land, in order that the Duke of Portland might close the feffion, and as far as conveniently could be, adjuft all the arrangements, then pending between the two kingdoms, refpecting the legiflative independence and commercial freedom of that kingdom. Lord Shelburne had been fully as explicit, open and liberal in his fpeech to the lords, with reference to Ireland, as Mr. Fox, in his fpeech to the commons. It was therefore generally at first presumed, that the change in the British adminiftration would caufe no alteration in the fyftem of conceffion to Ireland.

Amongst the feveral acts, which received the royal affent under the Duke of Portland's administration, was Mr. Eden's act for eftablishing the national bank. This met with fome oppofition, but the measure was carried, and the bank opened the year following. By this act (21 and 22 Geo. III. c. 16) the bank was established by the name of The governor and company of the bank of Ireland. The fubfcribers to it were to pay in 600,000l. either in cafh or debentures, at 4 per cent. which were to be taken at par, and confidered as money. This fum was to be the capital ftock of the bank, and the debentures to that amount, when received, were to be cancelled by the vice treasurers. For thefe an annuity of 24,000l. was to be paid to the company, being equal to the intereft payable upon thefe debentures; the ftock was to be redeemable at any time, upon twelve months notice, after the 1ft of January, 1794. Ireland obtained likewise an important acquifition by a bill," for better fecuring the liberty of the fubject," otherwife called the Habeas Corpus act, fimilar to that formerly paffed in England.

The facramental teft, by which the diffenting Proteftants were excluded from offices of truft under the crown was alfo repealed, and the nation was gratified by the repeal of the perpetual mutiny bill, and by that long defired act for making the commiffion of the judges of that kingdom, to continue quamdiu fe benè gefferint. An act was alfo paffed to render the manner of conforming from the Popish to the Proteftant religion more eafy and expeditious. Another for fparing to his majefty, to be drawn out of this kingdom whenever he fhould think fit, a force not exceeding 5000 men (part of the troops appointed to be kept therein for its defence.)

On the 27th of July, 1782, his excellency the lord lieutenant concluded the feffion with the following fpeech from the throne:

"My

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"THE great and conftitutional advantages you have "fecured to your country, and the wife and magnanimous conduct of Great “Britain, in contributing to the fuccefs of your steady and temperate exertions, on the clofe of a feffion, must ever reflect the highest honor on the national characters of both kingdoms.

"It must be a moft pleafing confideration to you, to recollect, that in "the advances you have made towards the fettlement of your conftitution

no acts of violence or impatience have marked their progrefs. A religious " adherence to the laws confined your endeavours within the ftricteft bounds "of loyalty and good order; your claims were directed by the fame fpirit, "that gave rise and stability to the liberty of Great Britain, and could not "fail of fuccefs, as foon as the councils of that kingdom were influenced "by the avowed friends of the constitution.

"Such a spirit of constitutional liberty communicating itself from one "kingdom to another, muft naturally produce that reciprocal confidence. "and mutual affection, of which we already begin to feel the most falutary. "effects. A grateful zeal and generous ardour have united this whole "kingdom in the most cordial and vigorous exertions, which promise effectually to fruftrate the designs of our common enemy, and to re-establish "and fecure the glory of the whole empire."

"GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

"WHEN I confider the very active and liberal part you "have taken in contributing to thefe great and glorious events, I muft as "diftinctly express to you his majesty's sense of the last effusion of your "generofity for the defence of the empire, as I muft return you his moft gracious thanks for the fupplies, which you fo chearfully voted at the beginning of this feffion. His majefty's royal example not only fecures "to you a moft just and œconomical application of the aids you have granted him, but affords you a moft folemn pledge of attentive investiga"tion into every means, which the circumftances of this country will "afford to alleviate the burdens of his loyal and grateful people. To co❝ operate with you in carrying into effect this most benevolent difpofition "of his majefty, will afford me the highest gratification, and manifeft to you the fentiments I fhall ever entertain, in return for the confidence you have repofed in the fincerity of my profeffions for your welfare." "Mr

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"In contemplating the fervices, which your unremitting affiduity has rendered to the public, I must indulge myself in the fatisfac"tion of specifying fome very important acts, which will moft materially "ftrengthen the great conftitutional reform you have completed, and which "will for ever diftinguish the period of this memorable feflion. You have "provided for the impartial and unbiaffed administration of justice, by the "act for fecuring the independency of judges. You have adopted one of the "most effectual fecurities of British freedom, by limiting the mutiny act in "point of duration; you have fecured that moft invaluable of all human "bleffings, the perfonal liberty of the fubject, by paffing the Habeas Corpus "Act; you have cherished and enlarged the wife principles of toleration, and "made confiderable advances in abolishing those distinctions, which have too "long impeded the progrefs of industry, and divided the nation. The diligence “and ardour, with which you have perfevered in the accomplishment of these "great objects, muft ever bear the most honorable teftimony of your zeal "and industry in the fervice of your country, and manifeft your knowledge "of its true interests.

