"word is now made ufe of. Never did a British minifter fupport fuch ho"norable claims on fuch conftitutional arguments. With refpect to the writ "of error, though not mentioned in our address, he took it up in the most "effectual way; and indeed the whole tenor of his conduct towards us has "been moft generous and fincere; we had one advantage, he entertained an "opinion, that Ireland was not infatiable, though it had been afferted, that "Ireland was infatiable. But we are bound to prove the falfehood of that "affertion; for as the nation was pledged to itself to obtain a restoration of "her rights; fo now that her rights are restored liberally and unconditionally, the is pledged to Great Britain, who, by acceding to our claims, has put an end to all future queftions. We have now recovered a conftitution, "and our business is not to advance, but to maintain it. Ireland will mani"feft as much magnanimity in the moderation, by which the maintains her "conftitution, as by the exertions, through which it has been recovered. The

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unanimity, with which the British Houfe of Commons acceded to our "claims, muft for ever do them honor; and the fingle negative in the lords, "whilft it in no wife diminishes their praife, has its ufe; it ferves to difcover, "and for ever to exclude from truft or confidence in either nation, the man, "who could not only oppose the intereft and happiness of both, but also the " ardent withes and defires of his fovereign to make his people happy. We "ought not to forget the able fupport given by thofe perfons, who composed the late administration of Ireland; it must be highly agreeable to those, "who compofe the prefent.

"The things fo graciously offered by our fovereign, are the modification of "Poynings' law; and not only the abridgment of the mutiny bill, in point of "duration, but the forming it on the model of the English mutiny bill, and prefacing it with a declaration of rights.

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"As Great Britain and her minifters have unconditionally agreed to the de"mands of the Irish, I think the spirit of the nation is called upon to make an unconditional grant to England. The fea is the element, to which na"ture points as the scene of British glory; it is there we can most effectually "affift her. Twenty thousand feamen would be a noble fupport; and we, "who have been fquandering the public money, in all the wafte of blind extravagance, cannot furely now deem 100,000l. too large a fum, when applied to the common defence of the empire: the fum is trifling, but the “affistance of 20,000 Irishmen would be great; and gentlemen will now,

"when

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"when they retire to their different counties, have a full opportunity in affifting to raise thofe men, of manifefting their zeal for the common cause of "Great Britain and Ireland. There are alfo other means of fupport in our power to give to Britain, though they cannot immediately be entered upon. "This country is most happily fituated for the construction of docks, and the "rendezvous of shipping; whatever expence might be incurred by fuch ne"ceflary works, would be repaid by the expenditure of the money amongst "ourfelves, and might be fupported by a prudent and oeconomical management "of the public revenues, in the favings of the army, and in every different "clafs of extraordinaries. An expence of 171. per cent. in the collection of "the revenue, cannot be justified; the commiffioners will now fee, that money is to be paid for labour, not for prostitution; therefore let us now enter, heart and hand, into the great work of reformation, by giving our fupport to that ministry, which has rescued this country from oppreffion, "and will refcue it from corruption. On this principle I shall move you an "addrefs, devoid of all that fulfome panegyric fo commonly offered to his "majefty; for I think that truth will be the highest compliment to him." Mr. Grattan then moved,

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"To affure his majesty of our unfeigned affection to his royal perfon and government; that we feel moft fenfibly the attention, which our reprefenta"tions have received from the magnanimity of his majefty, and the wisdom "of the parliament of Great Britain.

"To affure his majefty, that we conceive the refolution for an unqualified, "unconditional repeal of the 6th of George I. to be a measure of confummate "wisdom and juftice, fuitable to the dignity and eminence of both nations, exalting the character of both, and furnishing a perpetual pledge of mutual "amity.

"To affure his majesty, that we are fenfibly affected by his virtuous deter"mination to accede to the wishes of his faithful people, and to exercise his

royal prerogative in a manner moft conducive to their welfare; and accordingly we shall immediately prepare bills to carry into execution the "defires of his majesty's people, and his own most benevolent purposes.

"That gratified in those particulars, we do affure his majesty, that no con"ftitutional question between the two nations will any longer exift, which can "interrupt their harmony; and that Great Britain, as fhe has approved of

our firmness, fo may the rely on our affection. That we remember, and "do repeat our determination, to ftand and fall with the British nation.

