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And when on the same day it was resolved, that the address to the lord lieutenant, then before the house, should stand the address of that house, the same sixteen peers* protested against it. Because the address to the lord lieutenant having contained acknowledgments of thanks to his excellency for his conduct in the government of that kingdom, to which they were conscious he had not any just claim, they had therefore conceived it to be their duty to withhold even that accustomed compliment. No policy is more unwise, than to attempt to suppress from a nation (as from an individual) in debt the real state of its finances. It appears evident, from the arguments of the still uncorrupted patriots of the house of commons, from the protests of the sixteen peers, from the state of the national accounts still upon record, and from other historical documents, that the national debt of Ireland very heavily accumulated during the administration of Lord Townshend: yet we find, that after the experience, which two years and a quarter had given him of the inadequacy of the fiscal resources of that kingdom to answer his new plan of keeping up the English interest, he refrained from calling on the commons for any supplies, alleging in his speech to parliament, on the 26th of February, 1771, that with very strict œconomy, the duties granted last session would be sufficient to answer the expences of his majesty's government; and therefore he would ask no further supply.

The confidence, with which Lord Townshend met the parliament in October 1771, was strongly depictured in his speech. "My experience" said his excellency, "of your attachment to "his majesty's person, and of your zeal for the public service, "affords me the best grounded hopes, that nothing will be want"ing on your part to co-operate with his majesty's gracious "intentions to promote the welfare and happiness of this king"dom, and when to this consideration I add my remembrance "of your kind regard for the ease and honour of my adminis"tration, I feel the most sensible pleasure in the present oppor"tunity, which his majesty has given me of meeting you a "fourth time in parliament." Notwithstanding his boasted œconomy, which prevented his application to the commons for any further supply in the last session, he now told them, that it was with concern, that he must ask a sum of money to discharge the arrears already incurred on his majesty's establishments, but that they would find, they had been unavoidable; for that the strictest economy had been used, not only in the

These same lords also protested against the motion for entering the lord Lieutenant's protest on their journals: it is also a well considered, well worded and truly constitutional representation of that extraordinary and illegal measure of Lord Townshend's; which see in the Appendix, No. LXII.

† Journ. Com. vol. 8, p. 403.

charges of the late augmentation, upon which a very large saving had been made, but in the reduction of the staff, which was then diminished to the number directed by his majesty.*

Another part of the lord lieutenant's speech referred to the illegal associations and audacious outrages committed in divers parts of the kingdom, but especially in the north, which deserved their most serious attention, being as destructive to commerce, as disgraceful to liberty: the parliamentary proceeding upon this recommendation, was a still stronger illustration of the unconstitutional tendency of the measures and general system of that nobleman's administration. One of the insurgents, charged with felony, had been apprehended and carried to Belfast, and there confined in order to be transmitted to the county jail. Provoked by this treatment of their associate, several thousands of them proceeded to Belfast, to rescue the prisoner. When intelligence of this reached the town, it being resolved not to give him up, he was removed to the barrack, and placed under a guard of soldiers. The Steel Boys pressed forward to the barrack, firmly determined to effect a rescue. The conse

quence in all probability, would have been fatal to many on both sides and to the town, had not a gentleman of commanding influence, interposed, at the risque of his life, and prevailed with the military to set the prisoner at liberty. Being delivered up to his associates, they marched off in triumph. One house only experienced the effects of their resentment. Many, who were engaged in this enterprise, returned home, and had afterwards no further connection with the rioters: yet their numbers daily

Very strong objections have been made to the unconstitutional system of Lord Townshend's administration both in and out of parliament: but he had now so completed his system of managing the house of commons, that he was sure on all occasions of one third majority on any question: and it is remarkable, that by such majority did he carry the question on seventeen different divisions, which took place in the house of commons on the two first days of the session. Most of these questions arose upon the eulogies contained in the addresses upon the lord lieutenant's conduct and administration. Some however turned upon mere matters of fact, which the patriots charged him with hav ing designedly misrepresented in order to deceive the people. One of the questions, upon which they divided, was upon a proposal to insert in the address the following words: "notwithstanding that the said resolution was propo"sed to obviate the tendency of that part of the lord lieutenant's speech where"in he insinuates, that the deductions made from the revenue for payment "of grants, for premiums, bounties, and public works, were the cause of the great arrears mentioned in his excellency's speech." Another division took place upon a motion for adding the following words to the address: "notwith"standing we must observe, that two of the gentlemen, who resigned the staff, "are aged and infirm, so that the public are not likely to receive so much "benefit from that alteration, as was graciously intended by his majesty: and "that a pension of 2001. a year has been granted to General Lambert and 300!. a year to his wife, in consideration of his long and faithful services, making "in all 5001. a year, which is within 477. 10s. of the saving accruing to the pub "lic from his resignation." Vide Com. Journ. vol. 8, p. 408.

