The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 384 pages of information about The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete.

The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 384 pages of information about The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete.

Henry, Earl of Clarendon, son to the lord-chancellor, was at that time lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and appears, notwithstanding his general distrust and dislike of the Catholics, to have held Anthony Hamilton in much estimation:  he speaks of his knowledge of, and constant attention to, the duties of his profession; his probity, and the dependance that was to be placed on him, in preference to others of the same religious persuasion, and, in October, 1686, wrote to the Earl of Sunderland respecting him, as follows:  “I have only this one thing more to trouble your lordship with at present, concerning Colonel Anthony Hamilton, to get him a commission to command as colonel, though he is but lieutenant-colonel to Sir Thomas Newcomen, in regard of the commands he has had abroad:  and I am told it is often done in France, which makes me hope it will not be counted an unreasonable request.  I would likewise humbly recommend to make Colonel Anthony Hamilton a privy-councillor here.”  Lord Clarendon’s recommendations were ultimately successful:  Hamilton was made a privy-councillor in Ireland, and had a pension of L200 a year on the Irish establishment; and was appointed governor of Limerick, in the room of Sir William King, notwithstanding he had strongly opposed the new-modelling of the army by the furious Tyrconnel.  In the brief accounts which have been given of his life, it is said that he had a regiment of infantry; but, though this is very probable, there is no mention whatever of his commanding a regiment in the lists published of King James’s army, which are supposed to be very accurate:  he is indeed set down among the general officers.  Lord Clarendon, in one of his letters to the lord-treasurer, states, “That the news of the day was, that Colonel Russell was to be lieutenant-colonel to the Duke of Ormond’s regiment, and that Colonel Anthony Hamilton was to have Russell’s regiment, and that Mr. Luttrell was to be lieutenant-colonel to Sir Thomas Newcomen, in the place of Anthony Hamilton.”  It is not known whether Anthony was present at the battle of the Boyne, or of Aughrim:  his brother John was killed at the latter; and Richard, who was a lieutenant-general, led on the cavalry with uncommon gallantry and spirit at the Boyne it is to be wished that his candour and integrity had equalled his courage; but, he acted with great duplicity; and King William’s contemptuous echoing back his word to him, when he declared something on his honour, is well known:  He is frequently mentioned by Lord Clarendon, but by no means with the same approbation as his brother.  After the total overthrow of James’s affairs in Ireland, the two brothers finally quitted these kingdoms, and retired to France.  Richard lived much with the Cardinal de Bouillon, who was the great protector of the Irish in France, and kept (what must have been indeed highly consolatory to many an emigrant of condition) a magnificent table, which has been recorded in the most glowing and grateful terms, by

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The Memoirs of Count Grammont — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.