"That we perceive with pleasure the magnanimity of his majefty, to dif "dain the little policy of making a bargain with his people; and feeling "with pride the confidence he repofes in the good faith, generofity, and "honour of the Irish nation, we anfwer with all humility, that his majesty "entertains a juft fenfe of our character. Common intereft, perpetual con"nexion, the recent conduct of Great Britain, a native affection to the Bri"tish name and nation, together with the conftitution, which we have re"covered, and the high reputation, which we poffefs, muft ever decide the "wifhes as well as the intereft of Ireland, to perpetuate the harmony, stability, and glory of the empire. Accordingly, we affure his majefty, that we "learn with fingular fatisfaction the account of his brilliant fucceffes in the "Eaft and Weft-Indies, gratified at one and the fame inftant in our deareft withes, the freedom of Ireland, and glory of Great Britain.

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"That we cannot omit expreffing our gratitude to his majefty, for appointing the Duke of Portland to the government of this kingdom.

"That we are convinced his representations were faithful, vigorous, and "beneficial. We are acquainted with his character; and relying on his upright and frugal administration, make no doubt but a free people, and uncorrupt parliament, will unite to give a conftitutional chief "cided fupport.

governor de

"That we have prefumed to lay before his majefty our genuine fentiments "on the change of our fituation. His majefty will receive them as the vo"luntary unftipulated tribute of a free and grateful people."

Mr. Brownlow expreffed his extraordinary fatisfaction in feconding the motion. Both nations were now one people united by every tie, enjoying in common the fame liberty, the fame conftitution, and the fame fovereign. He had heard feveral addreffes moved for in that houfe, and he might fafely add, not one of which conveyed truth: but that addrefs fpoke the fincere language of the nation, where Proteftant, Roman Catholic, all religions preffed forward with gratitude in the prefent moment to hail the nation's acquifition of a conftitution. Almoft the whole houfe rofe fucceffively to make public profeffion of their joy and gratitude on the happy event. Two gentlemen only differed upon the propriety of the following words in the address, viz. That there will no longer exist any conftitutional queftion between the two

nations,

nations, that can disturb their mutual tranquillity.

The houfe divided upon

the words objected to; when there were for the addrefs as it ftood 211, and the noes were the two tellers, the Recorder and Mr. Walfh.*

No

* Although these two gentlemen only out of the whole House of Commons in Ireland were of opinion, that any conftitutional queftion between the two nations was ftill outstanding; yet Lord Clare, in order to prove that the transactions of 1782 between Great Britain and Ireland were not confidered as final, tells us, that on the 6th of June the Duke of Portland thus wrote to Lord Shelburne: "I have the best reason to hope that I fhall foon be enabled to transmit to you the sketch

or outlines of an act of parliament to be adopted by the legislatures of the respective kingdoms, by which the fuperintending power and fupremacy of Great Britain, in all matters of state and "general commerce, will be virtually and effectually acknowledged; that a fhare of the expence "in carrying on a defenfive or offenfive war, either in fupport of our own dominions, or those of our allies, fhall be borne by Ireland in proportion to the actual state of her abilities, and that she "will adopt every fuch regulation as may be judged neceffary by Great Britain for the better or"dering and securing her trade and commerce with foreign nations, or her own colonies and dependencies, confideration being duly had to the circumstances of Ireland. I am flattered with the "most positive affurances from and of their fupport in carrying fuch a bill through "both houses of parliament, and I think it most advisable to bring it to perfection at the present moment." And he happened to know from an official quarter, that the sketch of such an act of parliament was then drawn. He knew the gentleman who framed it, and he knew from the fame quarter, that blank and blank and blank and blank did unequivocally fignify their approbation of it. This communication was received with the fatisfaction, which it demanded by the British cabinet. On the 9th of June Lord Shelburne wrote to the Duke of Portland in anfwer to his last difpatch: "The contents of your grace's letter of the 6th inft. are too important to hesitate about "detaining the meffenger, whilft I affure your grace of the fatisfaction, which I know your letter will give the king. I have lived in the most anxious expectation of fome fuch measure offering "itfelf: nothing prevented my prefling it in this difpatch, except having repeatedly stated the juft "expectations of this country, I was apprehenfive of giving that the air of demand, which would "be better left to a voluntary spirit of juftice and forefight. No matter who has the merit, let the "two kingdoms be one, which can only be by Ireland now acknowledging the fuperintending "power and fupremacy to be where nature has placed it, in precife and unambiguous terms. I am fure I need not inculcate to your grace the importance of words in an act, which must decide on the happiness of ages, particularly in what regards contribution and trade, fubjects moft likely to come into frequent queftion."

