Reforming the Undertaker System: Pelhamite Ireland

Abstract

The early 1750s marked the beginning of the emergence of two important factors that would shape the nature of Anglo-Irish politics for the next thirty years: firstly, a fruitful alliance between Irish patriots and undertakers, and secondly, the development of a more proactive Irish policy by the British government. The replacement of Lord Harrington, following a tumultuous period as viceroy, can be seen as a significant milestone in Britain’s rule over Ireland. It was the first time that the British ministry had been drawn to intervene directly in Irish affairs since the Wood’s halfpence dispute of the 1720s. Even the Jacobite threat of 1745–6 had caused less concern for Britain’s ministers. Harrington’s difficulties in Ireland coincided with developments in British imperial policy, effectively the end of the period of, in Burke’s oft repeated phrase, ‘salutary neglect’.1 The broad aims behind British imperial government had not changed, though there was perhaps a greater willingness to spend money on imperial defence and administration, if possible with increased contributions from the colonies. There was certainly a more determined effort to put Britain’s imperial aims into practice, made possible by the return of stable government under Pelham and the end of war with Britain’s continental neighbours. This, however, did not take account of the growing sense of independence in the colonies, and more particularly the fact that they were enjoying comparative freedom from British interference.2