claration, that an Irish independent legiflature is as neceffary as British connexion to the profperity of Ireland. The House of Commons have faid fo in ftrong language, when they ftated to his majesty in 1782, that the very effence of our liberties exifts in the right of a fole legislature, the parliament of Ireland, a right which they then claimed on the part of all the people as their birthright, and which they declared to his majefty they could not yield but with their lives. I joined in that statement, and we were afterwards told from the throne, that both countries had pledged their good faith to each other, that their beft fecurity would be an inviolable adherence to that compact; and we were defired to convince the people, that the two kingdoms were then one, indiffolubly connected in unity of constitution, and unity of Interest. Nothing then remains to strengthen our union. We have adhered to that compact, fo has Great Britain; and we have risen to profperity with a rapidnefs beyond example fince it was made. I fee no concern either of imperial concern or local neceffity, which can justify our attempting a change, much lefs fuch a change as would annihilate that birthright, by the confirmation of which our trade and manufactures felt a fecurity that immediately roused a happy fpirit of exertion, the furrender of which would not only make the employment of thofe exertions precarious, but would equally take away all fecurity of permanence from every advantage, which any perfons might be ignorantly deluded into a hope of from the projected measure of a legislative Union. In truth, I fee much danger, and a probable decrease to our trade and manufactures from the measure, and I cannot conceive any one advantage to them from it. If the linen manufacture refts at all on any compact, that compact was made with the Irish parliament, the extinction of which takes away a fecurity we have found adequate, and leaves it without the protection of its natural guardians, who by their vigilance, their regulations, and their bounties, have more than doubled its export within a few years past. As an Irishman then, I fhould oppofe the meafure, and as a member of the empire, I should not be lefs averfe to it; for the innovation it would make in the conftitution of Great Britain, with whom we muft ftand or fall, may fo endanger that conftitution, as in the end to overturn it, and with it the whole of the empire. Nor can I look at the circumstances of the times without depreciating its being propofed, when the French proceedings teach us the danger of innovating on the established conftitution, and, when it must be peculiarly alarming to Ireland, fcarcely refted from a cruel and unprovoked rebellion, to have the public mind again agitated by an unneceffary, unprovoked, and unfolicited project. These are my fentiments. The entire confidence you repofe in my attachment to the conftitution, and the true interefts of Ireland, call upon me to ftate them fully to you. You shall not find that confidence misplaced. I fhall oppose the measure, and I remain, with the most perfect esteem and affection, Your very obliged and faithful humble fervant, Collon, January 15th, 1799. JOHN FOSTER. To the ELECTORS of the County of LOUTH. GENTLEMEN, I HAVE received your addrefs, and return you my thanks for the confidence you have placed in me. I entirely agree with you, that an independent Irish legislature is as neceffary as British connexion to the profperity of Ireland, and that it is impolitic at present to agitate a queftion of legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland. I have the honor to be, GENTLEMEN, Your moft obedient humble fervant, Ravenfdale Park, January 15th, 1799. CITY OF DUBLIN, At a general affembly of the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commons, and citizens of the city of Dublin, held on the 18th of January, 1799, the following refolutions were unanimoufly agreed to: Refolved, That by the exertions of the people and parliament of this kingdom, the trade and conftitution thereof were fettled on principles fo liberal, that the nation has rifen ever fince rapidly in wealth and confequence. Refolved, That having boldly defended the conftitution in king, lords, and commons, against the open and fecret abettors of rebellion, we are determined fteadily to oppofe any attempt that may be made to furrender the free legislation of this kingdom, by uniting it with the legislature of Great Britain. Refolved, That viewing the measure of an Union with Great Britain as one fraught with the most fatal confequences to this kingdom, tending to annihilate the constitution thereof, any perfon bringing forward fuch a propofition, would in our opinion be an enemy to the king's government in this country, by endangering the peace and tranquillity of the kingdom. Refolved, That it is our duty and our determination to support inviolably the prerogatives of the crown, as well as the privileges of the people. Refolved, That any minister who shall advise his majesty, by the exercise of any of his prerogatives, to influence or deter any member of the legislature from the free ufe of his judgment in parliament, will thereby commit a high crime against the honor and dignity of the crown, the independence of the parliament, and the conftitution of the realm. Refolved, That the foregoing refolutions be published. Signed by order, ALLEN and GREENE, Town Clerks. Be it