advantages of her southern ports, her command of St. George's Channel, the supplies of her sailors, and provisions in time of war, her consumption of our manufactures and imports in time of peace, the manhood, intrepidity, and perseverance of her inhabitants, aids which a voluptuous empire always required, and could not exist without. There were those he knew, who counted much upon her proximity and her divisions. She was too near, not to be most dear to us, and their lordships might believe, not so mutable upon national points as ourselves. He spoke not to intimidate, but to inform. All he hoped most ardently was, that we might give enough to engage the affections and cordiality of our sister kingdom; not to attempt a bargain parsimonious and equivocal. He knew the generous and manly sentiments of that country were such, as would engage them to make a common cause, and admit of no future distinctions. If he had expressed any degree of preference for Ireland, he begged their lordships would impute it to the veneration he bore it, and the obligation he owed for their partiality to his failings; he was naturally, he hoped, the advocate of the oppressed and meritorious; he knew the Irish to be generous and untemporizing friends, and who disdained to be behind hand in reciprocity. On the 19th of July, 1785, after a long debate a division took place in the House of Lords, when there were 84 for the resolutions, and 30 against them.

On the same day the resolutions were sent from the Lords to the Commons, where, after a very warm debate, the amendments made by the Lords were agreed to: afterwards Mr. Pitt brought in a bill to the House of Commons founded upon them, which was read a first time on the second of August: and was followed up by an address to his majesty, voted by both houses of parliament, wherein they acquainted him with what they had done, and that it remained for the parliament of Ireland to judge and decide thereupon. On the 12th of August Mr. Secretary Orde moved the house for leave to bring in a bill, which was a mere transcript of that moved by the English minister. The debates on this occasion, and more especially on the side of opposition, were long and animated. Whatever had the least appearance

The following protest was entered on the Journals "Dissentient, because we conceive the plan contained in the report, as well from the manner, in which it has been introduced and conducted, as from the matter which it contains, to be likely to create and promote jealousy and dissatisfaction throughout the kingdom.

In order to give the reader full information upon this important part of the modern history of Ireland, the debate on Mr. Pitt's bill is given in the Appendix, No. LXXV. together with the address to the king, and his majesty's

answer.

of infringing on the legislative independency of Ireland, was marked and stigmatized in terms of the utmost indignation and contempt. The perpetual disposition of her hereditary revenue by the last proposition, the surrender of her commercial legislation by the fourth, the restraint imposed on her from trading beyond the Cape of Good Hope, and the Straits of Magellan by the ninth, were put in every point of view, in which reason and eloquence could render them impressive and convincing. On this side of the question, Mr. Grattan* and Mr. Flood were not only supported by the regular body of opposition, which amounted to more than threescore, but were also joined by all from the treasury bench, who set up any pretension to independence.

In favour of the bill it was urged by Mr. Fitzgibbon, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Foster, that the fourth proposition, which had excited so much jealousy and alarm, could not on any fair construction be said to take from Ireland her right of commercial legislation, any more than the acts passed in 1779 and 1782 had done before; in those Ireland had stipulated to trade with the British colonies and settlements in such manner as Great Britain herself traded, to impose the like duties, and to adopt the same restrictions and regulations. That in the bill before them, it was proposed to trade with Great Britain on the same principle; the liberty of either complying with the conditions, or renouncing the agreement in toto, whenever the conditions should become obnoxious and unsatisfactory, would be left by the present bill full as much in the power of the Irish parlia ment, as it was by either of the foregoing acts. The difference only was, that by the former acts Ireland had subscribed to the commercial laws, which had been adopted by Great Britain for 290 years back; by the present, to such as that country should bind itself to in future; but that it would be still in the power of the Irish parliament to renounce these laws, and the whole agreement together, whenever she thought proper. On the other hand, the commercial advantages offered to Ireland by the bill were stated to be very important; the linen trade was thereby secured to her for ever, the colony trade through Ireland to Great Britain was given her, the British markets were thrown open to Irish manufactures, and again, as these manufactures, were allowed to be re-exported from Great Britain, with a drawback of all duties, the Irish would, in effect, export on the foundation of British capital, at the same time, that they were left to employ their own capital in the extension of their home manufactures.

The speech of Mr. Grattan is given in the Appendix No. LXXVI. not only as comprehending all that could be said upon this suject, but as a speci men of the sublimest oratory.

After a vehement debate, which lasted 18 hours, the house divided at nine in the morning upon the motion of Mr. Orde for leave to bring in the bill, ayes 127, noes 108. Such a division in the first stage of the business was equivalent to a defeat; and on the Monday following (15th of August) Mr. Orde moved the first reading of the bill, and the printing it; declaring that he did not intend to make any further progress in the. business during the present session. He had completed his duty respecting it. If it were revived, it must be by a motion from the public, who at the commencement of the ensuing session might take such further steps as they should think proper.

In order to preclude a motion of censure framed by Mr. Flood, the secretary then moved an adjournment; and Mr. Flood consenting, not without difficulty, to wave his motion, the adjournment was carried without a division. Public illuminations testified the joy excited by the sudden termination of this extraordinary business, which thus ended to the great disappointment of the ministry in both kingdoms.

