years happily prevailed, and from which so many salutary "consequences have been derived during his majesty's auspi"cious reign, holds out to every part of his majesty's empire, "an example reflecting the highest honour upon the virtues of 46 a most amiable and excellent sovereign, and the wisdom and good conduct of affectionate and loyal subjects. In the high "station, in which his majesty has placed me, I claim no merit, "but a faithful execution of his majesty's gracious purposes for "the happiness of his people of Ireland, and the most just, and "therefore the most favourable representations of their loyal, "dutiful, and affectionate conduct, which cannot fail to entitle "them to the continuance of his royal favour and protection."

At the commencement of the next session in October 1775, the lord lieutenant observed, that, since the last meeting of parliament; his majesty's tender concern for the welfare of that kingdom had induced him to pass several laws in the British parliament highly beneficial to the commerce, manufactures, and agriculture of Ireland. "By the act, which extends the great advantage of British fisheries to Ireland a source of "industry and wealth (said he) is opened to you, which has "made other nations great and flourishing. That act, which "allows the clothing and accoutrements necessary for his "majesty's forces paid from the revenues of this kingdom to "be exported from Ireland, is a particular mark of the royal "favour; and even that, which allows the importation of rape "seed into Great Britain from this kingdom, under certain "regulations, connected with those salutary laws passed in our "last session, form such a system of agriculture and improve"ment as will, I trust, secure riches and plenty to the people of "Ireland. A bounty granted by Great Britain, upon the importation of flax, is so marked a recommendation of the "linen manufacture, that it becomes needless for me to, urge "the most persevering application to that staple of the country."

The allusion, which the lord lieutenant made to the proceedings of the British parliament, during the recess of the parliament of Ireland, calls upon us to submit to our readers, what passed on this side of the water during that interval. The opinions of the British legislators upon Irish incidents are strong illustrations of Irish history. On the 16th of December, 1774, upon Mr. R. Fuller's calling for papers relative to our military forces in America, a desultory, though interesting conversation took place, in which the late Governor Johnstone took occasion to make several pointed applications to Ireland: they originated out of the confident and unequivocal declarations made in the course of the last session by Mr. Rigby (master of the rolls in Ireland), that the parliament of Great Britain had a right to tax

Ireland in all cases whatsoever as well as America*. Mr. Fox observed, that it was certainly proper to include Ireland in all the debates upon American taxation, in order to ascertain the parliamentary right of taxation over every part of the British empire.

As Great Britain never hitherto had been known to overflow with liberality and kindness to her sister kingdom, it becomes proper to trace the true and genuine sources, out of which this new disposition to favour Ireland arose. The differences between America and her mother country had now broken into open war. Most of the leading members of the opposition in both countries (who afterwards composed that administration, which put an end to the American war) opposed the war upon principle: they inveighed against the unconstitutional exactions of the ministry, and in their debates went very little short of formally justifying the American rebellion. The analogy between America and Ireland was too close to pass unnoticed; and the defection of the American colonies produced strong effects upon Ireland. The exportation of Irish linen for America had been very considerable; but now this great source of national wealth was totally shut up, by an extraordinary stretch of prerogative. Under the pretext of preventing the Americans