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encreased, and their spirit extended to the neighbouring counties. Besides the oaths, which they exacted, they ill treated individuals and destroyed houses: and several were guilty of other flagrant acts of inhumanity. Some of them were taken and tried at Carrickfergus; but whether from want of evidence, from fear of incurring the resentment of the populace, or from partiality in the witnesses and the jury, they were acquitted. On this account the legislature passed an act, by which all persons indicted of such offences were ordered to be tried in counties different from those, in which the excesses were committed. In consequence, several of the Steel Boys against whom examinations had been taken, were carried to Dublin and put upon their trial. But so, strong was the prejudice conceived against this new law, that no jury there would find any of them guilty.

But when the* obnoxious act was repealed, reflection took place, and the pernicious consequence of the principles and the

* This act 11 and 12 of Geo. III. c. v. was entituled, "An Act for the more "effectual Punishing wicked and disorderly persons, who have committed, or shall "commit violences and do injuries to persons or properties of any of his Majesty's subjects in the counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh, City and County of London"derry, and County of Tyrone, or any of them; or who shall deliver or publish "Threatening Letters, or who resist or oppose the levying the public Taxes in the "said Counties, or any of them; and for the more effectual bringing to Justice "certain Offenders therein mentioned." And the sixth section of it is to the following effect, "and whereas there is great reason to believe, that such "wicked persons have been greatly encouraged in the commission of such "enormous crimes by their hopes of being acquitted, if to be tried by the "petty juries of their respective counties: for the more impartial trial of all "persons so as aforesaid offending, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, "that if any indictment or indictments for offences committed, since the first day of January last, or which shall be committed against the said acts of the twenty-ninth reign of his late majesty George the Second and the fifth "of his present majesty, herein before mentioned, or either of them, or for "high treason or murder committed since the first day of January last, or to "be committed hereafter, or for any offence or offences, which shall hereafter "be committed against this act, shall be found in any of the said counties, "where such offences shall be committed, the offender or offenders to be men“tioned in such indictment or indictments, may be proceeded against and "tried upon indictment or indictments for such offences before such commis"sioners of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery, as shall be sssigned "by the king's majesty's commission under the great seal of this kingdom of "Ireland, by the good and lawful men of the body of the county of Dublin, "or of the county of the city of Dublin, as respectively shall be appointed in "such commission, and at such place within the said counties or either of "them as shall be appointed in said commission; and such proceeding shall "be valid and effectual in the law, as if the offence had been done within the "county, where the same shall be tried; and such indictment or indictments "in such cases, shall be certified unto such commissioners upon his majesty's "writ of certiorari, to be issued for that purpose; and that in all such cases "no challenge to the array or the polls shall lye, or be allowed, by reason that "the jurors do not or have not come from the proper county or place, where "the offence was committed, or by reason, that the trial is out of the county or * place, where such offence was committed; but nevertheless upon the trials of such offences the challenge to any juror for want of freehold in the county VOL. II.

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conduct of the insurgents began to be viewed by the people in the true light. Once more some of them were tried in their respective counties. The indictments were proved, and they were condemned and executed. These examples, with proper exertions of the military, extinguished the commotion; though the consequences of it produced effects that were permanent, and highly prejudicial to the country. In a short time, many thousands of its inhabitants emigrated to America.

