Sec. 18.— The Earl of Galway again a Lord Justice of Ireland, also his Final Retirement and Death.
At the beginning of the new reign, Lord Galway’s name was re united to Irish affairs in the following circumstances. The Irish Jacobite Chancellor, Sir Constantine Phipps, had endeavoured to pack several Parliaments by means of schemes for forcing disloyal magistrates upon the municipal corporations, and had issued orders for subverting the constitutions of the cities and towns. He was backed by a report, or legal opinion, in favour of his view, which was signed by eight judges, and was approved by the Lord Primate and himself, in their capacity of Lords Justices, also by many Privy Councillors. But Queen Anne dying, King George removed the aforesaid public men from office, and dissolved the Irish Privy Council. A new Council was gazetted, and among the fifty-six names we observe Henry, Earl of Galway. This was one of the first acts of the new government.
A letter of this period from Lady Russell gives a pleasing glimpse of his life in the country:—
“There is no post day I do not find myself really disposed to take my pen and dispose of it as I now do; but there is not one of those days I do not also approve to myself, how mean my ability is to entertain, as I desire, such a relation and friend as Lord Galway. Yet I put my mind at ease soon enough as to that trouble, being so certain and sure as I am how you will receive it.
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“Selwood[1] tells me your appearance is very comfortable, and if I get to Hampshire I trust I shall see it so. Sure, this season is a trial; for although it is a customary thing to complain of seasons, yet in my opinion this is an extraordinary one. . . . From the first day of March to this, there hath not been twenty-four hours without much rain, snow, or hail. . . .
“April 14, 1715.”
Four months after this, Lord Galway was surprised in his snuggery at receiving an offer of active employment in Ireland. His acceptance of office was probably pressed upon him by his friends, to give public proof to friends[2] and enemies at home and abroad, that he was never disgraced in deed, but only in form. We may safely say that he was inclined to show some forwardness in exhibiting a strong adherence to the new dynasty. An ardent Williamite was, by a necessity like instinct, a zealous Hanoverian.
Immediately after the displacement of Phipps and his colleagues, the Earl of Sunderland had been appointed Viceroy. But Ireland appeared a penal settlement to him, and he never embarked for it, alleging bad health as his excuse. Yet, as Dr. Killen testifies, “the critical circumstances in which Ireland was now placed, rendered it necessary that the government should be committed to more experienced and energetic hands than those who now held it under the Earl of Sunderland.” The Jacobite rebellion had broken out in Scotland, and a few of the Irish Peers were about to support it with volunteer troops. At last the Gazette announced, 23d August 1715, that Charles, Earl of Sunderland, having resigned the post of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, the Duke of Grafton and the Earl of Galway were appointed Lords Justices of that kingdom.” Charles Delafaye, Esq., who had been Lord Sunderland’s secretary, was appointed secretary to the new Viceregal Board. The Duke and Lord Galway were gazetted as members of His Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council for England, and took the oaths as Privy Councillors, Grafton on the 31st August, Galway (who had been in no hurry to leave Rookley) on the 30th September. The “Annals” say, “Without entering into the times and particulars of their being nominated, their preparations, travelling to Chester, shipping off, &c, it is sufficient to say that they arrived at Dublin the 1st of November 1715, were received with the usual solemnities, and immediately applied themselves to the proper duties of that great office, and to set to rights the affairs of that great country, which they found in confusion enough.”
On the 12th, the House of Commons having unanimously chosen William Conolly, Esq., as their Speaker, and the Lords Justices having approved of their choice, their Excellencies made a speech to both Houses. The speech was delivered by the Duke of Grafton, the young and ornamental Lord-Justice; but the really responsible statesman was Lord Galway. His ever-green spirit makes Dr. Killen (who continued Dr. Reid’s History with fully equal ability) unable to recognise him. We seem to
