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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 magnanimity 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 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 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 an"swer with all humility, that his majesty entertains a just sense "of our character. Common interest, perpetual connexion, the 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. Accordingly, 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

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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.

"That we are convinced his representations were faithful, vigor66 ous, and beneficial. We are acquainted with his character; " and relying on his upright and frugal administration, make no "doubt but a free people, and uncorrupt parliament, will unite to " give a constitutional chief governor decided support.

"That we have presumed to lay before his majesty our genu❝ine sentiments on the change of our situation. His majesty "will receive them as the voluntary unstipulated tribute of a free " and grateful people."

Mr. Brownlow expressed his extraordinary satisfaction in seconding the motion. Both nations were now one people united by every tie, enjoying in common the same liberty, the same constitution, and the same sovereign. He had heard several addresses moved for in that house, and he might safely add, not one of which conveyed truth: but that address spoke the sincere language of the nation, where Protestant, Roman Catholic, all religions pressed forward with gratitude in the present moment to hail the nation's acquisition of a constitution. Almost the whole house rose successively to make public profession of their joy and gratitude on the happy event. Two gentlemen only differed upon the propriety of the following words in the address, viz. That there will no longer exist any constitutional question between the two nations, that can disturb their mutual tranquillity. The house divided upon the words objected to; when there were for the address as it stood 211, and the noes were the two tellers, the Recorder and Mr. Walsh.*

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Although these two gentlemen only out of the whole House of Commons in Ireland were of opinion, that any constitutional question between the two nations was still outstanding; yet Lord Clare, in order to prove that the transactions of 1782 between Great Britain and Ireland were not considered as final, tells us, that on the 6th of June the Duke of Portland thus wrote to Lord Shelburne;" I have the best reason to hope that I shall soon be enabled to trans"mit to you the sketch or outlines of an act of parliament to be adopted by the "legislatures of the respective kingdoms, by which the superintending power, " and supremacy of Great Britain, in all matters of state and general commerce, "will be virtually and effectually acknowledged; that a share of the expense, “in carrying on a defensive or offensive war, either in support of our own do"minions, or those of our allies, shall be borne by Ireland in proportion to the "actual state of her abilities, and that she will adopt every such regulation as "may be judged necessary by Great Britain for the better ordering and secur"ing her trade and commerce with foreign nations, or her own colonies and de"pendencies, consideration being duly had to the circumstances of Ireland. I "am flattered with the most positive assurances from ———— and of their

support in carrying such a bill through both houses of parliament, and I "think it most advisable to bring it to perfection at the present moment." And he happened to know from an official quarter, that the sketch of such an act of parliament was then drawn. He knew the gentleman who framed it, and he knew from the same quarter, that blank and blank and blank and blank did unequivocally signify their approbation of it. This communication was received with the satisfaction which it demanded by the British cabinet. On the 9th

No sooner had this motion been disposed of, than Mr. Bagenal,* a man of sterling sense and independence both of mind and

of June Lord Shelburne wrote to the Duke of Portland in answer to his last despatch: "The contents of your grace's letter of the 6th inst. are too important to hesitate about detaining the messenger, whilst I assure your grace of the "satisfaction, which I know your letter will give the king. I have lived in the "most anxious expectation of some such measure offering itself: nothing pre"vented my pressing it in this despatch, except having repeatedly stated the just "expectations of this country, I was apprehensive of giving that the air of de“mand, which would be better left to a voluntary spirit of justice and foresight. "No matter who has the merit, let the two kingdoms be one, which can only "be by Ireland now acknowledging the superintending power and supremacy "to be where nature has placed it, in precise and unambiguous terms. I am "sure I need not inculcate to your grace the importance of words in an act, "which must decide on the happiness of ages, particularly in what regards con"tribution and trade, subjects most likely to come into frequent question."

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This bright prospect of peace and happiness was however very soon clouded; for on the 22d of June the Duke of Portland wrote to Lord Shelburne: "The disappointment and mortification I suffer by the unexpected change in "those dispositions, which had authorised me to entertain the hopes I had per"haps too sanguinely expressed in my letter of the 6th inst. must not prevent me "from acquainting you, that for the present these expectations must be given up: I trust and am inclined to flatter myself they are only suspended, and "that they will be revived when the temper of this country has recovered its "tone, and required that degree of composure, which must give it the firmness necessary for effectuating so wise and salutary a measure By the accounts "of the events of these three or four days, and by the timidity and jealousy of "the first people in this country, it is clear that any injudicious or offensive "measure may be prevented, but that any attempt to conciliate the minds of "this nation to any such measure as I intimated the hope of, would at this "moment be delusive and impossible."

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His speech was as follows: 1 Parl. Deb. p. 371. "I beg leave to con"gratulate this country. We have at last got the freedom which all the world "should have: it is our birth-right; but in our meridian there is no life with"out it; our existence now begins, and will depend upon what use we make of "the population and wealth that will result from the advantages of a free con"stitution.

"I will beg leave to congratulate England: instead of a nominal, or a repugnant dependent, she has now a powerful faithful ally, one that she can never "exist without.

"I will beg leave to congratulate his majesty: he has conciliated three "millions of such subjects as must make him happy; men willing to be loyal, "as they are determined to be free.

"I will congratulate his ministers also: they may now depend upon such "support as they ought always to look for. And to whom does the empire "owe all this? To a man principally, who is resolved to take no reward from "government. I will not pretend to say he was wrong, though I know that such merit ought to be distinguished in every manner possible. Shall every "body have what they ought to have, except him alone, to whom every indi"vidual in this empire is so much indebted, and by whose example every indi"vidual in the universe may be so much benefited? He has saved this empire from an iron age, and has restored an unequivocal golden one. By our affec"tionate alliance with England we shall not only be benefited ourselves, but "shall see a beloved sister revive, without any painful repining, or apprehen"sions for her prosperity.

