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degenerate members of the communion, wrought upon by corrup tion or by fear, and unfortunately it was received with a too general credulity. Every Union pamphlet, every Union speech impudently put forth the Catholic name as sanctioning a measure, which would annihilate the name of the country, and there was none to refute the calumny. In the speeches and pamphlets of Anti-unionists, it was rather admitted than denied, and at length the Catholics themselves were obliged to break through a resolution which they had formed, in order to guard against misrepresentation, for the purpose of repelling this worst of misrepre sentations. To refute a calumny directed against them as a sect, they were obliged to come forward as a sect, and in the face of their country to disavow the base conduct imputed to them, and to declare that the assertion of their being favourably inclined to the measure of a legislative incorporation with Great Britain, was a slander the most vile; a libel the most false, scandalous and wicked, that ever was directed against the character of an individual or a people.

"Sir," continued Mr. O'Connel," it is my sentiment, and I am satisfied it is the sentiment, not only of every gentleman who now hears me, but of the Catholic people of Ireland, that if our opposition to this injurious, insulting, and hated measure of Union were to draw upon us the revival of the penal laws, we would boldly meet a proscription and oppression, which would be the testimonies of our virtue, and sooner throw ourselves once more on the mercy of our Protestant brethren, than give our assent to the political murder of our country; yes, I know-I do know, that although exclusive advantages may be ambiguously held forth to the Irish Catholic to seduce him from the sacred duty which he owes his country; I know that the Catholics of Ireland still remember, that they have a country, and that they will never accept of any advantages as a sect, which would debase and destroy thom as a people."

After which Mr. O'Connel moved the resolutions inserted in the newspaper, which were unanimously agreed to.*

* "Royal Exchange, Dublin, January 13, 1800. "At a numerous and respectable meeting of the Roman Catholics of the "city of Dublin, convened pursuant to public notice.

AMBROSE MOORE, Esq. in the Chair.

"Resolved, That we are of opinion that the proposed incorporate Union of "the legislature of Great Britain and Ireland, is in fact an extinction of the li"berty of this country, which would be reduced to the abject condition of a "province, surrendered to the mercy of the minister and legislature of another "country, to be bound by the absolute will and taxed at their pleasure by laws, "in the making of which this country could have no efficient participation "whatsoever.

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The lord lieutenant had every reason to be satisfied with the success of his tour through the kingdom during the course of the summer. The great odium and horror of the measure had abated in most places, and in many those who had at first shewn themselves against it, had now become warm advocates in its faIf it had not become generally popular, it had ceased at least to be generally unpopular. Active preparations were made to meet the parliament, which was to open on the 15th of January. In the mean while many new members had been chosen in lieu of others, who had retired upon terms. Mr. Grattan had been elected for the borough of Wicklow on the death of Mr. Gahan deceased, and was sworn in on the 15th, being the first day of the meeting of the last parliament of Ireland. The lord lieutenant' made a long speech from the throne, which avoided any mention of or reference to the Union.* Lord vis

"Resolved, That we are of opinion that the improvement of Ireland for the "last twenty years, so rapid beyond example, is to be ascribed wholly to the "independency of our legislature, so gloriously asserted in the year 1782, by "the virtue of our parliament co-operating with the generous recommendation "of our most gracious and benevolent sovereign, and backed by the spirit of " our people, and so solemnly ratified by both kingdoms as the only true and permanent foundation of Irish prosperity and British connexion.

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"Resolved, That we are of opinion, that if the independency should ever be "surrendered, we must as rapidly relapse into our former depression and misery and that Ireland must inevitably lose with her liberty, all that she has "acquired in wealth and industry and civilization.

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"Resolved, That we are firmly convinced that the supposed advantages of "such a surrender, are unreal and delusive, and can never arise in fact; and "that even if they should arise, they would be only the bounty of the master to "the slave, held by his courtesy, and resumeable at his pleasure.

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"Resolved, That having heretofore determined not to come forward any more in the distinct character of Catholics, but to consider our claims and "our cause not as those of a sect, but as involved in the general fate of our "country, that we now think it right, notwithstanding such determination, to "publish the present resolutions, in order to undeceive our fellow-subjects, "who may have been led to believe by a false representation, that we are capa "ble of giving any concurrence whatsoever to so foul and fatal a project: to "assure them that we are incapable of sacrificing our common country to either "pique or pretension; and that we are of opinion that this deadly attack upon "the nation is the great call of nature, of country, and posterity, upon Irish"men of all descriptions and persuasions, to every constitutional and legal re"sistance; and that we sacredly pledge ourselves to persevere in obedience to "that call as long as we have life.

