erted himself so powerfully in favour of administration, that the voice of opposition in parliament was almost entirely silenced. The difficulties, however, under which the whole nation laboured, began now to be so severely felt, that an address on the subject was presented by the commons to his excellency. In this they told him, that they hoped he would lay before his majesty the state of Ireland, restricted in its commerce from the short-sighted policy of former times, to the great injury of the kingdom, and the advantage of the rivals, if not of the enemies, of Great Britain. These hardships, they said, were not only impolitie, but unjust; and they told his excellency plainly, that they expected to be restored to some, if not to all their rights, which alone could justify them to their consu stituents for laying upon them so many burdens during the course of this session.

Y

This representation to the lord lieutenant produced

no effect; and Ireland for some years longer continued

to groan under the burden of intolerable restrictions. qu Jude well 20

These had principally taken place in the reign of Charles II. At this time it was enacted, that beef or live cattle should not be exported to England; neither were the commodities of Ireland to be exported to the

American colonies, nor American goods to be imported to any port in Ireland without first unloading them in some part of England or Wales. All trade with Asia was excluded by charters granted to particular companies; and restrictions were imposed upou almost every valuable article of commerce sent to the different ports of Europe. Towards the end of king William's reign, an absolute prohibition was laid on the exportation of Irish wool. This restriction proved disadvantageous not only to Ireland, but to Great Britain herself. By smuggling, the French were plentifully supplied with Irish wool; and not only enabled to furnish woollen stuffs sufficient for their own consumption, but even to vie with the British in the foreign markets. Other restrictions conspired to augment the national calamity; but that which was most sensibly felt, took place in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six. "There had hitherto (says Mr. "Crawford) been exported annually to America large "quantities of Irish linens: this very considerable "source of national advantage was now shut up, un❝der pretence of rendering it more difficult for the 66 enemy to be supplied with the means of subsistence; "but in reality, to enable a few rapacious English “contractors to fulfil their engagements, an embargo

"which continued, was laid upon the exportation of

66

provisions from Ireland, by an unconstitutional Remittances to England,

1

"stretch of prerogative.

on various accounts, particularly for the payment of 66 our forces abroad, were more than usually consider"able. These immediate causes being combined with "those which were invariable and permanent, produc"ed in this country very calamitous effects. Black "cattle fell very considerably in their value; notwith

standing there were no buyers. The price of wool "was reduced in a still greater proportion. Rents fell "every where; nor in many places was it possible to "collect them. An universal stagnation of business

66

ensued. Credit was very materially injured. Far66 mers were pressed by extreme necessity, and many "of them became insolvent. Numbers of maurufac"turers were reduced to beggary, and would have perished, had they not been supported by public 66 charity. Those of every rank and condition were "deeply affected by the calamity of the times. "the state of the exchequer permitted, grants migh "have been made to promote industry, and to allevi "ate the national distress; but it was exhausted to

Had

66

very uncommon degree.

Almost every branch

money th

"the revenue had failed. From want of

"militia law could not be carried into execution. We "could not pay our forces abroad; and to enable us "to pay those at home, there was a necessity of bor

S6

rowing fifty thousand pounds from England. The 66 money which parliament was forced to raise, it was

66

obliged to borrow at an exorbitant interest. Eng"land, in its present state, was affected with the "wretched condition to which our affairs were reduced. "Individuals there, who had estates in Ireland, were "sharers of the common calamity; and the attention “of individuals in the British parliament was turned "to our situation, who had even no personal interest "in this country."

CHAP. IX.

WHILE things were in this deplorable situation, earl Nugent, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, undertook the cause of the Irish, by anoving in parliament, that their affairs should be taken into consideration by a committee of the whole house., This motion being agreed to almost unanimously, it was followed by several others, viz. That the Irish might be permitted to export directly to the British plantations, or to the settlements on the coasts of Africa, all goods being the produce and manufacture of the kingdom, excepting only wool, or woollen manufactures, &c. That all goods, being the produce of any of the British plantations, or of the settlements on the coast of Africa, tobacco excepted, be allowed to be imported directly from Ireland to all places, except Britain. That glass manufactured in Ireland be