CHAP. 1784. Passed. 18th. Prorogation. 20th. British constitution, that treason was a crime which went so directly to the foundation of the government, that nothing was adequate in punishment, but the total eradication of the person, his name and family, out of that society which he had attempted to endanger and wound to the heart. Fuit hæc sapientia quondam! That was the wisdom of former times; that was the rule of policy laid down, and invariably adopted. He also expressed disapprobation of the manner in which the money to be refunded by the restored landholders was to be applied, denying that the objects could be considered as public; and, in this part of the argument, shewed an exact knowledge, in all particulars, of the proposed canal. But he desired that what he had said might be considered as his thoughts, and not as his objections: should the bill go into a committee, he would absent himself from the House and give no further trouble. As this speech was not followed by any motion, a few explanations only were offered by the Earl of Dunmore and Lord Sydney, and the bill passed without delay. Two days afterwards, the King prorogued Parliament, expressing a hope that, after so laborious a session, it would not be found necessary to convoke them again at a very early period. 141 CHAPTER THE FIFTY-EIGHTH. 1783-1785. State of Ireland.-Volunteers.-Temporary tranquillity.- In- - CHAP. 1783. State of Ireland. 1782. Volunteers. 1783. Temporary tranquillity. March 7th. Opposition prepared — displayed in Parliamant-violent speeches. Mr. Orde moves to bring in the bill.-Speech of Mr. Grattan. Small majority for government.-The measure abandoned—rejoicings.—Mr. Flood's motion- resignation of the Speaker-succeeded by Mr. Foster.-Address to the Lord Lieutenant.-Session of the English Parliament. Debate on the address.--Westminster scrutiny.-Counsel refuse to address the House.-Motion.-Growing distaste to the inquiry-its termination.—Mr. Fox's motion.-Bill for regulations of polls and scrutinies.-Mr. Fox recovers damages from the High Bailiff (n).—Mr. Pitt's motion for Parliamentary Reform-efforts to create a feeling in the public.—Mr. Pitt's speech.-Mr. Powys's.-Lord North. Mr. Fox.-Mr. Burke.-Mr. Bankes.-Motion rejected. Observations.-Measures of finance.-Mr. Pitt's motion for regulation of public offices.-Bills passed.-Taxes.End of the session. MUCH were they deceived who expected that the concessions made by the Rockingham administration would give content to the people of Ireland, or create perfect amity and mutual confidence. It could not be overlooked by the Irish that the boon they received was wrenched from the enfeebled hand of Great Britain by the influence of an armed body of volunteers, strongly imbued with the spirit of reform and resistance. The delegates who assembled at Dungannon represented about one hundred thousand armed men, and spoke with an assurance of support from them, when they declared their right to debate and pass resolutions, and the absolute independence of their legislature on that of Great Britain. The year in which peace was established presented, in its early months, no topics for hostile or acrimonious discussion. On the dismissal of Lord Shelburne's administration, the Corporation of Dublin, in an affectionate address to Lord Temple, the Lord Lieutenant, who was about to retire, treated the present position of their country as in the highest degree satisfactory. 66 "All nations," they said, "have experienced a period "of exaltation as well as of depression. From an illjudging policy, this kingdom has felt the latter; from "the well-timed and liberal sentiments which prevail, "it is likely to attain the former*." CHAP. LVIII. Patrick. The national pride was soothed by the formation Order of St. of a new Order, named, after the tutelar protector of the country, Knights of the most illustrious Order of St. Patrick. Of these, the King was always to be sovereign, and the Lord Lieutenant for the time being Grand Master; and, except two princes of the blood, the knights companions were of the highest rank and best families in Ireland; their Chancellor, the Archbishop of Dublin, and the Dean of Saint Patrick their Secretary. They were privately invested at 11th. the Castle, before the Lord Lieutenant; but their installation was performed, with great solemnity and 17th. splendour, on the day devoted to their patron-saint†. Geneva pro Another subject, not without interest to the Irish April. nation, although of small importance in the general Colony from view of history, engaged its share of attention during jected. the summer. In consequence of disagreements in the state of Geneva, a number of citizens determined to quit their native land, and deputed commissioners to open a negotiation for their establishment in Ireland, as a colony. Great hopes were entertained of advantages to be derived from the accession of this body of Protestant republicans to our dominion; and it was proposed to advance fifty thousand pounds, and to assign them, as a territory, a tract of crown land in the county of Waterford, near the confluence of the rivers on Barrow and Sair, then called Passage; but if the colony were established, it was to receive the name of New Geneva. Little progress was made in the negotiation; for the emigrants having insisted on being represented in Parliament, and, at the same time, go- The scheme verned by their own laws, their proposal was deemed fails. See Annual Register, vol. xxvi. p. 354. Seward's Collectanea Politica, vol. i. p. 323; Gordon's History of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 286; and almost all the periodical works of the time. CHAP. 1784. New Lord Lieutenant. June 3rd. General election. inadmissible. A few individuals attempted to settle, but soon abandoned their enterprise*. Lord Northington was the successor of Earl Temple. A dissolution of Parliament was shortly to take place, and the ferment of politics was even more violent in Ireland than in England. The volunteers, now an active and uncontrolled deliberative body in the state, assumed the power of publishing decisive opinions on many high and important subjects, and principally Parliamentary reform, declaring that it would be disgraceful to lay down their arms while with them they could hope to assure any benefit to their country. To themselves, and not to the legislature, they attributed the late concessions of the British government, and now, following the example of the reformers in Yorksire, they deputed delegates, formed committees, and entered into correspondence with persons in England most conPretensions of spicuous for their endeavours to alter the constitution the volunteers. of Parliament. The delegates from forty-five companies of the province of Ulster assembled at Lisburne; Colonel Sharman was their president; and they resolved that a general meeting of volunteer delegates should be held at Dungannon on the subject of a more equal representation of the peoplet. Delegates. July 1st. Meeting at Efforts of the England. Plan of Mr. If these measures of the volunteers appear bold Reformers in and striking, they were amply supported by the Reformers in England. Beside the avowed public resolutions of meetings held in the county of York, the city of London, and other places, individuals of known activity and influence entered into communication with them. Some differences existed in their practical opinions; but they all wrote in terms calculated to inspire confidence in the volunteers. The Reverend Christopher Wyvill, chairman of the Committee of Association in Yorkshire, and a most active promoter of the cause of Reform, in answer to questions submitted to him, deprecated universal suffrage, but recommended an extension of the right of voting to all who * Seward's Collectanea, vol. i. p. 328. Gordon. vol. ii, p. 286. |