mong the most wretched of the earth, had the prospect of famine and desolation; and of an addition, to what almoft appeared the extent of human mifery.

At this period a number of well written and fpirited writings filled the newspapers, and drew the attention of the people to their fituation: Guatimozin's and Owen Roe O'Nial's Letters, defervedly caught the public eye, and patriotism began to diffuse itself through every breaft.

This was, I believe, nearly the ftate of the nation in October 1779, when Lord Buckinghamshire opened that feffion of parliament. In the debate which followed his fpeech from the throne, the miferies of Ireland were fully expatiated upon. Not only the firm and decided Patriot, but also those, who had preferred on other occafions, their own, to their country's intereft, declared the neceffity of a FREE TRADE: Mr. Prime Serjeant Burgh,

with

with a noble spirit, moved that the address proposed to the King, should be amended with these words, "That it is not by temporary expedients, but by a Free Trade alone, that this nation is now to be faved from impending ruin,"-and the amendment was carried unanimoufly.

The nation rejoiced at this glorious opening of the' Seffion; and poured forth its gratitude to parliament.---Parliament in return paid their tribute of thanks to the Volunteers.

My wifh is to be impartial; I think we have every reafon to believe, Lord Buckinghamshire faithfully represented us to the English administration. But I alfo think, no permanent or lafting Free Trade was intended us.

The people at large fupported parliament, and a non-importation agreement took place. This was an effectual cure to English felfishness.

The ma

nufacturing

nufacturing towns in England foon perceived its effect. Ireland was their beft, and fureft market, and that market was shut against them. This brought them, and their parliament, to a dif ferent temper. In December, 1779, Lord North brought forward his propofitions. They were received and paffed; and a little before Chriftmas, the news arrived in Ireland.

Parliament was in rapture; the people were in rapture; Dublin was almost on and a fort of frantic joy pervaded

fire;

the nation

་

There were a few, who saw things in a different light-who faw the lofs of a Free Trade in the appearance of one-who saw that the people might be amufed by a shadow, till the hour, in which the fubftance might be obtained, had paffed away-who faw that a Free Trade could not exist without a Free Conftitution.

I was one who thought fo-I did not rejoice on this occafion, and as it was rather fingular, I affigned my reafons, in the following letter to Lord North:

"A LETTER to the Right Hon. Lord NORTH.

"My Lord,

"From what has fallen from your Lordship in regard to Ireland, I conceive you are greatly misinformed, as to the ideas of the people at large. It is of the utmost consequence, in fuch a moment as this, that our fentiments should not be misunderstood. If they are, apparent fatisfaction may conceal real jealousy and diftruft; the bane of friendship in nations, as well as in men.

"Your Lordship dwells on the addrefs of our parliament being a petition for indulgence, not a demand of rights. My Lord, I conceive that addrefs was to the KING OF IRELAND, without whose approbation

probation our laws cannot be altered or enlarged. If your Lordship conceives that it was a fupplication to the parliament of Great Britain, I apprehend you are mistaken. When the parliament of Ireland addreffed their King, and told him that nothing but a FREE TRADE could fave their country, they could not, I am perfuaded they did not, forget why Ireland had not a Free Trade; they could not forget that Ireland was bound by British acts of parliament.

"But, my Lord, should it even be por fible that our parliament could forget the Great Question of Right, it cannot be forgot by the people; they know it, and will remember it. As one of that people, I deem it effential to freedom, and think myself juftified as a man entitled to be free, to publicly argue for my own and my countrymens' rights. The investigation of truth cannot be improper. In this inftance, I am convinced that the fureft mode of promoting the welfare of both kingdoms,