Administration of Earl Temple.

1782. To the Rockingham administration * did Ireland owe Lord Temher independence in 1782. In this, Lord Shelburne ple selected had taken a prominent part. Having, however, upon to govern Lord Rockingham's death contrived to be placed at the Ireland. head of the administration, he selected Earl Temple

1782.

Earl Temple begins to reform the departments of government.

as the fittest porson to undertake the government of independent Ireland. He had intermarried with the only child of Earl Nugent, who had been brought up in the religion of her ancestors, and upon whom her father had on the marriage settled the bulk of his large domains in Ireland. Lord Nugent had on every occasion, both in public and private, proved himself a sincere and warm lover of his country. The gratitude of the Irish to his son-in-law, the character and accomplishments of the new viceroy, and the virtues of his amiable consort, all tended to ensure him a most cordial welcome. He succeeded the Duke of Portland, who remained to finish the business of the session, on the 15th of September, 1782, and was received with public expressions of joy and satisfaction.

During the short period of Lord Temple's continuance in the government of Ireland, his chief attention appears to have been directed to the establishment of a system of economy throughout the different departments; a reformation supereminently necessary. The

have been formed during the present reign. They have never been called in, but on desperate emergencies. Their refusal to bend their principles to general commands, or some unconditional pledge, has constantly furnished a pretence for their quick removal.

*The late Earl Nugent had been educated in the Roman Catholic religion; he conformed to the established religion in his youth, and some few years before his death, he returned to that, which he had abandoned.

Anscrica

short-lived administration of Lord Shelburne, of 1782. which Lord Temple was a principal support, determined his viceregency on the 3d of June, 1783. He was in power.long enough to have brought upon him- . self the resentful opposition of all the subaltern dependants upon the Castle, who dreaded a scrutiny into their abuses; and not long enough for the nation to have felt the happy effects of so laudable an investigation.

During the Rockingham administration a termination Peace with was put to the contest between Great Britain and the American colonies by a resolution of the British house of commons in February, 1782, to address his majesty against the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, and for the restoration of the blessings of peace; which was concluded by Lord Shelburne's administration. The solemn termination of this unfortunate war spread joy through the Irish nation, and reconciled it in part to the sudden change of that adıninistration, under which they had obtained their independence. The questions of simple repeal and positive declaration or renunciation of rights was kept up by the armed bodies of volunteers with greater heat, than they had been agitated in parliament.

On the 19th of December, 1782, in the British Proceedhouse of commons, Colonel Fitzpatrick called the at- Britstopada tention of government to a circumstance, which had given alarm to the people of Ireland: the decision of an Irish cause in the court of King's Bench in England, notwithstanding the declaration of Irish inde

1783. pendence had put an end to all appeals. Mr. Secre

tary Townshend explained this to have arisen from the cause having been in the court for eighteen months, and the judges were bound to decide upon it. The question of renunciation or simple repeal was frequently spoken to in the house. On the 22d of January, 1783*, Mr. Secretary Townshend brought the business of Ireland before the house of commons, under the greatest anxiety to give Ireland

, every satisfaction, that justice demanded, and was consistent with the dignity of Great Britain. He wished, that his motion might pass unanimously, that the people of Ireland might see, that England meant fairly, when she set out by removing the causes of their jealousies and discontents. He then moved for leave to bring in a bill For removing and prerenting all doubts, which have arisen, or may arise, concerning the exclusive rights of the parliament and courts of Ireland in matters of legislation and judicature, and for preventing any writ of error, or appeal, from any of his majesty's courts in that kingdom, from being received, heard, and adjudged, in any of his majesty's courts in the kingdom of Great Britain t. Mr. W. Grenville | (Secretary to Lord Temple) seconded the motion; he rejoiced that government had brought on

l the business ; he would not say how jealousies had been excited in Ireland, but jealousies did exist there;

tion adini.

and the late transaction in the court of King's Bench 1783. in England, had in no small degree contributed to spread them wider. He meant not to impeach the measures or intention of those gentlemen, who had managed the business last session on the part of Ireland. Lord Beauchamp was the most strenuous in the house for the inefficacy of the simple repeal. Colonel Fitzpatrick and Mr. Fox would not object to the Secretary's motion, although they saw no necessity for the bill, it was therefore moved for and carried unanimously.

In the discussion of the preliminary articles of The coalipeace, which were announced by Mr. Secretary Towns- nistration. hend on the 23d of January, 1783, was formed the memorable coalition between Lord North and Mr. Fox. Several of the friends of both these gentlemen vehemently reprobated the terms of Lord Shelburne's peace. They had violently opposed each other on the question of the American war: but that being now ser to rest, they found no longer any grounds of difference, and therefore united for the common good of their country. On the 22d of February, the coalesced parties

. brought all their forces to bear upon the ministry. After a heated debate, they carried by a majority of 17 the following question*: " That the concessions made to the