remembered, that at a general affembly of the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commons, and citizens of the city of Dublin, held on the 18th day of January, 1799, it was refolved unanimoufly, that the following addrefs be prefented to the Right Honorable John Fofter, Speaker of the Houfe of Commons of Ireland. The Addrefs of the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commons, and Citizens of Dublin, in Common Council affembled. SIR, AMIDST the terror which the threatened invafion of our liberties, and our fortunes, and our commerce have fpread around, the hearts of Irishmen, though fickened with difguft, and influenced with indignation, are yet strangers to defpair. From thofe talents and that virtue, in which she has often found relief, your country again demands protection. Suffer not a nation, to which you have heretofore been a fhield, to expire without an effort to fave her. Come forward with all that animated zeal for the welfare of the empire, with that affectionate attachment to British connexion, with that ardent love for Ireland, and that parental care of her commercial and conftitutional rights, by which you have been ever diftinguished. Bring with you that penetrating judgment and capacious wifdom, that command ing eloquence and bold integrity, with which you have hitherto fupported thofe dear but valuable interefts. Demonftrate to the world, that the affertions of our enemies are not motives, but pretexts; that their arguments are idle and delufive; that while they affect to promote the trade and agriculture of Ireland, to fecure our alliance with Britain, and to invigorate the energies of the empire, they are proceeding wickedly and wantonly to undermine them all. In teftimony whereof the common feal of faid city is hereunto affixed, the day and year aforefaid. The Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, board of Aldermen, Town Clerks, High Sheriff, and Corporation at large, having waited on the Right Honorable the Speaker with faid addrefs, he was pleafed to return the following anfwer: MY LORD AND GENTLEMEN, TO be fo honored by the city of Dublin, which has ever been eminently confpicuous for its loyalty, its attachment to our conftitution, and its watchful vigilance over all our rights and interests, fills me with fentiments of gratitude and honeft pride, which you can more readily conceive than I can exprefs. Accept my grateful and cordial thanks, and be fure of my zealous perfeverance in the conduct you approve. You have very justly joined a zeal for the empire and attachment to British connexion with an ardent love for Ireland. No man can be a found friend to Ireland, who does not feel that zeal and that attachment, nor can he ever be an efficient friend, if he does not in every public measure hold them in his view, and make them the rule of his conduct. Since the conftitution of this kingdom was fettled, by its right to a fole, feparate, and exclufive legiflation, being unequivocally confirmed, we have feen its profperity rifing rapidly, yet fteadily, its refources increafing for the fupport of the empire, and thofe refources liberally and effectually applied. We have seen, and still see mutual acts of kindness between the two kingdoms ftrengthening their connexion, and any commercial jealoufies that ever exifted happily fubfiding. Infeparably united under the fame executive power, which is equally a branch of the legiflature of each kingdom, our Union is complete to every beneficial purpose, and the project in contemplation deferves not the name of Union. In my foul, I think it is fraught with poffible confequences, certainly not foreseen by those who bring it forward, that will will tend, if not to actual feparation, to attempts at leaft to feparate us from Great Britain, to our utter ruin and to the fubverfion of the British empire, now the most happy and glorious on the face of the earth. I am, my Lord and Gentlemen, With the utmoft refpect, gratitude, and veneration, Ordered, That faid addrefs and answer be published, JOHN FOSTER. ALLEN and GREENE, Town Clerks. No. CXVIII. Addreffes of Roman Catholics upon the Union. (Page 979.) CITY OF WATERFORD. AT a general meeting of the Roman Catholics of the city of Waterford and its vicinity, held at the Great Chapel, on the 28th of June, 1799, PETER ST. LEDGER, Efq. in the Chair, The following five gentlemen were appointed a committee, to prepare a declaration on the meafure of a legiflative Union: Rev. Dr. Thomas Hearn, Edward Sheil, Efq. Thomas Sherlock, Efq. Thomas Hearn, Efq. M. D. Refolved, That the following declaration be adopted. THE measure of a legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland having been recommended to the confideration of both of his parliaments by our moft gracious fovereign, the common father of his people, we, his majesty's dutiful and loyal fubjects the Catholics of the city of Waterford and its vicinity, have thought it incumbent on us to make this public avowal of our fentiments on the important and interesting occafion. We are firmly convinced, that a complete and entire Union between Great Britain and Ireland, founded on equal and liberal principles and on a sense of mutual interefts and affection, is a measure of wisdom and expediency for this kingdom, and will effectually promote the strength and profperity of both; and we truft it will afford the fureft means of allaying thofe unhappy distrac |