taken a view hostile to the rights of his countrymen. He deprecated giving the Roman Catholics equal power with the Protestants, and asked this trite question," If you do, can a Protestant constitution survive?" In this mistaken view he was supported unfortunately by Lord Charlemont, as appears from his letter to Mr. Flood, in Jan. 1782, where he says, "the House is running mad on the subject of popery;" but he adds, that "he had not yet made up his mind upon Gardiner's Bill," fearing, as he says, "the ruin of that growing coalescence which was beginning to take place among men of all persuasions."

It is certain that attempts were made to sow divisions between the two parties; and as before stated, this effort was in a great degree suppressed by the aid of Dr. O'Leary's writings. Government, too, had not yet become active adepts in the art of sowing religious dissensions; they were sufficiently occupied by their civil discords, and the task was left to their successors, who, it may be said, have exceeded their most sanguine expectations.

The part which Mr. Grattan was forced to take in reference to this subject, when the meeting took place at Charlemont House respecting the Dungannon resolutions, will appear a few pages further on.

In order to throw out the Bill, an adjournment was proposed, but it was rejected by 145 to 56.

The Bill was not, however, passed, until after the dissolution of the Carlisle ministry, and the recovery of the Irish Constitution; so closely connected seem to be the spirit of civil and religious liberty.

The subject of the trade with Portugal occasioned much embarrassment at this period. After the free trade had been carried, the Irish exported their manufactures to Portugal; their linens were seized on by the authorities at Lisbon, and confiscated. Applications were made to the British Government, and Lord Hillsborough strove to negotiate the matter; but the minister, Chevalier Da Pinto, stated in reply, that the Queen of Portugal was determined not to allow the Methuen treaty of 1703 to comprehend the woollen trade of Ireland; and under this pretext they seized upon the linens!

The question had been often brought before the House of Commons, and on the 6th February, Mr. Eden made a long statement explanatory of the business, but he proposed nothing. It appeared that of the exports from Ireland, then amounting to three millions, about one-twelfth went to Portugal; that the trade in linen and woollen had been guaranteed to Ireland by ancient treaties, particularly by that of 1642, when it was expressly stipulated that there should be free commerce between the subjects of both Crowns in all islands and countries. Mr. Fitzgibbon then proposed an

Address to the King, calling on him to assert the rights of the country. This address was considered as weak, futile, and inefficient. It was opposed by Mr. Grattan, but was however adopted by the House; and a spirited amendment of Sir Lucius O'Brien was rejected. His Majesty shortly after replied, that he would use his efforts to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

The Habeas Corpus Bill was again introduced by Sir Samuel Bradstreet, and was returned approved of from England. This was the best measure of the Carlisle ministry; indeed, it was the only good one.

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CHAPTER X.

The Convention of Dungannon, 1782.-Resolutions passed there-Prepared by Mr. Grattan and Mr. Flood.-Mr. Dobbs.-Meeting of the Delegates. Important results of these proceedings.-Weakness of the Government.-Mr. Grattan's new motion on the Rights of Ireland. Its ultimate results.-Dissolution of Lord North's ministry.His character as a politician.-Remark of Lord Chatham on him.Lord Rockingham's administration formed.-Dismissal of Lord Carlisle from the Viceroyship.-Conduct of Mr. Eden. His letter to Lord Shelburne.-His strange motion in the house.-Mr. Fox's reply. -Message from the King on Ireland.—Singular resolution carried in the Irish Parliament by Mr. Grattan.-The new Viceroy, the Duke of Portland. The new ministers beg for delay.--Reply of Mr. Grattan. -Lord Charlemont's letter to Mr. Fox.-Tenders of office to Mr. Grattan and his Friends.-Their refusal, and the reasons for it.Danger of delay.

THE most important proceeding with which this year opened was the celebrated Convention of Dungannon, and which at this period had a magic influence on the affairs of Ireland, and brought to a favourable conclusion those important subjects which had so often, but in vain, been proposed by the patriotic party in Ireland. On the 28th December, in the preceding year, the Ulster first regiment, commanded by Lord Charlemont,

had adopted resolutions, animadverting on the corruption of the members of Parliament, and inviting the associations of Ulster to send delegates to a town in that province, to deliberate on the state of public affairs. Mr. Dawson was the originator of this fearless summons. They were appointed to meet in Dungannon on the 15th of February.

An assembly thus summoned, without authority, to meet in arms, to debate and to resolve, appeared fraught with great danger, and if not well directed, might produce much mischief. Accordingly Lord Charlemont, Mr. Grattan, and Mr. Flood, met at Lord Charlemont's house, and there it was agreed that they should prepare the chief resolutions, to be recommended for adoption by the Convention. The first resolution was drawn up by Mr. Grattan; it was, "That a claim of any body of men, other than the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, to make laws to bind this kingdom, is unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance." The second was drawn up by Mr. Flood. It was, "That the powers exercised by the Privy Council of both kingdoms, under, or under colour or pretence of, the Law of Poyning, are unconstitutional, and a grievance." Flood objected to the word "illegal" being introduced into the first; it could not be introduced into the second, because it was not possible to declare that that which was law was illegal. He observed, that it was a very