Introduction. Lord Francis Leveson Gower (1st Earl of Ellesmere, 1800–57), although a protegé and friend of Wellington, was an Emancipationist. In Parliament (1822–46) he supported the liberal Tory policies, becoming an early exponent of Free Trade. He succeeded William Lamb (another Emancipationist) as secretary for Ireland (1828–30), after he and other Canningite* Tories had left, or rather been excluded from, the Government. Leveson Gower also served as secretary for war (1830). The consequent reshuffle had shifted the emphasis of the Government towards the right wing of the Tory party. Leveson Gower’s appointment, although acceptable, did not please Anglesey, whose major fear was that an anti-Emancipationist might be given the position. Anglesey cannot strictly be called a Canningite, as he was essentially a soldier (he had commanded the cavalry at Waterloo under Wellington), but he had been appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Canning. Although he had not gone to Ireland as an Emancipationist, his short time there had convinced him of the pressing need for concession.

Leveson Gower’s account of what happened between Wellington’s ‘trick’ in getting rid of the Canningites and the recall of Anglesey in December, was published in his Personal Reminiscences of the Duke of Wellington. He recalled how he was not at liberty to tell Anglesey all that he knew of Wellington’s intentions; but in this letter he says a good deal. In fact, Wellington had already made a declaration in the House of Lords in June which indicated his willingness to concede Emancipation, but he was certainly vague about how and when; and in September he wrote privately to Anglesey indicating that he wanted to make Emancipation a Government measure, but that the first step must be to reconcile the King to it. Although Anglesey complained of being kept in the dark, Wellington in this letter really told him more than he ought. In early August the King had consented to Wellington’s discussing the matter with Peel and the Chancellor, and with them only, and not until the end of the second week in January 1829 did the King give Wellington authority to discuss it with the Cabinet (of which Anglesey had not been a member while Lord Lieutenant of Ireland).

All the same, although Wellington had much theoretical right on his side, he should have made greater allowance for the difficulty of Anglesey’s position, as the man on the spot and also have taken greater account of his inexperience as a politician and his impulsiveness as a man.

Leveson Gower, the spokesman for the Irish administration in the House of Commons, was writing from the Irish Office in Whitehall, London. Lord John Russell’s motion was to have been for an Emancipation Bill, following on the successful (in the Commons) motion for a committee. Thomas Spring Rice (1790–1866) was the Tory Emancipationist MP for Limerick City. Major Warburton, the Inspector General of Police for Connaught, had been an eyewitness of the Clare election. He was sent to London to impress Anglesey’s view of that event on Wellington. William Lamb (second Viscount Melbourne, 1779–1848), the ex-Chief Secretary, is better known as the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. Edward Stanley (14th earl of Derby, 1799–1869), was a future Chief Secretary, and later Prime Minister, Lord Derby.

*Canningites was the name of a faction of the British Tories from the 1800s to the 1820s who were led by George Canning (1770–1823), who described himself as ‘an Irishman born in London’. The Canningites, a distinct clique within the Tory party, favoured Catholic Emancipation and freer trade.

Source. Letter from Lord Francis Leveson Gower, the Chief Secretary, Irish Office, London, to Lord Anglesey, 19 July 1828, expressing the view that the Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, will not continue to resist Emancipation. Belfast, Public Record Office, Northern Ireland (D.619/31H/12).

Irish Office

July 19th 1828

Private and Confidential

My dear Lord Anglesey,

I think it may be convenient to you to receive from time to time any scraps of information in my knowledge as to what passes on this side of the water.

In default of (Lord J[ohn] Russell’s motion, S[pring] Rice made a little speech yesterday. It contained no mischief, required no observation on our part, and was I think calculated to be useful as far as it went.

I was present at the interview between the Duke and Major Warburton, and am sure that the plain, practical and unexaggerated style of the statement of the latter produced its full effect. There are persons here who are inclined to think, or at least to fear, that the Duke takes too soldier-like a view of the state of Ireland, and that he looks to putting things down by force—a short struggle, an easy victory, etc, etc. If I had not long known that those persons had mistaken the Duke’s character, this interview would have convinced me of it. I do not believe that any civilian, however cautious and pacific, can take a more rational view of existing difficulties than the Duke. Whatever his former opinions may have been, I do not think that, as a soldier or a politician, he will choose to fight on his present ground a battle for the existence of the Protestant church and the connection of the two countries. We have, I think, now little security that we shall not ultimately have to fight this battle, but I am sure Emancipation will give us the best position for doing it. This is the point which I have uniformly pressed in conversation with him.

The danger I now conceive to be a premature commencement of this odious conflict, and I have accepted my situation with the hope of being humbly instrumental in preventing such a result. I should hardly venture to hope that Mr Peel would stay in office and lend his assistance to any final arrangements. I think the loss of his liberal tone of politics on Irish questions, such for example as education, etc, would be severely felt. Any temporary loss, however, would be cheaply purchased by a good arrangement. It is to be lamented that difficulties should press upon the country at a moment when there is certainly a great deficiency, both of ornamental and useful material, in the House of Commons. Lamb, in my mind one of our best speakers and politicians, is likely soon to be transferred to your House. I know not what is to happen if Mr Peel should take a fancy to leave us. Edward Stanley is almost the only man who has given any decided proof of ability of late; and if the priests are to return the Irish representatives, we must look to a strong infusion of the voluble, the unsound and the mischievous.

All this may almost make anyone who has other means of amusing himself repent of having meddled with politics. But having once done so, I am fully determined to stand by my gun as long as I have means of working it. I am not yet able to fix the day of my departure, but hope to do so shortly.

Believe me, my dear Lord, very faithfully yours,

F. Leveson Gower

The Marquess of Anglesey

Tomás O’Riordan