the Dublin business, the address of the lords, Langton's affair[1], and now Higgins's[2], have exasperated the commons to such a height, that will, as you observe, make this parliament to be impracticable any longer. It is true, the lords address might have been interpreted to aim at lord Wharton, and was partly so intended; but it was ill expressed to bear that sense; and besides, what did it signify for us to show our resentment, when it could only provoke a great man to revenge, and could not reach him?
As to the first-fruits, and twentieth parts, no body here dare say, that any body, beside the duke of Ormond, procured them, but his grace himself; who, for ought I can learn, never assumed, either publickly or privately, any such merit to himself: and yet, I confess, it is not amiss, that it should be thought he did those things. For he could not think of governing the kingdom, if it be not be-
- ↑ 'Dominick Langton, clerk, formerly a friar, had accused Lewis Mears, esq., and other protestant gentlemen of the county of West Meath, of entering into an association against the queen and her ministry: upon which the house of commons in Ireland, on the 6th of August 1711, voted several strong resolutions against the said Langton, declaring his charge against Mr. Mears, &c. to be false, groundless, and malicious; and resolved, that an address should be presented to the lord lieutenant, the duke of Ormond, to desire, that her majesty would order the said Langton to be struck off the establishment of Ireland.'
- ↑ See before, page 117.