* 1 Par. Deb. p. 19. "The kingdom of Ireland (said Governor Johnstone), "within our own dominion, is a proof of what these learned gentlemen assert "to be impossible. A worthy member, in my eye, being pressed with this argument in the last session of parliament, from the fairness of his mind, "avowed, as his opinion, that we could tax Ireland. I remember there were "some gentlemen in the gallery when this declaration was made, whom 1 "immediately perceived by the contortions in their countenance to be Irish "members, Next day the worthy member chose to make some apology to "his friends. He said, no parallel could be drawn between Ireland and the "colonies; for Ireland had a paraphernalia; and this satisfied both the English "and Irish members. For my part, I do not see what difficulty can occur, in "leaving the different colonies on the same footing of raising money by requi "sition, as from the people of Ireland. Lord Clare (Nugent) jocularly com"plimented Mr. Rigby on the exceeding popularity, reverence, and esteem, "that gentleman was held in by the whole Irish nation; that there was no man "in England or Ireland more loved or revered. Mr. Rigby said, he acted in "that country as secretary to the lord lieutenant; which, on many accounts "was rather an invidious and critical situation; that the sentiments now "alluded to, he maintained upon general principles; that his opinion was not "singular, for he was supported in it by a statute passed in the reign of George "the First: that he begged to be understood, according to the obvious con"struction of that statute; and that, according to that sense of it, he still con"tinued to be of opinion, that the legislature of Great Britain had a right to "make laws to bind Ireland, and all the other members and dependances of "the British empire. Sir William Mayne drew a melancholy picture of the "sufferings of the Irish; said that all promises had been shamefully broken "with them; that pensions to the amount of 10,000l. per annum had been "lately granted on that miserable, ruined and undone country; and that the "castle was an asylum to every needy, servile, cringing apostate, that would "bow the knee, and barter every thing which should be dear to him, for "emolument and court favour.

from being supplied with provisions from this country, an embargo was laid on the exportation of provisions from Ireland, which, in prejudicing that kingdom, served only to favour the adventures of British contractors. This embargo, combined with other causes, which were invariable and permanent, produced the most melancholy effects. Wool and black cattle fell considerably in value, as did also land; and rents in many places could scarcely be collected; so much was public credit essentially injured. It has already been observed, that the parliament of Ireland had declared the general sense of the kingdom respecting its distressed situation, and the illiberal restrictions thrown on its commerce: it had even defended its constitutional privileges; and though the voice of the nation were only thus conveyed through the speech of the speaker of the 'House of Commons, the public mind was not unknown in Great Britain. As the American fisheries were now abolished, it became neces sary to think of some measures for supplying their place, and particularly to guard against the ruinous consequences of the foreign markets either changing the course of consumption, or falling into the hands of strangers, and those perhaps inimical to Great Britain. The state of public affairs in Ireland it now seemed necessary to take some notice of, and to pay some greater considerations to her interests, than had been hitherto practised. The question between England and her colonies, particularly in the manner it had been argued, was not calculated to quiet the kingdom of Ireland: and the repose of such parts of the empire as were still at rest was never more necessary. In the crisis, to which matters were now evidently tending, little doubt remained, that every assistance would be requisite from Ireland; besides, her patience, her sufferings, and her forbearance, might be holden up as a mirror, in contrast to America: and though these merits had long passed unregarded, this did not seem a fit season to encourage an opinion, that a similar conduct would never obtain any reward. The nature of the benefit, however, was to be considered, and nothing could seem better adopted, than a donation, which would be an advantage instead of a loss to the giver. It was not itself very considerable, but it might be considered as a beginning; and small benefits carry weight with those, who have not been habituated to great favours. had been shewn to the British parliament, that the exports from England to Ireland amounted then to 2,400,000 annually; besides the latter supported a large standing army, at all times ready for the defence of the former; and immense sums of her ready cash were spent there by her numerous absentees, pensioners and placemen; yet by oppressive restrictions in trade, Ireland was cut off from the benefit of her great natural staple

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commodity, as well as excluded from the advantage, which she might derive from the peculiarity of her situation.

