CHAP. IV.

Flood goes to England-Mr. Curran makes a motion against a right assumed by the house of lords-Dissolution of the coalition ministryPitt appointed prime minister-Lord Northington resigns, and is succeeded by the Duke of Rutland-meetings are held to obtain a reform in parliament-Grand congress of delegates appointed-Vigorous proceedings of government-Both the parliaments of England and Ireland engaged in considering some commercial regulations between the two countriesMr. Orde's propositions, and debates upon them.

SHORTLY after the settlement of the question of reform in the commons, Flood, the great leader of the opposition, departed for England, where he obtained a seat in the British legislature. After his departure, however, some popular motions were made. Mr. Molyneux proposed an absentee tax, but it was lost by a great majority; and Mr. Brown moved certain resolutions expressive of the miserable state of Ireland, the necessity of retrenchment in the expences, and the evil of an accumulating debt. This was lost too. The next measure that occupied their attention was a motion of Mr. Curran's, on the 16th December,

1783, in consequence of two strong resolutions passed by the house of lords against the practice. of the commons tacking to money bills, clauses for the granting of monies for the reward and encouragement of manufactures, arts, and inventions, and for carrying on public works. The lords considered this practice as unconstitutional, and declared their determination of rejecting any future bill of aid and supply to which any such clause, foreign to its main import, should be added. Mr. Curran regarded this as a direct violation of the undoubted right of the commons to originate and frame money bills in any way they thought proper, the lords or the king having the power of only rejecting in toto, but not of modifying or altering. The house was but thinly attended, and the motion * was lost.

Great and important ministerial changes took place at this time in England; changes which, in their remote operation, are still felt by this country. The coalition ministry had, in its first formation, the seeds and principle of disunion, and an event now occurred which separated the component parts, never more to reunite. We allude to Mr. Fox's India bill, which, on the 8th December, 1783, passed through the commons by a small

It was as follows: "That it is the sole and undoubted privilege of the commons of Ireland to originate all bills of supply and grants of public money in such manner and with such clauses as they shall think proper."

majority, and was, the next day, carried up to the lords. There it met its doom, in consequence of the hostility to it from a certain quarter, where powerful influence was most unconstitu tionally exerted. The rumour of the day was, that the king signified to Lord Temple, on the 11th December, in a closet audience, his disapprobation of the bill, and authorised him to declare the same to such persons as he might think fit; that a written note was put into his hands, in which his majesty declared, "that he should deem those who should vote for it not only not his friends, but his enemies; and that if he (Lord Temple) could put this in stronger words, he had full authority to do so." The consequence was, that this was communicated to many, and the bill was lost on a second reading. Meanwhile Mr. Baker, in the house of commons, brought forward a motion on the same day to take into consideration the reports above alluded to; those reports were currently believed by the public, and had made a great impression; but he condemned the subject they alluded to under two heads of criminality, first, the giving secret advice to the crown; and secondly, the use that had been made of his majesty's name for the purpose of influencing the votes of members of parliament in a matter depending before them. After some very sound constitutional remarks Mr. Baker concluded

VOL. II.

The numbers were 208-202.

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by moving, "That it is now necessary to declare, that to report any opinion, or pretended opinion, of his majesty upon any bill or other proceeding depending in either house of parliament, with a view to influence the votes of the members, is a high crime and misdemeanor, derogatory to the honour of the crown, a breach of the fundamental privileges of parliament, and subversive of the constitution." The motion was seconded by Lord Maitland, and strongly opposed by Mr. Pitt, who concluded his speech with reproaching the ministers for their base attachment to their offices, though, upon their own state of the case, they had lost their power, and no longer possessed the confidence of their prince. On Wednesday, 17th, the India bill was rejected by the lords, and at twelve o'clock on the following night a messenger delivered to the two secretaries of state his majesty's orders, "that they should deliver up the seals of their office, and send them by the under secretaries, (Mr. Frazier and Mr. Nepean,) as a personal interview on the occasion would be disagreeable to him." Mr. Pitt was then appointed prime minister, and commenced that long career which has been considered a blessing or a curse to the country, according to the political medium through which it is viewed. Its real character cannot yet be pronounced, for many of his plans are still in operation; and it is only in remote and final consequences that we can decide upon the real qualities of particular measures.

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As soon as the rumour of these changes arrived in Ireland the parliament was adjourned; and as soon as the change had actually taken place Lord Northington sent in his resignation. It was accepted on the 7th January, but his suc cessor, the Duke of Rutland, was not appointed till the 24th February, 1784. The house stood adjourned till the 20th January, on which day it met, when a further adjournment was moved by the attorney-general, which was carried by a large majority. When the Duke of Rutland's appointment was officially announced, Mr. William Brabazon Ponsonby moved a vote of thanks to Lord Northington, which produced rather an angry debate. It was urged in his lordship's favour that he had refused the additional allowance of 40001. per ann. and that he had not added to the public debt. The vote passed without amendment by a majority of 44.

The Duke of Rutland succeeded the Earl of Northington, and with him commenced Mr. Pitt's system, which ended in the incorporation of the two countries *. His grace was young and not

* Very sanguine hopes were entertained at first from this ministry. The people of Ireland had suspected the sincerity of the coalition administration, but from its successors they expected reduction in the army, retrenchment in the civil expenditure, reform in parliament, and protecting duties, i. e. heavy duties upon the importation of those manufactures which Ireland produced, so as to compel the people to use the home manufacture, and thus give employment to the people.