Item 23 - Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn to Peter Elmsley

PE agrees with him on the Irish question - the British have been indolent, preferring to persecute Popery rather than encourage Protestantism. Angry about the policy in India - a military martinet has caused a mutiny, and therefore missionaries are to be recalled, lest the growth of Christianity 'should offend our miserable slaves in that country.' PE has sent an account of Sir Richard Musgrave's flagellation of a Whiteboy (RM was an extreme Irish Protestant). CW counters with an account of how RM's wife (Lady Deborah Cavendish), long apart from her husband but nonetheless pregnant, arranged for her husband to get drunk, spent the night in his arms, had her maid and other witnesses enter the room in the morning, then turned the bedpan (?) over on his head lest he doubt the truth of her visit and returned swiftly to England. Irish Catholics should get equality in all civil and military offices. The Irish language should be used in church services to encourage Protestantism (a similar use of Welsh during the Reformation had a positive effect in Wales). The soon-to-be Prince Regent said to be delighted on reading of the death of Dr. John Willis (1807-12-08 - he was George III's physician).