kingdoms, is to have our connexion fully explained and perfectly understood.

"As an Irishman, give me leave to exprefs my obligations to your Lordship, for the kind intentions which you have manifefted to my country; I do not even believe my countrymen want more than it is your wish to give. But, my Lord, they want it in a different mode; they want what they have a right to, separated from the bounty of England. It fhall therefore be the object of this letter to point out my own, and what I apprehend to be their reasons, for wishing for fuch a diftinction.

"At first, my Lord, your propofitions, which have now in part become a law, gave pretty general fatisfaction. Men hitherto restrained in almost every branch, naturally rejoiced at the first view of an extended commerce; but when reafon had investigated the principles, on which that extension was given; when it was found

found to be a matter of EXPEDIENCY, not of right; when it was perceived that it rather eftablished than relinquished the power of British legislation over Ireland,* our transports funk into a very moderate degree of pleasure; and even that pleafure was leffened by the precariousness of enjoyment.

My Lord, we claim to be a kingdom, with every right belonging to a king

; governed by our own legislature, the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. We complain of the British legiflature making laws to bind Ireland. We alledge it is without right, and we require that the legiflature of Great Britain should relinquith a claim that we say they are not entitled to, and that they should obliterate the name of Ireland from their Statutes.

"This is a fhort creed, but like all creeds admits of much explanation; let

* The Act of Parliament lately made, only repeals part of the English acts binding Ireland.

us fairly difcufs it; the examination will be no impeachment even to your Lordfhip's abilities, though it should oblige you to correfpond with a man so much your inferior in rank and understanding. If my ideas, if the ideas of my countrymen are unjust and unreasonable, we are furely entitled to an explanation why they are fo. If they are juft and reasonable, they should be complied with. If they are just and reasonable, and not complied with, we have a right to do ourfelves JUSTICE, if ever we have the power.

Here, my Lord, I fhall beg leave to afk two queftions: Is the kingdom of Ireand confidered by the legislature of Great Britain as a CONQUERED NATION? If not, is Ireland confidered as a FREE KINGDOM, united with England by long ufage, fimilarity of manners, vicinage, and a common King?

"If we are deemed a conquered nation,

and

and as fuch to hold every thing we poffefs at the will of the English, our conquerors; if we are in all things subject to their caprice; ftill, my Lord, there is one right that I apprehend cannot be taken from us: It is a right I almost blush to mention; it is the right of the vanquish ed; the right of regaining our Freedom, whenever we are able to throw off your yoke. If you fay, as I truft you will, that we are a Free People, you must allow us those rights which are indifpenfably neceffary to the very existence of Freedom; and if on enquiry it fhould be found that Ireland has not fuch rights, because Great Britain has exerted an arbitrary power to which the was not entitled, Great Britain muft either relinquifh fuch an evafion of our rights, or fupport it, as the made it BY POWER.

What, my Lord, conftitutes the freedom of a people? What is the boasted freedom of a subject of Great Britain? Is it not, that he is governed by laws to which he has affented either by himself

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or his reprefentative? Is it not that he cannot be bound by laws that do not affect those who make them as well as himfelf? What, my Lord, is the difinition of a flave? Is it not where a man is bound by laws, to which he never affented, and lies at the mercy of a power over which he has no controul? Weigh these two difinitions, and tell me what is IRELAND?

"Great Britain's repealing part of those laws by which I apprehend the has unjustly bound Ireland, is no fatisfaction, nor are we lefs enflaved. In fact, your propofitions, and the law founded upon them, eftablishes that power which I, and I believe my countrymen deny. The word expedient conveys a thoufand things repugnant to the rights of Ireland. It may hereafter be deemed expedient to revoke the very indulgences you now find it expedient to grant. It may be expeent to diffolve our parliament, and never call another, it may be expedient to tax

Ireland