I.C. 47 Fifty other causes might be assigned, but they all emanate more or less from these two. The great majority of the Absentees execrate the Irish, & wou'd forfeit half their Estates rather than live among them. We all know they feel no interest in their political or moral degradation, & we have seen quite enough to make us despair of the sincere amalgamation of Catholic & Protestant amongst you. I lament that Mr. Grant has removed from you, as I always thought he inten- ded well for that country, & if your papers say true, that IA. Wellesley, & his Secy. differ in their views for serving & quieting it, the appointment seems foolish enough. The Marquis has always had the character of an able & p practical man, & a frien? to Catholic Emancipation, but Mr. Peele's seat in the Cabinet, & Ld. Sidmouth's continuance there, will frustrate his good in- tentions, unless the (scarcely credible) appointment of Mr. Plunket will tum the scale the other way. New York, 1st Jany & 12th Feby. 1822. John Chambers. Ansd 4th May. My Dear friend, New York, 15th Oct. 1824. It is an age since I heard from you, yet I cou'd not allow my young friend Robert to depart without encumbering him with a few lines to you. We are here so occupied with our attentions to Marquis La Fayette, that we have not had time to make any other news than of our festivities to him. These have engaged, or rather engrossed every mind on the Continent: & if the good man can escape with his life, it is more than his personal friends expect. The approaching Election of our new President, has not, or will not, occasion a twentieth part of the bustle or the interest. I find Mr. Brownlow & Mr. Dawson have at length discovered the folly & wickedness of Orangeism. A command from the higher powers, I suppose, has produced this reformation. A command which ought long since to have extend- ed to Ld. 0 'Neill, & other official fools or knaves of that stamp. Our poor Country ! I cannot restrain my eyes from turning towards her, she labours under so many ills, ills so long, long rooted, & in which so many are interested in continuing. Her Clergy, her Absentees, & even her re- sident gentry, are 80 hostile to her true interests, that despair seems to shut the door of hope against her reformation. I wish you wou'd tell me your own opinion upon the present state of thing & if there are any, & what prospects of an amender State amongst you. Is the new Law for tithes a real improvement for the people, or the Church ? Is Lord Wellesley likely to subque the Orange faction Is Justice better administer- ed ? Have you employment for the people ? I cou'd ask a thousand other questions? but you wou'd not have time to a answer them. Tell me, however, what you think of the New Bank in Tublin. I is see the Direction is altogether Catholic ! How is that to be accounted for ? & what facilities is it likely to afford to the internal trade of the country to which the National & other Banks are not already equal ? I have no doubt but it will be viewed with much jealousy by the great folk in College Green. Have you read Moore's Captn, Rock ? It is an admirable performance, & must do good. I hope its circulation is equal to its merits. We have no great opinion here of the efficacy of the Cath Association. It is said to be a mere tool of O'Connell's, whose prudence & good sense are not considered as equal to his talents. They appear to have lost the Aristoc- racy of the body, or they are not so prominent in the public proceedings as formarly Mrs. C. requests to present her best remembrances to Mrs. Simms & your daughter. Accept my good wishes, N believe me, Dr Summs, 20ms always sincy J. (Lambers.