Conversation with Lord Temple, June 15, 1783

Extract

I went up to Town from Mims on Fry day, June 13, and the next morning called upon L^d Temple, who returned the Thursday before from Ireland. His Lp. was not at home, but the next morning, Sunday the 15, he called upon me about one and stayed till near three; he told me he had found Ireland in a most extraordinary situation on his arrival there, scarcely any appearance of Government, the D. of Portland, his predecessor, having thrown everything into the hands of the volunteers, that Mr. O'Birne governed the Duke by means of the Duchess, and that he L^d T. found it a very difficult task to prevent many serious consequences arising to Gov^t from the state in which that country had been left at the end of the Portland administration.