That

a Free People. That the Crown of Ireland is an imperial Crown, infeparably annexed to the Crown of Great Britain, on which connexion the interefts and happiness of both nations effentially depend: But that the Kingdom of Ireland is a diftinct Kingdom, with a Parliament of her own, the fole Legislature thereof. there is no body of men competent to make laws to bind this nation, except the King, Lords and Commons of Ireland, nor any other Parliament which hath any authority or power, of any fort whatfoever, in this country, fave only the Parliament of Ireland. To affure his Majesty that we humbly conceive, that in this right the very effence of our liberties exists; a right which we, on the part of all the people of Ireland, do claim as their birth-right, and which we cannot yield but with our lives. To affure his Majesty that we have feen, with concern, certain claims advanced by the Parliament of Great Britain in an act, intitled an act for the better fecuring the dependency of

Ireland;

Ireland; an act containing matter entirely irreconcileable to the fundamental rights of this nation.

"That we conceive this Act, and the claims it advances, to be the great and principal cause of the discontents and jealoufies in this kingdom. To affure his Majefty that his Majesty's Commons of Ireland do moft fincerely wish that all Bills, which become law in Ireland, should receive the approbation of his Majefty, under the Seal of Great Britain; but that yet we do confider the practice of fuppreffing our Bills in the Council of Ireland, or altering the fame any where, to be another juft caufe of difcontent and jealoufy. To affure his Majefty, that an act, intitled an act for the better accommodation of his Majefty's forces, being unlimited in duration, and defective in other inftances, but paffed in that shape from the particular circumftances of the times, is another juft caufe of difcontent and jealousy in this kingdom. That we

have

have fubmitted thefe, the principal caufes of the prefent difcontent and jealousy of Ireland, and remain in humble expectation of redrefs. That we have the greateft reliance on his Majefty's wifdom, the moft fanguine expectations from his virtuous choice of a Chief Governor, and great confidence in the wife, aufpicious, and conftitutional Councils, which we fee with fatisfaction his Majefty has adopted. That we have moreover a high fense and veneration for the British character, and do therefore conceive that the proceedings of this country, founded as they were in right, and tempered by duty, must have excited the approbation and efteem, instead of wounding the pride of the British nation. And we beg leave to affure his Majefty, that we are the more confirmed in this hope, in as much as the people of this kingdom have never expreffed a defire to share the freedom of England, without declaring a determination to share her fate likewise, standing and falling with the British nation."

Thus

Thus, in a few days after the arrival of the Duke of Portland---that very Parliament, which had uniformly opposed every wish of the people, now sent their demands to the throne:---The people rejoiced in their prospect of emancipation, but they did not, for they could not, thank their Parliament.

Here was an awful pause.---What the Parliament of England would do, we might conjecture, not determine :---The Volunteers refted on their arms,---doubtful whether the were to be used in defence of their just rights, or in proclaiming their joy for Liberty restored,

During this paufe no man doubted, but compliance on the part of England would be fully fatisfactory :-When the news that the English House of Commons unanimously, and the Lords, with one diffentient only, had voted acquiefcence, -all was rapture---all was joy.

The

The Duke of Portland went to the House of Lords, to announce the glad tidings, furrounding multitudes bleffed him as he paffed, and every face expreffed the grateful feelings of their hearts :When from the throne he spoke, he feemed infpired by the genius of our Ifle, and in the language of Freedom, declared her shackles were no more.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It gives me the greatest fatisfaction, that the first time I have occafion to addrefs you, I find myself enabled by the magnanimity of the King, and the wifdom of the Parliament of Great Britain, to affure you that immediate attention has been paid to your reprefentations, and that the British Legislature has concurred in a refolution to remove the causes of your discontents and jealoufies, and are united in a desire to gratify every wish expreffed in your late Addreffes to the Throne.