The great ground of opposition to Lord Townshend's administration was, that in supporting the government by unconstitutional means, he deprived the country of that basis of freedom and happiness, to which by the fair enjoyment of its constitution it was entitled. When therefore the address of thanks to the king was reported to the house by Mr. Foster, of which the second paragraph began in these words, "We are fully per" suaded, that the support of your majesty's government is the "great and firm basis of the freedom and happiness of this coun"try," an amendment was proposed, that before the word support, the word constitutional should be inserted; it was negatived by a majority of 88 against 36.*

The baneful example of the chief governor's marshalling the ranks of parliament encouraged the already too deeply rooted principle of despotism throughout the nation. Not only the great lords and real owners of land exercised in general a most ferocious rule over their inferiors: but that obnoxious race of self-created gentlemen, whose consequence and virtue consisted in not being Papists, and whose loyalty was mere lust for persecuting and oppressing them, were uncontrollable in their petty tyranny. Even the lord lieutenant was so sensible of it, that being resolved to pardon a Catholic gentleman unjustly found guilty, he withdrew the hand of mercy, with this reflection: I see them resolved upon his blood; so he may as well go now.

The remainder of Lord Townshend's administration went over without any further incident worthy of notice, either from

"where the same shall be tried by virtue of this aet, and all other due chal"lenges to jurors shall be allowed, any thing in this present act contained to "the contrary in any wise notwithstanding."

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* During this administration we find by the Journals mentioning the tellers upon the different divisions, that three of the most forward and constant supporters of every government question were Mr. Monk Mason, Mr. Foster, and Mr. Fitzgibbon and historical justice obliges us to remark, that the truth or falsity of the propositions little availed, provided it were made a government question. Thus besides the instances already adduced, we find upon the Journals (8 vol. iii.) the following resolution negatived on the 8th of March, 1766: "That it be resolved, that the office of a commissioner of his majesty's "revenue would be better executed by a person resident in this kingdom, "than by an absentee." During this session of 1771, died Dr. Lucas, whom, from his first entrance into political life, no promises or offers could seduce from untainted patriotism; in this particular he has been more admired than imitated by his countrymen.

the opposition of the patriots within, or the disturbance of other persons out of parliament. It is remarkable, that the whole of this lord's administration should have passed without any public act, or the agitation of any question concerning the Roman Catholics. Lord Townshend's natural humanity and benevolence concurring with the known disposition of his gracious majesty to lenity and liberality, softened as much as possible the rigour and sharpness of the existing laws. His lordship could not however retire from a situation, which he had holden for near five years, without having given some proof of his zeal for promoting the Protestant religion. Having been so successful in proselytizing for the state, he recommended to parliament his own specific in gaining converts to the church. Such efficacy did he annex even to the smallest pension, that he conceived an additional 10%. per ann. a more powerful lure to bring over the Catholic clergy, than any of the means of rigour or intimidation enacted by former statutes. A provision had been made by the 8th of Anne, that every Popish priest, who had or should become Protestant, and be approved of as a convert, should have 30. yearly for his maintenance, until provided for by some ecclesiastical preferment beyond that amount. But by an act* of this session it was recited, that it had been found by experience, that the former act had not answered the purposes intended, especially as the provision made as aforesaid for such Popish priests is in no respect a sufficient encouragement for Popish priests to become converts; it was therefore enacted, that 40% should in future be allowed annually, in lieu of 30%. to every Popish priest converted from the Popish to the Protestant religion. The multiplication of these allowances up to the height of the most proselytizing zeal could not interfere with the civil list of pensioners, as these spiritual douceurs were to be levied on the inhabitants of the district, wherein the convert last resided.†

This act for the encouragement of converts to the Protestant religion was also in some measure deemed necessary to counterbalance the effects of another act made in the same session, supposed to be very favourable to the Catholics, and which in times of less liberality had been repeatedly thrown out of parliament, as tending to encourage Popery to the detriment and prejudice of the Protestant religion. This was An Act to encourage the reclaiming of unprofitable Bogs. This act recites, that there were large tracts of deep bogs in several counties of the kingdom,

11 and 12 Geo. III. c. xxvii.

†The consequence, which by this act appears to have been annexed to the paltry sum of ten pounds per annum, rather justifies the wit of the Irish (they will be witty on the gravest subjects) upon the efficacy of Townshend's golden drops; upon which, songs, squibs, toasts, and epigrams were endless.

11 and 12 Geo. III. c. xxi.

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