1 CHAP. XLIII. Grattan of Ireland Lord Lifford was Chancellor when the great struggle took place between the Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland, which resulted in the short-lived independence of the Irish legislature. In December 1775, a young barrister, Henry Grattan, son of the Recorder of Dublin, Henry through the influence of Lord Charlemont, was returned. in Parliamember for the borough of Charlemont, and took his seat ment. in the House. The first step to the relaxation of the Penal Code against the Catholics passed the Irish Parliament in the following year. This enabled them to take land on leases for 999 years, and also to purchase on certain conditions. The condition of the country,' Condition says a very competent authority on Irish affairs, was in 1775. then deplorable. Trade was depressed, its shores were undefended, and her army was withdrawn. The policy and maxims of Swift were once more revived, and a spirit of discontent pervaded the nation. England was at war with France and with America, and Ireland was menaced with invasion.' The Government had no troops to spare, and the Volunteer movement commenced. Soon the Minister stood face to face with an armed nation, and the Dungannon meeting was held in Dungannon Church. DunganThe temple of the God of Peace was not desecrated by meeting. the presence of men armed for the defence of their native land. Colonel Irwin, a gentleman of ancient family and firm loyalty, who united prudence with vigour, presided. Then the Ulster Protestants spoke out as men who felt Resoluthey had a country. Resolutions were passed to this effect: That a citizen by learning the use of arms does not abandon his civil rights; That a claim by any body of men other than the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland to make laws to bind Ireland is unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance.' They protested against Poyning's Law, requiring the Privy Council's assent to the Bills submitted to Parliament. 'Resolved that trade should be free;' That a perpetual Mutiny Bill was 1 Right Hon. James Whiteside, 'Life and Death of the Irish Parliament,' part ii. non tions. CHAP. XLIII. Debt of gratitude due to the Ulster Protestants. unconstitutional, and should be limited from session to This should ever be remembered by Irishmen. Toleration to the Catholics was declared cause of rejoicing by the Ulster Protestants on February 15, 1782, and on the same day Mr. Gardiner's Catholic Relief Bill was introduced Progress into Parliament. Other measures in accordance with the of the Volunteer wishes of the Volunteers quickly followed. The country movement. was permeated with the Volunteer spirit. Everywhere the tramp of marching men, the peal of the trumpet, the roll of the drum, resounded. Everywhere the glitter of weapons, the variety of uniforms, dazzled the sight. There were embodied and equipped over a hundred thousand men, consisting of cavalry, artillery, and infantry; the artillery numbered 130 cannon.1 This army was commanded by the Earl of Charlemont, whose devoted loyalty procured him the earldom, as a proof of royal favour. He was not as tolerant in his views towards Catholics as might have been expected from one of so large and accomplished a mind. The national militia was officered by noblemen and gentlemen of the highest rank; but loyal as the institution undoubtedly was, and willing, nay desirous, to keep up that ascendency of evil so long the bane of Ireland, it was looked on with deep suspicion by the British The move- Government.2 In a letter from the Lord Lieutenant, Earl of Buckinghamshire, to Lord Weymouth, in May 1779, this is clearly shown:- Discouragement has been given on my part, as far as might be without offence, at a crisis when the arm and good-will of every individual might be wanting for the defence of the State.' ment dis couraged by the Government. 1 History of the Volunteers, by McNevin, p. 222. 2 History of Dundalk, by D'Alton and O'Flanagan, p. 187. CHAPTER XLIV. LIFE OF LORD CHANCELLOR LORD LIFFORD, CONCLUDED. CHAP. XLIV. seeks the Viceroy the Lord and other officials. THE low state of the Irish Exchequer in 1779 occasioned great anxiety to the Irish Executive. Lord Buckingham, then Viceroy, called a meeting of the Privy Council, consisting of the Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of advice of Commons, Attorney-General, and other officials, and de- Chancellor sired their opinion on the question, Whether it is expedient to convene the Parliament of this kingdom before the usual time, for the purpose of providing a sum of money to answer the immediate exigencies of Government?' These exigencies were to enable the troops to be encamped, and the country put in a proper state of defence, for which no means remained in the Treasury. The officials do not appear to have advised the meeting of Parliament, and, knowing how difficult it would be to raise any considerable sums in Ireland at that period, re- Recomcommended his Excellency, as a measure of the utmost consequence to the security of this kingdom, to endeavour to prevail upon the English Ministry to advance the requisite sum.'1 mend a the English Treasury for money. Irish trade call upon much re Irish trade was much crippled by many English Acts of stricted. Parliament, enacted for the purpose of restraining Irish commerce.2 An attempt was made to have these Acts repealed by sending a list of them to the then Premier, Lord North, but he did not condescend to notice them in the Speech from the Throne. This was the state of affairs when the members of the House of Commons resolved to 3 1 Grattan's Life, by his son, vol. i. p. 376. 