Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
James Rock to Sir Thomas Charles Morgan, 30 June 1823
Office Of Arms, Westland Row,
June 30, 1823.
In the absence of Sir
William Betham, I beg leave to state for your information, that
on Tuesday last the judges of England assembled at the house of Lord Chief Justice Dallas, in London, in
pursuance of the royal mandate, to take into consideration and decide upon the
disputed power of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland to confer the honour of
knighthood. Two of the number were unable to attend from illness; but the other
ten were of opinion unanimously that the Lord-Lieutenant did possess the power,
and that knights created by him were knights throughout the world.
I expect the return of Sir
William Betham from England in the course of this week, when the
above solemn decision will be given to the public in a man-![]()
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ner equally notorious as the doubts of the Lords of
the Admiralty which originally occasioned the discussion.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient,
Very humble servant,
Sir William Betham (1779-1853)
English antiquary who was appointed Ulster king of arms in 1820; he was an authority on
Irish history.
Robert Charles Dallas (1754-1824)
English poet, novelist, and translator who corresponded with Byron. His sister Charlotte
Henrietta Dallas (d. 1793) married Captain George Anson Byron (1758-1793); their son George
Anson Byron (1789-1868) inherited Byron's title in 1824.
Sir Robert Dallas (1756-1824)
English barrister, the son of Robert Dallas (d. 1797); he was junior counsel for the
defence of Warren Hastings, MP for St Michael's, Cornwall (1802-05) and Kirkaldy (1805-06),
and chief-justice of common pleas (1818-23).
James Rock (1786 c.-1833)
Dublin Herald and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms.