The British minister on the 11th of October, 1775, moved for a committee of the whole house, to consider of the encouragement proper to be given to the fisheries of Great Britain and Ireland. This attention to Ireland was generally approved of, and after some conversation on the hardships that country suffered, it was proposed by Mr. Burke to extend the motion, by adding the words "trade and commerce;" and thereby af ford an opportunity to grant such relief and indulgence in those exports, as might be done without prejudice to Great Britain. The minister objected to this; however, the committee in its progress granted several bounties to the ships of Great Britain and Ireland, for their encouragement in prosecuting the Newfoundland fishery; and it was farther resolved in favour of Ireland, that it should be lawful to export from thence, cloaths and accoutrements for such regiments on the Irish establishment, as were employed abroad: and also, that a bounty of five shillings per barrel should be allowed on all flax seeds imported into Ireland. This last resolution was passed, to prevent the evils, that were apprehended there, from the cutting off their great American source of supply in that article. Another resolution was also passed, by which Ireland was allowed to export provisions, hooks, lines, nets and tools for the implements of the fishery. The committee also agreed to the granting of bounties for encouraging the whale fishery, in those seas, that were to the southward of Greenland and Davis's Straits fisheries: and upon the same principle took off the duties, that were payable. upon the importation of oil, blubber, and bone, from Newfoundland, &c. They also took off the duty, that was payable upon the importation of seal skins.*

* 1 Parl. Deb. p. 436. Mr. Burke thanked his lordship (North) for the friendly disposition he had now shewn towards his (Mr. Burke's) native country; observing at the same time that however desirous he might be to promote any scheme for the advantage of Ireland, he would be much better pleased, that the benefits thus held out should never be realized, than that Ireland should profit at the expence of a country, which was, if possible, more op pressed than herself. Mr. Thomas Townshend condemned, in the most pointed terms, the narrow, weak, and ill-founded policy, which had directed the English councils in respect to Ireland, ever since that country had become a part of the British dominions; and recommended very warmly an enquiry into the state of Irish commerce and manufactures, in order that such of them as did not immediately interfere with those of Great Britain, might receive every possible encouragement consistent with the general interests of the whole empire. Mr. Conolly drew a very melancholy picture of the present state of Ireland, and recapitulated many instances of the eminent loyalty of that country, and of the repeated proofs she had given, for a series of years back, of her readiness to contribute much beyond her ability, to the common support. Besides the merits she had to plead on these grounds, he pointed out the absurdity of several of the restraints laid upon the Irish commerce;

As soon as prudence would admit, after the lord lieutenant had called upon the gratitude of the Irish parliament for the favours granted by the English legislature, his excellency sent through his secretary, Sir John Blaquire, a message to the House of Commons to the following effect:

("HARCOURT.)

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"I have his majesty's commands to acquaint you, that the situation of affairs in part of his American do"minions is such as makes it necessary, for the honour and safety of the British empire, and for the support of his majes"ty's just rights, to desire the concurrence of his faithful par"liament of Ireland, in sending out of this kingdom a force not "exceeding 4000 men, part of the number of troops upon this “establishment, appointed to remain in this kingdom for its de"fence; and to declare to you his majesty's most gracious intention, that such part of his army as shall be spared out of "this kingdom, to answer the present exigency of affairs, is not "to be continued a charge upon this establishment, so long as 66 they shall remain out of this kingdom. I am further com"manded to inform you, that as his majesty hath nothing more " at heart, than the security and protection of his people of Ire"land, it is his intention, if it shall be the desire of parliament, "to replace such forces as may be sent out of this kingdom, by 66 an equal number of foreign Protestant troops, as soon as his 66 majesty shall be enabled so to do; the charge of such troops "to be defrayed without any expence to this kingdom."

The message having been referred to a committee, they resolved, that this force of 4000 men might at that juncture be spared, provided they were no longer a charge upon the establishment, than they remained in that kingdom. Upon which resolution being reported to the house, the patriots determined not to let an opportunity go by, without manifesting to their constituents their persevering attention to the rights and welfare of the nation. They saw through this first opening the gross inattention of the British cabinet to the internal defence and welfare of Ireland.

An amendment was accordingly proposed to be made to the resolution, by inserting after the word "Resolved," the following words, viz. "That having in consequence of his majesty's 66 gracious recommendation, and of our mature consideration of "the state of this country, repeatedly declared our opinion, that "12,000 men are necessary for the defence of this kingdom;

and endeavoured to shew that some of those were as unkind as impolitic; and that there were some branches of trade, particularly that to the Levant, which might be laid open, much to the advantage of both countries, and to the complete rivalship of the French.