2 These Acts were chiefly 12 Car. II. c. 18; 15 Car. II. c. 7; 22 Car. II. c. 26; 25 Car. II. c. 22; 7 and 8 Wm. III. c. 2; 4 Geo. II. c. 15; 5 Geo. II c. 9. Grattan's Life, by his son, vol. i. p. 377. CHAP. Mr. Grattan's amend ment proposed and supported. The amended Address brought in triumph to the Castle. strike a blow for Irish freedom. The history of the times gives a full detail of the patriotic measures, which is too ample for my limited space. An amendment to the Address from the Throne was resolved on, and Mr. Grattan prepared it; but, although a consummate speaker, he was not a ready writer. The address was shown to the Speaker, Mr. Pery, who made some alterations which Grattan at once acquiesced in and adopted. The House met on October 12, and though Mr. Yelverton, on the part of the Government, tried to prevent any amendment, Grattan was resolute to bring his forward. He proposed the amendment, which was seconded by Lord Westport. Mr. Bushe, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Hussey Burgh spoke in its favour. Mr. Burgh was then Prime Serjeant, but said 'he spoke his own sentiments, and those of the influential body he represented (the College); that he held a place under Government, but owed a duty to his country, and that he would always support her. He would require free trade.' The Government party were beaten, and the amendment carried with only one dissentient. The members little thought that the motion of Mr. Grattan had been revised by the Speaker. Many of the Government party said it was a juvenile composition,' and when the amendment was placed in the Speaker's hands, and he saw his own writing, he could scarcely refrain from laughing. However he kept his countenance, and listened with the utmost gravity to the abuse heaped upon the 'boyish' composition! When the House broke up, Mr. Pery, the Speaker, Grattan, and Daly had a hearty laugh at the incident.' The amended address was brought to the Viceroy at the Castle by the entire House. It was a glorious day for Dublin. The Irish Volunteers headed by the Lawyers' Corps, lined the streets, under the command of the Duke of Leinster. They presented arms as the Speaker and members of the Commons passed along, and the cheering was often renewed. The Commons passed a vote of thanks 1 Grattan's Life, by his son, vol. i. p. 389. СНАР. XLIV. to the Volunteers, for their spirited and necessary exertions for the defence of their country;' a similar compliment was paid by the Lords, despite the most strenuous opposition of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice The Lord Lord Annaly. Though the Chancellor admitted the use of this corps for preserving the internal peace of the country, he spoke at great length on the illegality of raising such a force, and argued against giving them the vote of lunteers. thanks. Considerable excitement followed the success of Mr. Grattan's motion. The Government was beaten in suc Chancellor opposes the vote of thanks to the Vo vernment. cessive divisions. On a motion before the House as a Defeats of Committee of Supply, that the appropriated duties should the Gobe granted for six months only'-the numbers were 138 to 100, the Government again in a minority. It was during this debate Prime Serjeant Hussey Burgh made the speech Electric which produced such an electric effect upon his auditors speech of that they rose en masse and cheered him again and again. 'Talk not to me,' he said, ' of peace; Ireland is not in a state of peace; it is smothered war. England has sown her laws like dragon's teeth, and they have sprung up armed men.' This speech cost him his rank of Prime Serjeant. Prime Serjeant Burgh. While the affairs of Ireland were thus critical, the Lord Lieutenant was deprived of the advice and assistance of the Lord Chancellor, who was prevented from attending the deliberations of the Castle officials by his indisposition.' The Lord As soon as the Chancellor was able to venture forth, he Chancellor indisposed. attended the meetings at the Castle, and was present when the opinion of the Government officials was taken as to the right of the Lord Lieutenant to propose and urge new taxes. The Chancellor and many others, including the In favour chief Judges, Attorney and Solicitor-Generals, agreed that of new the Lord Lieutenant might exercise this right, the only dissentients being Mr. Foster and Mr. Burton, who thought 1 Letter from the Viceroy to Lord Weymouth in 1779. Grattan's Life, by his son, vol. ii. p. 6. 2 Foster is an honoured name in the political history of Ireland. He was well acquainted with finance and made an excellent Chancellor of the taxes. |