J DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. Map of Ireland, to face the title page of Vol. I. View of Dublin, p. 382, Vol. II. thence to the other, except such as either kingdom may deem expedient from time to time upon corn, meal, flour, and biscuits; and also except when there now exists any prohibition which is not reciprocal, or any duty which is not equal in both kingdoms; in every which case the prohibition may be made reciprocal, or the duties raised so as to make them equal. 8. Resolved," That for the same purpose it is necessary that no bounties whatsoever shall be paid or payable in either kingdom on the exportation of any article to the other, except such as relate to corn, meal, malt, flour, and biscuits, and such as are in the nature of drawbacks or compensations for duties paid, and that no bounty should be granted in this kingdom on the expor tation of any article imported from the British plantations, or any manufacture made of such article, unless in cases where a similar bounty is payable in Britain on exportation from thence, or where such bounty is merely in the nature of a drawback or compensation of or for duties paid over and above any duties paid thereon in Britain. 9. Resolved, "That it is expedient, for the general benefit of the British empire, that the importation of articles from foreign states should be regulated from time to time in each kingdom on such terms as may afford an effectual preference to the importation of similar articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the other. 10. Resolved, "That it is essential to the com mercial interests of this country to prevent, as much as possible, an accumulation of national debt; and that therefore it is highly expedient that the annual revenues of this kingdom should be made equal to its annual expences. 11. Resolved, "That for the better protection of trade, whatever sum the gross hereditary revenue of this kingdom (after deducting all drawbacks, repayments, or bounties granted in the nature of drawbacks,) shali produce, over and above the sum of 656,000l. in each year in peace, wherein the annual revenues shall be equal to the annual expences, and in each year of war, without regard to such equality, should be appropriated towards the support of the naval force of of the empire, in such manner as the parliament of this kingdom shall direct." These propositions were founded upon enlarged and liberal principles. The chancellor of the exchequer, when proposing the tenth, declared, "that no one was a greater enemy to accumulating debt upon debt in times of peace than he was and that this salutary proposition was made and inserted by the advice and assistance of a right hon. gentleman, (Mr. Grattan,) to whom the nation is greatly indebted for his integrity, his abilities, and success in the public service; and gentlemen will see the effects of such a beneficial plan, which will at once prevent future debt and insure future economy." Some opposition, however, was made to these resolutions by Mr. Flood and others. Mr. Brownlow, in particular, raved about being tributary slaves by the last proposition, and congratulated Mr. Orde that he was in a free country, and not in a Polish diet, or he would never live to carry back an answer to his master. All this was because the surplus of the revenue was to go to the support of the empire at large. Moderate men, however, were satisfied, and Mr. Grattan warmly approved of them. They were finally agreed to, and on the 22d February, 1785, they were read in a committee of the British house of commons, when Mr. Pitt opened the business in a masterly speech full of wisdom and conciliation. He took a review of the commercial subserviency in which Ireland had been held since the Revolution, and the freedom she had acquired in 1779, as far as foreign trade was concerned, and liberty to export to and import from the colonies and the countries of Europe. The intercourse between the two countries, however, had existed where it was, and it was the object of these regulations to put them upon a system of equality and fairness. Lord North and Mr. Fox opposed this plan, because they doubted whether any system of intercourse was at that time necessary to be arranged between the two countries. Meanwhile, however, the jealousy of the commercial towns of England was excited, and petitions from Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow were presented. Counsel was heard at the bar of the house, and K 2 various other examinations took place. The num ber of petitions encreased; the table was loaded with them; a great difference of opinion was exeited. Mr. Pitt, if he was ever sincere in any cause, was sincere in this: he never spoke with more warmth and zeal. On the 12th of May, however, he found it necessary, in compliance with the strong remonstrances of the manufacturers, or perhaps from the new light which he had derived from their petitions and the examinations, to bring in the following enlarged, and, in some respects, new propositions, which were strongly contested in the British parliament, both in the commons and lords. I. "That it is highly important to the interests of both countries that the commerce between Great Britain and Ireland should be finally regulated on permanent and equitable principles, for the mutual benefit of both countries. II. "That a full participation of commercial advantages should be permanently secured to Ireland whenever a provision, equally permanent and secure, shall be made by the parliament of that kingdom towards defraying, in proportion to its growing prosperity, the necessary expences, in time of peace, of protecting the trade and general interests of the empire. III. "That towards carrying into full effect so desirable a settlement it is fit and proper that all articles, not the growth or manufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, except those of the growth, |