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The answer which was returned to his Excellency, by thefe of his Majefty's fervants, to whom this communication was made, was to the following effect; that if the Irish parliament fhould fend over to England fuch a plan, as fhould appear to be well calculated to give effectual relief to Ireland, in its prefent diftrefs, their opinion would be, that it ought to be carried into execution, although the tax upon abfentees fhould be a part of it.

I beg leave to trouble your Grace to communicate this information to the other Lords, and have the honour to be, with great refpect,

I

&c. &c. &c.

CIRCULAR LETTER.

here an opportunity of reconfidering the matter before it should be openly countenanced by the King's fervants in Ireland.

Lord North's fecond anfwer to our letter, contains an explicit avowal of the defign; it is coloured over with the ufual pretences of fupplying the revenue, and restoring public credit; but, if the ordinary revenue of Ireland, by any management, is become now, in the time of profound peace, fo unequal to the fupport of the citablishments, as to require extraordinary aids, we cannot conceive, that the neceffity of new taxes, can furnish a reafon for impofing fuch as are unjust.

The Irish parliament meets again NORTH. On the 28th of this month. Many gentlemen of confideration for their interests and abilities, will oppofe this project in Ireland; but with the previous countenance it has received here, it is to be apprehended, that their oppofition may prove ineffectual, and that the tax-bill may be tranfmitted to England before the end of November.

AM defired by the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Befborough, Lord Upper Offory, and Lord Milton, to communicate to you the inclofed papers, which contain what has paffed between us and his Majefty's minifters, upon the information we had received of a partial land-tax, which is calculated to affect only thofe who do not commonly refide in that king

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The oppofition, therefore, in order to be effectual must be early: and it must be made in England as well as in Ireland. We have a right to be heard by our counfel against this meafure, and may oppofe it in every stage of its progrefs before the privy-council here.

It is therefore wifhed, that a general meeting of thofe who are moft immediately concerned, may be held in London about the middle of November.

You fhall undoubtedly be informed of any future fteps that may be taken in this unprecedented plan of taxation, and fhall receive proper notice of the precife time

and

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Copy of a fecond Circular Letter fent by the Marquis of Rockingham to the feveral Gentlemen liable to be affected by the Abjentee Tax. SIR,

INCE I had the honour of SI writing to you upon the pro. ject of a partial land tax in Ireland, an opinion generally prevailed, that the defign had been reconfidered here, and that it was probably laid afide. The accounts from Ireland, had given room to imagine, that if the tax was propofed there, it would be rejected. Great numbers of the molt confiderable perlons for weight, confideration, and ability, had fhewn a determination to oppofe it. The city and county of Dublin, and other counties, had declared their dilike to a meature fo dangerous and unjust.

In this fituation it feemed not necellary to call a meeting, which might occafion trouble and inconvenience to many gentlemen; but fome circumitances have very lately occurred, which feem to indicate, that the measure is by no means Jaid afide. It appears by accounts from Ireland, that Mr. Blaquiere, Principal Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland, did, in the Houfe of Commons there, name the partial land-tax as one of the ways and means towards the fupply which should be asked. It is faid indeed that he did not abfolutely propose the tax, but declared a

predilection for it; and by the accounts received from Ireland in the courfe of this weck, it is now faid, that government there have taken a ftrong part in favour of this meafure.

Though the immediate calling of a meeting may be poftponed until the fate of the motion for this tax, which is expected to be made this week in Ireland, is known, it is thought to be highly incumbent on us to give this information to all thofe to whom we had the honour to communicate what had already paffed, that they may be fo far prepared, that if a meeting is called In the courfe of the next fortnight, they may be able, if they think it proper, to come to London with the lefs inconvenience.

By the anfwers I received to the letters, I find almost a general concurrence in difapprobation of the tax and its principles.

The trut to honourably conferred on us, makes a proper vigilance very much our duty. The giving unneceflary trouble will be avoided; but if the bufinefs proceeds, the more full the meeting, the greater force and fanction will be given to any proceeding that may be deemed expedient in order to defeat this deign.

The Lords who are now in town, and in confequence of whofe defire I took the liberty of troubling you with the former letter, have empowered me now to fend you this information.

I have the honour to be,

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Account of the Honours paid by the Aembly and Council of Jamaica, to the Memory of the late Sir William Trelawney, Bart. Governor of that Ifland.

Extract of a Letter from King flon in Jamaica, Dec. 19, 1772.