"6 Signed by order,

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"JAMES RYAN, Sec."

"I HAVE received his majesty's commands to assemble you in

"parliament. "Upon a review of the important and glorious events that have distinguished "the period which has elapsed since I last addressed you, the most gratifying "and encouraging reflections present themselves to our consideration.

"By the brilliant course of victories achieved by the combined imperial ar"mies, the various kingdoms and states of Italy have been delivered from the "ravages and tyranny of the French.

count Loftus moved the address, and was seconded by colonel Crosbie. His lordship hinted only in oblique terms at the measure of Union, by observing that after his majesty had rallied and inspired his continental allies with a glorious spirit and persever

"The throne of Naples, and our friendly connexions with that kingdom, "have been restored.

"The French expedition to Egypt has been checked in its career by the ex"ertions of the Turkish arms, assisted by a small detachment of his majesty's "forces, and the gallantry of their heroic commander.

"The hostile plans of the common enemy in India have terminated in the "total destruction of the power which had been misled by their artifices, and "through the timely, vigorous, and decisive counsels of the marquis Welles"ley, and the consummate skill and valour of his majesty's generals, officers "and troops, the British possessions in that quarter of the Globe have been "beneficially extended and effectually secured.

"By the descent of his majesty's forces and of his Russian allies on the coast "of Holland, the Dutch fleet has been happily rescued from the power of the "enemy; and although the season, peculiarly unfavourable to military opera"tions, produced the necessity of relinquishing an enterprise so fortunately "begun, and prevented the complete accomplishment of his majesty's views, "yet the result of that expedition has been peculiarly beneficial to this king. "dom, in removing all fear of attack on our coasts from a quarter whence it had "been so often planned, and enabling his majesty's fleets to direct their vigilance "exclusively to the single port, from which the enemy can attack this coun"try with any hope even of a temporary success.

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"My utmost care has been exerted to carry into execution the extraordinary powers, which you have committed to my discretion with vigor, and at the same "time with moderation; all tendency to insurrection has been effectually re"pressed but it gives me true concern to acquaint you, that the painful ne"cessity of acting with severity has been to frequently imposed upon me; and "although public tranquillity has been in a great measure restored, yet I have "to lament that disposition to outrage and conspiracy still continues in several "districts, that much industry is used to keep alive the spirit of disaffection, "and to encourage among the lower classes the hopes of French assistance.

"I trust the recent revolution in France cannot fail to open the eyes of such "of his majesty's subjects, as have been deluded by the artifices, which have "been unremittingly employed to withdraw them from their allegiance, and "that it will restore and increase the love of constitutional order and of regu"lated freedom, by demonstrating that the principles of false liberty tend ul"timately to despotism, and that the criminal struggles of democratic faction "naturally close in military usurpation,

"So long as the French government, under whatever form it exerts its in"fluence, shall persevere in schemes of destruction and projects of ambition, "subversive at once of the liberties of Europe and of the security of his majes"ty's dominions, there can be no wise alternative but to prosecute the war "with increasing energy. It is by great exertions alone that either their views "of aggrandizement can be frustrated or solid peace procured.

"His majesty has therefore availed himself, with peculiar satisfaction, of "the cordial and great assistance which has been afforded him by his faithful “ally the emperor of Russia, and has thought right to make every exertion for "augmenting the disposeable military forces of his own dominions; his ma"jesty, therefore, has been highly gratified in accepting the services so gene"rously offered by his English militia, and I am to express to you the entire "confidence which his majesty feels that the zeal and loyalty of his militia of “this kingdom, in forwarding at this important crisis the active operations of "the empire, will not be less prompt and conspicuous.