Many and great national objects must present themselves to your confi"derations during the recefs from parliamentary business; but what I would "moft earnestly prefs upon you as that, on which your domestic peace and

happiness, and the prosperity of the empire at this moment most immedi"ately depend, is to cultivate and diffuse those. fentiments of affection and "confidence, which are now happily restored between the two kingdoms. "Convince the people in your feveral diftricts, as you are yourselves convinced, that every cause of past jealoufies and discontents is finally removed; that both countries have pledged their good faith to each other, and that "their best security will be an inviolable adherence to that compact; that "the implicit reliance, which Great Britain has repofed on the honor, generofity, and candour of Ireland, engages your national character to a return "of fentiments equally liberal and enlarged: convince them, that the two "kingdoms are now one, indiffolubly connected in unity of constitution and unity of interests; that the danger and fecurity, the profperity and cala"mity of the one, muft equally affect the other; that they stand or fall "together."

The parliament was then prorogued to the 24th of September following.

The parliament of Great Britain, in compliance with the proposals and demands of Ireland, by the 22d of Geo. III. c. 53. fimply repealed the 6th of Geo. I. and the feveral matters and things therein contained. The armed bodies of the volunteers had now too long been enured to arms, as well as to the agitation of political fubjects, not to partake of the fpirit of enthufiafm, with which the questions of fimple repeal and renunciation were contended for in parliament: frequent appeals to the volunteers were made by perfons in parliament; and the volunteers affumed a confequence little short of legislative control. Several provincial meetings were called to take into confideration addreffes fuitable to the occasion. On the 17th of June, 1782, the national committee met prior to the meetings of the provinces. The avowed intent of their meeting was to canvas the proceedings of their reprefentatives in parliament. A fpirit of diffent had created difcontent; and the immediate object of their confideration was, whether there exifted or not juft cause of complaint. At their first meeting nothing was agreed upon: at their next meeting the following refolution was unanimously carried.

VOLUNTEER NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

"At a meeting of the Volunteer Committee, at Dublin, on Tuesday the "18th of June, 1782,

"The Right Honorable Lord KINGSBOROUGH in the chair, "Refolved unanimously, That the addreffes of the Irish parliament having difclaimed any power or authority of any fort whatsoever, in the par"liament of Great Britain over this realm, we shall confider a repeal of the "6th of George I. by the British parliament, made in pursuance of the faid addreffes, a complete renunciation of all the claims contained in the faid "ftatute, and as fuch, we will accept it, and deem it fatisfactory.

(Signed)

Mervyn Archdall, Francis Dobbs, Jofeph Pollock, for "Ulfter.

"Lewis Francis Irwin, Charles O'Hara, John Geoghegan, "for Connaught.

"Richard Talbot, William Burton, John Parnell, R. Nevill, "for Leinfter.

66

Kingsborough, R. Sh. Carew, W. T. Monfel, Samuel Ja"cob, A. Blennedpaffet, William Godfrey, George Stack"poole, for Munfter."

The

The great object of the national committee was, if poffible, to preferve unanimity most of the members were to attend their refpective provincial meetings, and it was thought, that the only chance of unanimity was, to fix on one point, that they would fupport, and recommend in their particular provinces. On the fame day Leinfter met, and agreed with the national committee, as appears by their addreffes to his majesty and his viceroy. On the 21ft of June, Ulfter met, and gave fatal proofs of the malicious industry, with which difcontent had been propagated. Falfehoods of the most glaring nature had filled many of the papers, and mifreprefentations disgraced the freedom of the prefs. English perfidy was inculcated, and the infufficiency of what had been obtained, afferted. Without any change whatfoever on the part of Great Britain, a number of men, who were even ready, a few days before, to cross the channel, to the aid of England, became unhappy and discontented, and the evening preceding the 21ft of June wore a very melancholy afpect.

It fell to the lot of Major Dobbs to open the bufinefs. However, he explained his reafons for being fully fatisfied, and moved the following addrefs to his majefty.

ULSTER VOLUNTEERS, IRELAND.

Dungannon, June 21st, 1782.

"Colonel WILLIAM IRVINE in the chair.

"At a meeting of three hundred and fix companies of this province, pur"fuant to public notice, the following addrefs was unanimously agreed upon, " and ordered to be presented to his majesty by the chairman, Major Fran"cis Dobbs, Captain James Dawson, Captain Francis Evans, and Colonel "Thomas Morris Jones.

"To the king's most excellent majefty. The humble address of the volunteers of Ulfter.

"MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN,

"With the most unfeigned attachment to your majesty's perfon and family, we approach your throne. You are our true and lawful fovereign; and we trust that every act of ours will evince, that we are your "faithful and loyal fubjects.

"The addreffes of the Irifh parliament having difclaimed any power or "authority, of any fort whatsoever, in the parliament of Great Britain over