Corruptions in Ireland enormous.

89

people of Ireland were about to exchange that which was light in the scale for many substantial advantages; yet the sacrifice of national importance, national influence, and national pride, required to be considerately received and liberally compensated.

The exterior form of the Irish government was correspondent to our own; but it was only nominally the same. The popular part of it depended not on the people, nor was the aristocratical exclusively influenced by the real property of Ireland. Its corruptions were as enormous as they were notorious; and the devotion of the government to one or other of the prevailing factions, paralysed its efforts, and stripped it of the respect and confidence of the people. A very superficial knowledge of the state of Ireland is sufficient to show that it wanted all those counterpoises and balances which are required to give a steady direction to mixed forms of government; and by which alone they are enabled to restrain the violence of popular spirit, on the one hand, and to controul the influence of an over-weening, overbearing aristocracy, on the other. The supreme authority and administration of Ireland had the outward form, but had not the internal spiritthe essence of the British constitution. The

90 No Allegiance on the Part of the People.

Commons were the mere puppets of the two great aristocratical factions-the people a feather in either scale, until arms were put into their hands, and they became the means of extorting, from the weakness of our councils, what ought to have been yielded to Ireland from a principle of justice. Corruption had become so general, so familiar, and so fashionable, as to extinguish all sense of propriety, and even that of shame. Remuneration was considered to be expected, if not actually demanded, not for public services performed, but for abstaining to clog the wheels of government. In power there was no shade of difference between one party and another; and while profusion was tolerated, nay encouraged, in the hope of profiting by it, there could be no reasonable ground to hope for the co-operation of a state to remedy abuses in which it so largely participated. The ties which bound the executive and legislative branches were so slight, and the influence of Great Britain so weak, that the Irish constitution tottered, and was in hourly jeopardy of falling. On the part of the people, there existed no allegiance to the constitution-no affection for the government--no respect for the laws:-and while a suffocated antipathy prevailed against their aristocratical leaders, the latter became identified with the

Mutual Interests promoted by the Union. 91

government of the country against them, purely from fear, and the consciousness of the absolute necessity of the strong arm of power to keep the people in subjection.

All ranks were dissatisfied, and felt themselves treated by Great Britain, not as a coequal empire, but as a conquered province.

The extinction of such a government can afford no just reason for regret. The friends to rational liberty, in both countries, were called on to support an alteration so likely to benefit each, by the suppression of local prejudices, and the consolidation of mutual interests.

On references to an united parliament for the redress of wrongs, it could not but be expected that justice was more likely to be fairly dealt out than it had been to all parties.

The degrading expedients resorted to by Lords-lieutenant of modern times, were revolting to men of honour, and humiliating to the mother country. The last and concluding scene of the Irish parliament affixed a stain on its memory that no time can efface. Repeatedly in the parliament of the united empire was the whole legislative body of Ireland accused of

92 Political Bribes termed Compensations.

being bribed, without the charge calling forth the indignation of parties, or even an attempt at refutation. Many of the bare-faced jobs were dragged into public view, and as these could not pass sub silentio, disgraceful and futile endeavours were made to designate such enormities by the title of compensations.Nothing could afford a more complete sanction to the union than the means by which it was ultimately effected. The odium attached to its completion rests with the bribed, not the briber; and as the measure had become expedient, and was indispensable, it was better to advance at once the whole cost of corruption, and have done with it, than to pay an annual interest on this aggregate of national delinquency.

The general sentiment of the English parliament, as far as I could judge, was to deal liberally towards Ireland in all that related to its trade; and had it not been influenced, the same disposition would have been manifested in dispensing with all religious distinctions. Had this been effected, great credit would have been due to Mr. Pitt; but even as it was, the measure was confessedly a most desirable one for both kingdoms.

If a free trade in grain was withheld, it ought

Ulterior Effects of the Union.

93

to be considered as more imputable to oversight than intention, which was proved by the manner in which it has since been conceded.

The great pressure on our trade, occasioned by the present exclusion from the continent, has so much depressed the general commerce of the country, that, until things are restored to their usual channel, no fair judgment can be formed as to the ulterior effects of the union ; I am, however, far from contending that some disadvantages may not arise to Ireland out of this conjunction.

The seat of government being removed to England will necessarily increase the present calamity of drawing the Irish nobility and gentry from out of their own country to its great disadvantage; yet that which may appear to be a present evil may by possibility be productive of a future good-should it tend to lessen the over-grown fortunes, and to cause a more equal distribution of landed property. In the event of a peace being obtained which might promise a lasting repose to Europe, the trade of this quarter of the globe, after a time, would probably be greatly increased; the augmentation in knowledge which would thus be produced could not fail of being a stimulus to