4.

"

This bright profpect of peace and happiness was however very foon clouded; for on the 22d of June the Duke of Portland wrote to Lord Shelburne: "The disappointment and mortification I "fuffer by the unexpected change in thofe difpofitions, which had authorifed me to entertain the hopes I had perhaps too fanguinely expreffed in my letter of the 6th inft. muft not prevent me " from acquainting you, that for the prefent thefe expectations must be given up: I trust and am "inclined to flatter myfelf they are only fufpended, and that they will be revived when the temper * H 2

« of

No fooner had this motion been difpofed of, than Mr. Bagenal, a man of fterling fenfe and independence both of mind and fortune, a steady and

true

of this country has recovered its tone, and acquired that degree of compofure, which must give it "the firmness neceffary for effectuating fo wife and falutary a measure. By the accounts of the " events of these three or four days, and by the timidity and jealousy of the firft people in this country, it is clear that any injudicious or offenfive measure may be prevented, but that any attempt "to conciliate the minds of this nation to any fuch measure as I intimated the hope of, would at "this moment be delufive and impoffible."

* His fpeech was as follows: 1 Parl. Deb. p. 371. "I beg leave to congratulate this country. "We have at last got the freedom, which all the world should have: it is our birth-right; but in our "meridian there is no life without it; our existence now begins, and will depend upon what use we make of the population and wealth that will result from the advantages of a free conftitution. "I will beg leave to congratulate England: instead of a nominal, or a repugnant dependant, the "has now a powerful faithful ally, one that she can never exift without.

"I will beg leave to congratulate his majesty: he has conciliated three millions of fuch fubjects as must make him happy; men willing to be loyal, as they are determined to be free. "I will congratulate his minifters alfo: they may now depend upon fuch fupport as they ought "always to look for. And to whom does the empire owe all this? To a man principally, who is "refolved to take no reward from government. I will not pretend to fay he was wrong, though I "know that fuch merit ought to be distinguished in every manner poffible. Shall every body have " what they ought to have, except him alone, to whom every individual in this empire is so much "indebted, and by whose example every individual in the universe may be so much benefited? "He has faved this empire from an iron age, and has reftored an unequivocal golden one. By our affectionate alliance with England, we fhall not only be benefited ourselves, but shall see a be"loved fifter revive, without any painful repining, or apprehenfions for her prosperity.

"In these happy circumftances, in which he has placed us (though I honor every private compli"ment as I may call thofe that I fee paid to our illuftrious benefactor) I believe there is no man "that would not blush to think that a Grattan's child might point at a statue or monument, that "has often been dedicated to slender or problematical merit, and fay, that was my father's, your "benefactor's only reward. I have therefore a motion to make you, which might appear like pre"fumption in me, as it is of fo much importance to the glory and interefts of this kingdom, if I "could suppose that any member of the British empire could give it a negative: the purport of it "is, that we should take into confideration what fum we thould grant for the purpose of pur"chafing a feat, and building a fuitable manfion for our great benefactor, in teftimony of our gra❝titude for the unequalled fervices that he has done for this kingdom. Were we to omit this, or "should we do it in a manner unfuitable to the fituation he has raised us to, we should be very un"grateful indeed, and never might we expect, that a bleffing could attend it.

"It must be needless to say any thing in favor of fuch a measure, or I would not dare to be "the mover of it. I will only add, that as he has left nothing undone that is material to the "prosperity of this kingdom, it can no more lay a precedent for hurtful grants of the fame nature "here, than Blenheim did in Great Britain.

"Far