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Hawarden Oct 23. 88
[UCD L 19]
Sir I saw with pain that on the late visit of Lord Hartington to Belfast a multitude of Protestants assembled to applaud every thing which their grandfather's condemned, and to condemn everything which their grandfathers applauded. [illegible] was more [devoted??] a century ago to the sentiment of Irish nationality: it may even have pushed that noble sentiment to excess. But now a large part
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of its inhabitants meet to support Lord Hartington who holds that Irishmen are not entitled ever to common [civil?] liberties except on condition of abandoning the idea of nationality.
I hope that as you have boldly chosen at this time to bring together at a meeting in Dublin [the?] Feile Protestants favourable to Home Rule, that meeting may receive large and cordial support, & it may be seen that there are multitudes of [earnest?] & [decided?] Protestants in Ireland who are [true?] amidst what are obloquy
and misapprehension to the tradition of their fellows
I remain dear Sir Your faithful & Obdt Servt W Gladstone
C.A. [Oldhennry?]