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Dissenters had tasted of the liberality of the legislature, and now in common with their Roman Catholic brethren would enjoy that happy toleration, which does not confer more happiness on those who are the objects of it, than it does honour to those who establish it.

Upon the whole he was convinced, that the Irish desired nothing more ardently than proper grounds for being most cordially united to England; and he was sure, that they would be attached to this country, even to bigotry. Of the volunteers, he must speak respectfully: they had acted with temper and moderation, notwithstanding their steadiness: and he must in justice to them, and to his own principles, declare, that they had not done a single act, for which they had not his veneration and respect; and whatever blame there might be discovered in the course of the business, he did not impute a particle of it to Ireland, but laid it all at the door of the late administration. He concluded by moving, "That it is the opinion of this committee, that the act "of the 6th of George I. entitled An Act for better securing the dependence of Ireland on the crown of Great Britain, ought to be "repealed." He just observed, that this would be a pledge to the Irish of the sincerity of his majesty's ministers to deal fairly and openly with Ireland, through the whole of this important business. Mr. T. Pitt, and several other gentlemen who had before taken a part against Ireland, spoke in support of the motion: even Mr. Eden was forward in supporting it. The question was carried unanimously.

Mr. Fox then moved for leave to bring in a bill for repealing the 6th of George I. and then, that an address should be presented to his majesty, praying, that he would be graciously pleased to take such steps as should tend to render the connexion between the two kingdoms solid and permanent. And lastly, that it was the opinion of the committee, that the interests of the two kingdoms were inseparable, and that their connexion ought to be founded on a solid and permanent basis; which motions and resolution were unanimously agreed to.

In the meanwhile, a correspondence between the members of the two countries was kept up. A letter was written on the 20th of May, 1782, by the Duke of Portland, to Mr. Fox, in answer to a despatch received from him. "I should be very glad to hear "that Lord Charlemont was inclined to accede to any part, or “even to the idea of such a plan as you have communicated to me; I should think it a material step to that situation, in which "it is the clear interest of both kingdoms to be placed, being con"vinced, that what is most like union, is the most probable bond * of connexion to restore and perpetuate the harmony and pros"perity of the two countries." The Marquis of Rockingham

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wrote about the same time to the same effect. His letter is dated the 25th of May: "The essential points on the part of Ireland 66 now acceded to, will, I trust, establish a perfect cordiality be "tween the two countries: and as there cannot now exist any "ground of contest or jealousy between them on matters of right, "the only object left for both will be, how finally to arrange, settle, "and adjust all matters, whereby the union of power, strength, and "mutual and reciprocal advantage will be best permanently fixed. "I observe, in Lord Shelburne's letter to your grace of the 18th "of May, he states more reluctance to the idea of commission"ers than I should judge to be the general opinion of his majes "ty's servants; the measure may be doubtful; but if approved "by the leading gentlemen of Ireland, might be productive of "much good."

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On the 27th of May, 1782, the parliament of Ireland met according to adjournment, when his grace the Duke of Portland made the following speech from the throne :*

66 MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"It gives me the utmost satisfaction, that the first "time I have occasion to address you, I find myself enabled, by "the magnanimity of the king, and the wisdom of the parliament "of Great Britain, to assure you, that immediate attention has "been paid to your representations; and that the British legisla "ture have concurred in a resolution to remove the causes of "your discontents and jealousies, and are united in a desire to "gratify every wish expressed in your late addresses to the

"throne.

"If any thing could add to the pleasure I feel in giving you "these assurances, it is, that I can accompany them with my "congratulations on the important and decisive victory gained "by the fleets of his majesty, over those of our common enemy "in the West Indies, and on the signal advantage obtained by his majesty's arms in the island of Ceylon, and on the coast of "Coromandel.

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By the papers, which in obedience to his majesty's com"mands, I have directed to be laid before you, you will receive "the most convincing testimony of the cordial reception, which "your representations have met with from the legislature of "Great Britain; but his majesty, whose first and most earnest "wish, is to exercise his royal prerogative in such a manner as 66 may be most conducive to the welfare of all his faithful sub"jects, has further given me in command, to assure you of his "gracious disposition to give his royal assent to acts to prevent "the suppression of bills in the privy council of this kingdom,

Parl. Debates, p. 355.

" and the alteration of them any where; and to limit the duration "of the act for the better regulation and accommodation of his "majesty's forces in this kingdom to the term of two years.

"These benevolent intentions of his majesty, and the willing"ness of his parliament of Great Britain to second his gracious purposes, are unaccompanied by any stipulation or condition "whatever. The good faith, the generosity, the honour of this "nation, afford them the surest pledge of a corresponding dispo"sition on your part to promote and perpetuate the harmony, "the stability, and the glory of the empire.

"On my own part I entertain not the least doubt, but that the "same spirit which urged you to share the freedom of Great Britain, will confirm you in your determination to share her "fate also, standing and falling with the British nation."