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ing vigor, he had at the same moment improved the condition of British subjects, on the broad and generous basis of the empire, and thus derived the warmest affection of a free people, and the unceasing gratitude of a virtuous posterity, whose happiness and interests their gracious sovereign had by such undeviating and undaunted means secured. Sir Lawrence Parsons desired the lord lieutenant's speech at the conclusion of the last session to be read. This speech, said he, recommended from his majesty the measure of an incorporating Union with England. The minister had prevented them from giving an answer to his majesty at the time, by a sudden prorogation. He wished to prevent them from giving an answer by having studiously omitted any mention of the subject in that speech. The reason was obvious: from the time they had rejected that measure last session, the minister had employed every engine of the government, and endeavoured by the

"The apprehensions of general scarcity, which sometime since took place, "called for my early attention to this most important subject, and I was in "duced, with the advice of the council, to offer premiums for the early impor"tation of grain. This measure will, I flatter myself, meet your approbation "and I have full confidence in your wisdom, if it shall be necessary to resort "to any further extraordinary means for procuring a supply.

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"GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

"THE evident necessity of securing this kingdom from every danger, whether foreign or domestic, and of rendering the success of inva *sion, if attempted, im racticable, will demonstrate to you the wisdom of continuing that enlarged system of defence you have so wisely adopted. "I have therefore ordered the public accounts and estimates for the ensu"ing year to be laid before you, and have the fullest confidence that in the sup"ply which the situation shall appear to you to require, you will equally con“sult the safety of the kingdom and the honour of his majesty's government. "I am induced to hope that the great increase of the revenue which has "taken place in the present year may enable you to raise the sums which may "be wanted for the current services without any distressing addition to the bur"thens of the people.

“MY LORDS AND GENTLEMËN,

" I RECOMMEND to your usual attention agriculture, the ma"nufactures of Ireland; and I doubt not that the Protestant charter schools, " and those public institutions, whether of charity or of education, which have " been protected by your liberality, will still receive a judicious encourage

"ment.

"It will be for your wisdom to consider how far it will be necessary to " continue any of those extraordinary powers with which you have strength"ened the authority of his majesty's government for the more effectual sup“pression and punishment of rebellious conspiracy and outrage.

"His majesty places the most entire reliance upon your firmness and wis"dom, and he has no doubt that you will anxiously pursue such measures as "shall be best calculated for bringing the present war to an honourable ter"mination, and for restoring the country to permanent tranquillity.

"It will be my constant object to attend to your suggestions and advice, that I "may by this means most beneficially accomplish the commands I have re"ceived from his majesty, and most effectually forward the interest and hap"piness of this kingdom."

VOL. V.

Mh

most unwarrantable practices to pervert the sentiments of the parliament on that subject, and did not wish that they should take it into consideration until his machinations were complete. It mattered not, whether the representatives of that great nation were turned out of that door by the sword of the army, or the gold of the treasury-by a Cromwell or by a secretary; in both cases the treason against the constitution was the same. One of the greatest offences of James the II. was attempting to pack a parliament; of that offence he now arraigned the minister of the crown, by prostituting the prerogative in order to pack a parliament. A string of men, who were against the Union, were to go out; that a string of men, who were for it might come in. Were they to sit supinely there until those practices were matured? To wait while the serpent was collecting himself in his coils, to spring upon them with greater violence? The British ministers evidently intended to take an unfair advantage of Ireland. While the spirit of the people was depressed by recent troublesthe country covered with armies greater than ever were known there before-while martial law prevailed, and a formidable invasion was menaced-in short, while apprehensions from without and from within precluded all free exercise of the public mind upon that fatal project, they forced the discussion of the measure regardless of the unfitness of the time, thinking only of the present strength of one state and the accidental weakness of the other.

It was only in consequence of the late rebellion, said the advo cates of Union, and in compassion to Ireland, as a cure for all its disorders, that the measure was proposed. The idea of the scheme arose from the ambition of the British cabinet, which regretting the cession of independence to Ireland in 1782, attempted a partial recovery of its authority three years afterwards, and, failing on that occasion, sought to recover it completely by an Union; for that such a measure was in contemplation above three years before the rebellion broke out, was evident from a letter of the duke of Portland to earl Fitzwilliam, though it were not so expressly mentioned.

Ireland would gain nothing but might lose much by an Union. Her loss by absentees, on a moderate computation, would be nearly doubled. The country would be more liable to disorder and convulsion from the absence of the landholders. These, when resident on their estates, might be considered as the bindingstones of society, keeping by their strength and weight all the parts of government firm and compact; but, if they should be removed, the fabric on the first storm might fall to the ground.

He then moved an amendment to the address, connecting the desire of a continuance of British connexion with the wish for the preservation of an independent resident parliament.

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