■WILLIAM AHD MARY.

149

it would not be in his power to interfere effectually by arms in chap.the affairs of Ireland, he determined to try what effect negotia- ■■ lli3 ~ ~tion would produce. Those who judged after the event pro-nounced that he had not, on this occasion, shown his usualsagacity. He ought, they said, to have known that it wasabsurd to expect submission from Tyreonnel. Such however■was not at the time the opinion of men who had the best meansof information, and whose interest was a sufficient pledge fortheir sincerity. A great meeting of noblemen and gentlemenwho had property in Ireland was held, during the interregnum,at the house of the Duke of Ormond in Saint James’s Square.

They advised the Prince to try ■whether the Lord Deputy mightnot be induced to capitulate on honourable and advantageousterms.* In truth there is strong reason to believe that Tyr-connel really wavered. For, fierce as were his passions, theynever made him forgetful of his interest; and he might welldoubt whether it were not for his interest, in declining yearsand health, to retire from business with full indemnity for allpast offences, with high rank and with an ample fortune, ratherthan to stake his life and property on the event of a war againstthe whole power of England. It is certain that he professedhimself willing to yield. He opened a communication with thePrince of Orange, and affected to take counsel with Mountjoy,and with others who, though they had not throtvn off theirallegiance to James, were yet’firmly attached to the EstablishedChurch and to the English connection.

In one quarter, a quarter from -which William was justifiedin expecting the most judicious counsel, there was a strong consuu-conviction that the professions of Tyreonnel were sincere. NoBritish statesman had then so high a reputation throughoutEurope as Sir William Temple. His diplomatic skill had,twenty years before, arrested the progress of the French power.

* Tlio Orange Gazette, Jan. 10. lG8jJ.