After the speech was read, Mr. Grattan called the attention of the house to a subject of the highest importance, and then spoke as follows:*" I should desert every principle upon which I "moved the former address, (requiring a restoration of the rights "of Ireland) did I not bear testimony of the candid and unquali"fied manner in which that address has been answered by the lord "lieutenant's speech of this day. I understand that Great Britain "gives up in toto every claim to authority over Ireland. I have not "the least idea, that in repealing the 6th of George I. Great Britain "should be bounden to make any declaration, that she had formerly usurped a power. No, this would be a foolish caution; a dis"honourable condition. The nation that insists upon the humilia❝tion of another, is a foolish nation. Ireland is not a foolish nation. "Another part of great magnanimity in the conduct of Britain is, "that every thing is given up unconditionally. This must for ever remove suspicion. On former occasions, when little acts of "relief were done for Ireland, it was premised, that it was expe"dient to do them; no such word is now made use of. Never "did a British minister support such honourable claims on such "constitutional arguments. With respect to the writ of error, "though not mentioned in our address, he took it up in the most "effectual way; and indeed the whole tenour of his conduct to"wards us has been most generous and sincere; we had one 66 advantage, he entertained an opinion, that Ireland was not in"satiable, though it had been asserted, that Ireland was insatia"ble. But we are bound to prove the falsehood of that asser"tion; for as the nation was pledged to itself to obtain a restora"tion of her rights; so now that her rights are restored liberally " and unconditionally, she is pledged to Great Britain, who, by acceding to our claims, has put an end to all future questions.

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"We have now recovered a constitution, and our business is not " to advance, but to maintain it. Ireland will manifest as much "magnanimity in the moderation, by which she maintains her "constitution, as by the exertions, through which it has been "recovered. The unanimity with which the British House of "Commons acceded to our claims, must for ever do them hon"our; and the single negative in the Lords, whilst it in no wise "diminishes their praise, has its use; it serves to discover, and " for ever to exclude from trust or confidence in either nation, "the man, who could not only oppose the interest and happiness "of both, but also the ardent wishes and desires of his sovereign " to make his people happy. We ought not to forget the able "support given by those persons who composed the late admin"istration of Ireland; it must be highly agreeable to those who 66 compose the present.

"The things so graciously offered by our sovereign, are, the " modification of Poynings' law; and not only the abridgment of "the mutiny bill, in point of duration, but the forming it on the "model of the English mutiny bill, and prefacing it with a declaration of rights.

"As Great Britain and her ministers have unconditionally "agreed to the demands of the Irish, I think the spirit of the "nation is called upon to make an unconditional grant to England. The sea is the element to which nature points, as the "scene of British glory; it is there we can most effectually assist "her. Twenty thousand seamen would be a noble support; and "we, who have been squandering the public money in all the

waste of blind extravagance, cannot surely now deem 100,000l. "too large a sum, when applied to the common defence of the "empire: the sum is trifling, but the assistance of 20,000 Irish"men would be great; and gentlemen will now, when they retire "to their different counties, have a full opportunity in assisting "to raise those men, and of manifesting their zeal for the common cause of Great Britain and Ireland. There are also other means "of support in our power to give to Britain, though they cannot "immediately be entered upon. This country is most happily "situated for the construction of docks, and the rendezvous of

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shipping; whatever expense might be incurred by such neces"sary works, would be repaid by the expenditure of the money "amongst ourselves, and might be supported by a prudent and "economical management of the public revenues, in the savings "of the army, and in every different class of extraordinaries. "An expense of 17. per cent. in the collection of the revenue, "cannot be justified; the commissioners will now see, that money "is to be paid for labour, not for prostitution; therefore let us "now enter, heart and hand, into the great work of reformation,

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"by giving our support to that ministry which has rescued this "country from oppression, and will rescue it from corruption. "On this principle I shall move you an address, devoid of all "that fulsome panegyric so commonly offered to his majesty; "for I think that truth will be the highest compliment to him." Mr. Grattan then moved,

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"To assure his majesty of our unfeigned affection to his royal person and government; that we feel most sensibly the atten "tion, which our representatives have received from the magnani"mity of his majesty, and the wisdom of the parliament of Great "Britain.

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"To assure his majesty, that we conceive the resolution for an “unqualified, unconditional repeal of the 6th of George I. to be a measure of consummate wisdom and justice, suitable to the dignity and eminence of both nations, exalting the character "of both, and furnishing a perpetual pledge of mutual amity. "To assure his majesty, that we are sensibly affected by his virtuous determination to accede to the wishes of his faithful people, and to exercise his royal prerogative in a manner most "conducive to their welfare; and accordingly we shall imme "diately prepare bills, to carry into execution the desires of his 66 majesty's people, and his own most benevolent purposes.

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"That gratified in those particulars, we do assure his majesty, "that no constitutional question between the two nations will any "longer exist, which can interrupt their harmony; and that Great "Britain, as she has approved of our firmness, so may she rely 66 on our affection. That we remember, and do repeat our de"termination, to stand and fall with the British nation.

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That we perceive with pleasure the magnanimity of his ma "jesty, to disdain the little policy of making a bargain with his "people; and feeling with pride the confidence he reposes in the good faith, generosity, and honour of the Irish nation, we answer with all humility, that his majesty entertains a just sense "of our character. Common interest, perpetual connexion, the 86 recent conduct of Great Britain, a native affection to the British "name and nation, together with the constitution, which we have "recovered, and the high reputation which we possess, must ever "decide the wishes as well as the interest of Ireland, to perpetu"ate the harmony, stability, and glory of the empire. Accord"ingly, we assure his majesty, that we learn with singular satis"faction the account of his brilliant successes in the East and "West Indies, gratified at one and the same instant in our dear"est wishes, the freedom of Ireland, and glory of Great Britain. "That we cannot omit expressing our gratitude to his majesty, "for appointing the Duke of Portland to the government of this "kingdom.

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