On the 15th of August, when the bill was presented and ordered to be printed, Mr. Flood proposed the following resolution to the house...." Resolved, That we hold ourselves

In the carly part of this debate Mr. Curran gave the following picturesque view of the last important debate. (5 Par. Deb. p. 453) He expressed the effusions of his joy upon the victory his country had obtained. He said he would support the resolution proposed by the honourable member, because he thought it necessary to declare to the people, that their rights had not been solely supported by 110 independent gentlemen, but that if eight or ten of them had been absent, then those who had countenanced the measure, would have abandoned every idea of prosecuting it further. He rejoiced that the cloud, which had loured over them, had passed away, and he declared he bad no intention to wound the feelings of the minister, by triumphing in his defeat; on the contrary, he might be said to rise with some degree of self-denial, when he gave to others an opportunity of exulting in the victory. The opposition in England had thrown many impediments in the way, but he would remember with gratitude, that the opposition there had supported the liberties of Ireland. When he saw them reprobating the attacks made upon the trial by jury; when he saw them supporting the legislative rights of Ireland, he could not refrain from giving them his applause. They well knew that an invasion of the liberty of Ireland would tend to an attack upon their own. The principle of liberty, thank heaven, still continued in those countries, that principle, which had stained the fields of Marathon, stood in the pass to Thermopyle, and gave to America independence. Happy it was for Ireland, that she had recovered her rights by victory, not stained with blood, not a victory bathed in the tears of a mother, a sister or a wife, not a victory hanging over the grave of a Warren or a Montgomery, and uncertain whether to triumph in what she had gained, or to mourn over what she had lost. The bill was at an end, the cloud that had been collecting so long, and threatening to break in tempest and ruinen their heads, had passed harmless away. The siege that was drawn round the constitution was raised, and the enemy was gone Juvaɛ ire et Darica castra, and they might now go abroad without fear, and trace the dangers they had escaped; here was drawn the line of circumvallation,

"bound not to enter into engagement to give up the sole and "exclusive right of the parliament of Ireland in all cases what"ever, as well externally as commercially and internally." The secretary evaded it by a motion for adjournment to the 5th of September, in order to give time to print, read and digest the bill: Which was carried by a very great majority. Although Mr. Flood had consented to withdraw his resolution, the debate was kept up in a very turbulent manner for three or four hours longer. Mr. Flood said, he had never heard more mischievous and inflammatory language, or more folly than on that evening. He was called to order by Mr. Foster and Mr. Fitzgibbon, who were prominently conspicuous in favour of the propositions : between whom and the patriotic orator many severe personalities passed. When the house met, pursuant to the late adjournment on the 5th of February, Mr. Pery gave in his resignation of the chair, which he had filled for fourteen years. Mr. Foster was unanimously elected speaker in his lieu, and was on the same day presented at the bar of the Lords, and approved of by the lord lieutenant. After the return of the speaker and the Commons, to their own House, Mr. Daly observed, that the conduct of the late speaker had been highly honourable to himself, and advantageous to the nation, conferring dignity upon the house, and drawing reverence to its proceedings; it was, therefore, incumbent on the House to attend his retreat with 'every mark of respect, to demonstrate in what high estimation they held integrity, wisdom and moderation, and to prove that turbulence or meanness were not the only roads to preferment: he therefore moved, "That the thanks of this House should be "given to the Right Honourable Edmond Sexton Pery, for his 66 constant and unwearied attendance in the chair during the course of above fourteen years in three successive parlia"ments; for the unshaken integrity and steady impartiality "of his conduct there, and for the indefatigable pains and un"common abilities, with which he has constantly exerted him"self to promote the real interest of his country, and to main

tain the honour and dignity of parliament, and to preserve "inviolable the rights and privileges of the Commons of Ire"land."

that cut them off for ever from the eastern world; and there the corresponding one, that inclosed them from the west. Nor, let us, said he, forget in our exultation to whom we are indebted for the deliverance. Here stood the trusty mariner (Mr. Conolly) on his old station the mast head, and gave the signal. Here (Mr. Flood) all the wisdom of the state was collected, exploring your weakness and your strength, detecting every ambuscade, and pointing to the hidden battery, that was brought to bear on the shrine of freedom. And there (Mr. Grattan) was exerting an eloquence more than human, inspiring, ferming, directing, animating to the great purposes of your salvation.

Which being passed unanimously in the affirmative, he moved,

"That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, most "humbly to beseech his Majesty, that he would be graciously "pleased to confer some signal mark of favour upon the Right "Honourable Edmond Sexton Pery, late speaker of this House, "for his great and eminent services performed to that country, "and the distinguished ability and integrity with which he had "presided in the chair of that House; and to assure his Majesty, "that whatever expence his Majesty should think proper to be "incurred upon that account, that House would make good the "same to his Majesty."

Which likewise passed unanimously in the affirmative; and then Lord Headford moved that a committee should be ap pointed to draw up an address to his grace the lord lieutenant for his wise and prudent administration. On the next day Lord Headford reported from the committee appointed to draw up an address of thanks to his grace the lord lieutenant for his wise and prudent administration, that they had drawn up the following address.

"To his Grace Charles, Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant "General and General Governor of Ireland, the humble "address of the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, in Par"liament assembled.

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,

"We his majesty's most dutiful and loyal "subjects, the Commons of Ireland in parliament assembled, "beg leave humbly to express to your grace, with unaffected "warmth, the satisfaction which we feel in every opportunity "of testifying our respect for your person, and our attachment "to your government. We cannot reflect upon your grace's "constant attention to the happiness and welfare of this king"dom, without grateful acknowledgments to his majesty, that "his majesty has been pleased to give us so acceptable a proof "of his royal favour, as the continuing your grace in the go"vernment of Ireland. The generous humanity of disposition, "and high sense of honour, which distinguish your grace's private character, have in conjunction with your hereditary spirit "and firmness, endeared you to the nation, by their happy in"fluence on your public conduct.

"We humbly desire your grace to accept our sincere thanks "for those exertions, which in consequence of our unanimous "address, and in obedience to his majesty's commands, your grace employed, during the last interval between our sessions,