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"In these happy circumstances, in which he has placed us (though I honour "every private compliment as I may call those that I see paid to our illustrious

fortune, a steady and true patriot, and whose genius like his country owed more to nature than to art or cultivation, rose, and after congratulating his country, Great Britain, his majesty, and his ministers, for having obtained the greatest of all political blessings, he called upon the house to confer some signal mark of a great and grateful nation upon their illustrious benefactor Mr. Grattan, whose efforts in procuring them these blessings had been timed and conducted with so much wisdom; and considering this great and good man as the father of his regenerated country, he further called upon them to look upon him as the special in

"benefactor) I believe there is no man that would not blush to think that a Grattan's child might point at a statue or monument, that has often been dedi"cated to slender or problematical merit, and say, that was my father's, your "benefactor's only reward. I have therefore a motion to make you, which "might appear like presumption in me, as it is of so much importance to the "glory and interests of this kingdom, if I could suppose that any member of "the British empire could give it a negative: the purport of it is, that we "should take into consideration what sum we should grant for the purpose of "purchasing a seat, and building a suitable mansion for our great benefactor, "in testimony of our gratitude for the unequalled services that he has done for "this kingdom. Were we to omit this, or should we do it in a manner unsuit"able to the situation he has raised us to, we should be very ungrateful indeed, "and never might we expect, that a blessing could attend it.

"It must be needless to say any thing in favour of such a measure, or I would "not dare to be the mover of it. I will only add, that as he has left nothing "undone that is material to the prosperity of this kingdom, it can no more lay "a precedent for hurtful grants of the same nature here, than Blenheim did

"in Great Britain.

"Far be it from me to compare even the services of Marlborough to those "for which we stand indebted; we have no deductions to make from our gra"titude: without protracting, or any public expense, his efforts have been "timed and conducted with so much wisdom, and the appearance of such a "being on earth was so essential to the establishment of liberty at this most "critical juncture, chat without superstition, men may well record him amongst "the most propitious interpositions of Heaven.

"He has crowned his work, and under his auspices the throne of freedom " is fixed upon so certain a basis, and will probably be always so well supported "by the due influence the public are likely to acquire under his system, that with the blessing of God, there is no danger of parliament itself ever being "able to shake it; nor shall parliament I trust, ever again be profanely styled "omnipotent. I am conscious I must have anticipated men infinitely better "qualified to bring such a measure forward; one excuse I have; for it is not "the impatient wish, that every body must have to see such a character ex"alted; not any little vanity to distinguish myself; but as I never had any pri"vate acquaintance, nor private conversation with our great benefactor, I "thought it might come as well from one from whom he could not have any "claim, as from the most distinguished personage, that he is intimate with.

"Virtue, to be sure is its own reward; and we know that our generous be"nefactor is in his own sphere of happiness, content. But shall we be content "without doing our duty? shall we be ungrateful? God forbid!

"Gratitude seems to be a virtue peculiarly adapted to nations that have "received such benefits as ours. It is often neglected by individuals, because "it is often out of their power to be as grateful as they wish; we, I trust, shall "never have such another opportunity of exercising ours. God forbid we "should let it slip."

strument which benign providence had used to convert the oppression and bondage of their country into freedom and independence. He therefore gave notice, that on the morrow, after the grant to his majesty should have been settled, and a proper thanksgiving offered to Heaven for the recovery of their rights, he would move, that the house should resolve itself into a committee to take into consideration what sum they should grant for the purchasing an estate, and building a suitable mansion for their illustrious benefactor Henry Grattan, Esq. and his heirs for ever, in testimony of their gratitude for the unequalled service he had done for the kingdom of Ireland: which was afterwards fixed at the sum of 50,000%* in the committee, which resolution the house unanimously agreed to, and resolved, that an address should be presented to the lord lieutenant, that he would be pleased to lay before his majesty, the humble desire of that house, that he would direct that sum to be laid out in the purchase of lands in the kingdom of Ireland, to be settled on Henry Grattan, Esq. and his heirs, in testimony of the gratitude of that nation for his eminent and unequalled services to that kingdom, and that the house would make good the same.

Now for the first time might it be truly said did the Castle speak the real, genuine, undisguised language of the Irish people: such was happily to be read in the proclamation issued by the lord lieutenant in consequence of the address of the commons on the 29th of May, 1782, that he would be pleased to order a proclamation to be issued for appointing a day of general thanksgiving throughout this nation, to return thanks to the Almighty God, for the many blessings bestowed on the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, particularly for that union, harmony, and cordial affection, which had been happily brought about between these two kingdoms, whose interests were inseparably the same; by the wisdom and justice of his majesty and his councils in forming and re-establishing their mutual rights, by which the strength, honour, happiness, and glory of the whole empire were greatly augmented; and for the providential and great success of his majesty's arms against their natural enemies, which they trusted would tend to bring about a happy, stable, and lasting general peace to these kingdoms.

Thus publicly and universally were expressed the joy and congratulation of the nation: and for the moment, happiness pervaded every corner of the kingdom. But it appears, as if it had been written in the book of fate, that the felicity of Ireland, whilst independent and separate from Great Britain, should be short-lived, precarious, and unstable. Ere the rejoicings of the people were

* Viz. on 27th May, 1782. 9 Journ. Com. p. 357.

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