IT

T is with real concern we acquaint the public, that on Friday night, the 11th inftant, his Excellency Sir William Trelawney, Bart. our very worthy and much efteemed Governor, departed this life, after a long and tedious illnefs, which he bore with fortitude and magnanimity, and died with that firm hope of a happy immortality, which a virtuous and admir. able uniformity and confttency of character, and the calm confcicufnefs of a life well spent in the fervice of his country, at once inspired and jullified. During four years refidence in the administration of this government, he fo wifely guided and steadily held the reins of power, and maintained fuch an inflexible integrity of conduct, altogether, unbiaffed by private attachments or felfish confiderations, that party herfelf forgot her refentments, and feemingly left no conteft, but who fhould most promote the eafe and happiness of an adminiftration, which gave eafe and happiness to all. The great and univerfal regret which the apprehenfion of this unhappy event has, for fome time pat, given to all ranks of people, is the fureft proof of his Excellency's merit, as well as the strongest teftimony, that a government conducted on the fame principles, cannot fail of meeting the nobleft reward, the gens al applaufe of a grateful and united people.

The next day, being Saturday the 12th infant, the Honcurable the Houfe of Affembly came to the following refolution:

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Refolved, In order to teftify the grateful refpect which this Houfe entertained of his late Excellency's merit, the fenfe they have of the great and univerfal fatisfaction which his mild and equitable administration gave to all ranks of people, and the great regret which they feel at his lofs, it be made the request of this Houfe to Lady Trelawney, that her Ladyfhip confent that his Excellency's funeral be conducted at the public expeace.'

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In confequence of this vote a joint committee of the Hon. the Council and Affembly was appointed to conduct the funeral, which, notwithstanding the fhortnels of time, was managed with equal propriety and magnificence.

Accordingly on Sunday evening the 13th inftant, the body, inclofed in a coffin of lead, placed in an outward thell, covered with crimon velvet, and richly furnifhed, lay in ftate in the council-chamber, which was hung with black, and illuminated with large tapers of wax; and, to their great honour, the members of the legitlature, the officers of the navy. army, and militis, the magiftrates, and all ranks of people, feemed to vie with each other in thening the int grateful telimony of refpect and regard to the Governor's inemory.

About

About eleven o'clock the fame evening, the proceflion began from the King's houfe in the following order, the artillery firing minute guns, viz.

Spanish Town regiment of foot militia. The 36th regiment of foot under the command of Col. Campbell, marching in form, with their arms reverfed, preceded by a band of mufic, collected from the different regiments and the battalion lately arrived, playing the dead march in Saul.-Eight mutes. -The governor's fecretary and houfhold.-Public officers. -Provolt marshal general.-Phyficians. -Clergy. The BODY, fupported by the hon. A. Sinclair, hon. W. Brown, hon. B. Edwards, hon. W. Harvie, hon. J. Scot, hon. T. Iredell, hon. J. Ellis, hon. T. Beach, and four aid de camps.-Chief mourners: hon. Mr. Harrison, and hon. Mr. May.-Houfe of affem bly as mourners.-Judges of the grand court and affize.-Col. Provoit, and officers of the royal Americans. Captains of the men of war, and officers of the fleet.Barristers at law. Mafter's in chancery. Attendants. Troops of horse.

The following Addrefs was prefented by the Council of Jamaica, to Lady Trelawney.

"The council of Jamaica, being truly fenfible of the great lofs your ladyfhip has fuftained by the demile of our late worthy governor, beg leave to condole with you on that unhappy occafion.

"We have too great a fhare in the lofs, not to participate with your ladyfhip in the affliction. Yet we derive no finall comfort from the confideration (and we earnestly hope that your ladyfhip will join in the reflection) that the departure of great and good men, though a lofs to us, is the confummation of perfect felicity to them. Your ladyhip, too, has the fatisfaction to reflect, that your worthy partner, even in this life, had the fingular happiness of receiving that reward, which virtue too frequently fails of attaining. He died with the applaufe of all good men, and in the roll of honour is his memory recorded.

"We fincerely wish your ladyfhip a fafe voyage to Great Britain, and that your future days may be brightened by happiness, On all occafions, we beg leave to tender your ladyship our best services."

The

The following State of the Export Linen and Linen Yarn Trade of Ireland, for the last 70 Years, fhews its vaft Improvement within that Period, and of what fingular Importance its Prefervation, from the Ruin with which it is now threatened, is to the Mother-Country.

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It appears by the export entries at the Custom-house at Dublin, whence this account was taken, that the linen trade alone has decreased 5,000,000 of yards, of the invoice value of 350,000l. in the year 1772; and by the best estimate that could be formed of the exports from March 1772 to March 1773, they were fuppofed to have further decreased one-third, which would bring them under 900,000l. fo that the exports of linen and yarn taken together, will fall short of 1,100,000 l. little more than one half of their amount in the year 1771.

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