over the face of your native land. Eminently diftinguished for the moft engaging affability, generous hofpitality, and princely munificence, you chear, confole, animate and adorn by your prefence and example, the drooping circles of this neglected and infulted Ifle. This is, indeed, entertainment and employment moft worthy of true Nobility, while it is the fevereft comment on the conduct of those who neglect the greatly laudable example of the moft dignified perfonage of the Irish nation. But I will not any longer indulge my feelings on this head, affured as I am that true greatness, such as yours, is as folicitous to avoid, as it is ever ready and affiduous to deferve juft applaufe. Feeling of your Grace as I do, and happy in paying this public tribute to your virtues, I beg leave to fubfcribe myself with the greateft refpect and most profound efteem,

My Lord Duke,

your Graces's molt grateful
and moft devoted

humble Servant,

College, Jan. 1ft, 1793;

J. MULLALLA,

PREFACE.

IT is with no fmall fhare of diffidence I appear before the Tribunal of the Public, as the man who is vain enough to write the Political Hif tory of his own time, embarks in not only a difficult, but an unpleafing labour, as he infenfibly is liable to be drawn into attachments; and there are few who can reafon calmly, and judge difpaffionately of prefent minifters and prefent measures. The warmth of my temper has frequently led me into commendations, but, when I felt the effects of ill humour, excited by men and measures, I feldom thought it expedient to be particular, as I would not wish to arraign or commend the measures of any adminiftration, without being well informed of the whole combination of circumftances, which the flatefman had then in view, for to cenfure minifters with a petulant and narrow fpirit of detraction, is illiberal and highly reprehenfible, to inveftigate. fairly their principles of action, and the means which

7

which they apply, is the birth-right of an Irishman, and an employment worthy a good eitizen. I have chofen for my fubject the moft interefting period in the annals of my country, although it furnishes few materials to dignify and grace the hiftoric page, it is however filled with eventful operations, and to relate them becomes rather an act of duty, than a claim to literary fame. I confider what I have done as no more than a canvas prepared for more able hands. But in the view I have taken of the different. adminiflrations from Lord Townshend's to the departure of the Marquis of Buckingham, I have carefully endeavoured to fteer clear of faction, and to point out inftances of patriotifin, virtue, and fuperior penetration, in whatever place, in whatever flation found. I have alfo condenfed the fubje& into as clofe a point of view as poffible, that the public may be the better enabled to form a jufter efiimate of the meafures which have been purfued, and how far the affairs of the nation have been conduced with fidelity and attention. If in fome places, I fhould be confidered as fomewhat too fevere, let it be remembered that when parliaments have become the echo of the minifter, and impeachment has vanifhed out of the conftitution, national juice is not obtained by us otherwife than through the cenforian power of the public; the

exercife

exercise of this power becomes an abfolute duty.
confequently then uncommon profligacy muft
neceffarily provoke uncommon cenfure. For
although national calamities are the most strong
and fevere reprehenfions on the misconduct of
those who have produced them, it ftill muft be
further remarked, that when mifcreants in power
provoke the refentment of a generous and brave
nation by their oppreffions, it is juft that accord-
ing to their deferts, they should feel the lafh of
their refentment. In going thus far, I trust it
will
appear that I have proceeded with juftice
and impartiality, and that I was actuated by no
motive but the real love of my country. In my
researches I have been much indebted to many
learned friends, to none more than to the truly
liberal and philofophic Dr. Campbell.
muft requeft the reader will be good enough
to rectify fuch errors as have escaped obfer-
vation, and I hope the difproportion between
the extent of the subject, and that of my
capacity, will plead for the imperfections of the
work.

I

A fincere wish to extend the chain of union and benevolence, through all denominations of my countryinen prompted me to take up the pen and to encounter an heavy expence in the publication

1

publication of the fubfequent fheets; fhould my humble labour in any refpe&t tend to promote the happiness of my fellow-creatures, the Reflection will ftand me instead of Glory, it will be the delight of my age, and the confolation of my latest moments.

January 14, 1793,