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75.’;
cherie-, the one,‘ of the late DI‘.
Benjamin Franklin, formerly an
aftive member of this Society;
the other,’ of MonsieurtI’erronet,
a celebrated French Archite&.-'-‘-
On the other side of the room is a
statue executed by Carlini, (pre-
sentcd-by Ralph V’Vard,‘esq.) of‘
the late Dr. Ward, the inventor of
the improved process of making
sulphurous-acid: and over the
chair,’ I a,--miniaturc ' of Mr. W.
Shipley, painted and presented by.
Mr. W. Hincks. ‘
I ‘1.'1. CI
Irish Troops in France, in 179K. '2.
71...? Letter of the Dulceqf Fitg(tj):,es.
' “ to ‘tire 'K2'ng,of‘ (Ire Frenclr, .
‘.‘sSire,' - .- ‘
‘ “ A faithful subje&, who has
not the honour ofbeing. particu-
larly .1-tnown to your Majesty,
thinks it his duty, at thiswinterest-
ing.crisis,‘zto lay; the homage of‘-
hisvseritiments .at.<yot1r'. Mayestyis
feet. Theseseritiments, "Sire, are
hereditary in”his family, and he.
claims no‘ other merit than that of
preserving them in their -original
purity.’ My.+‘Grandfathcr, a stran, -
ger in this kingdom, but of an il-
lustrious descent, was created by
your magnanimous ancestor, a peer ,.
of i‘France: since..which 7 period
‘both himself and his descendants ..
have ever been distinguished:.for;.
theirloyalty. Of thishe gave van.
rious proofs during the course of 11 .
long and: glorious life, terminated -
in the service tof France.at the.
siege of Philipsbourg. My father
followed his examples, and-trans-:
mittcd with his, name the same
sentiments to me, his son.
“ In the midst of the public
calamities, Sire, l am deeply, af.
feited by a consideration peculiar
to myself, which my confidence in l
l
Iris]; Troops in France, in 1791.
the goodness ‘of my King embol-
dcns me to lay at his feet.
“ My Grandfather came not
alone into France. His br ave
companions are notvmine, and
the dearest friends of my heart.
-He was accompanied by thirty
thousand Irishmen, who aban.
doned their country, fortunes, and
honours, to followan unfortunate;
King." For the descendants of that .
respectable class of men, whom
your ancestors thought worthy of ;
protection, because they had been
faithful to their Sovereign," Lnow. =
cntrea: the same bounty ‘from the i
. Great Grandson of Louis XIV.-'-"
It is reported, and s'eems,uot:im- -
r probable, that the National Assem.
bly purpose disbanding she Irish
as'Foreign troops. The bloodtthey
have shed intheycause of France‘
ought to have procured themiithe ,
advantage of being denizens of
that kingdom, although their ca-
pitulation had.not entitled them‘ to
that privilege. Permit, Sire, that
I lay at'your Majesty’s feet the
ardent wifh ofthe Irish regiments;
as much attached-to Francevvby
gratitude, as they formerly were to -
the House of.‘ Stuart by lovevand
duty. Ifthe Assembly of7France
now reject theirfserviccs, they im-
plore your lVIajestyt’s recommen-
dation to the-..Princev of“ your .
family .;now‘ reigningtin Spain; ..
presuming to assure your'Majes.ty.r
that the. present will be; worthygof.
being-.made by a‘ King of France.
a and of. being favourably received‘
bya Prince. of. your royal House.
“-Fidelity andgvalour .are the
titles of recommendation. Ofsthe
former they-expe6't an- authentic
testimonial from the French na-
tion, .fettiug forth that they have
never once departed. from their
duty,-during the spaceof more
than a century; that they have
fought