CHAP. I. 1799. But it was not here that the real difficulty lay. It is seldom that the greater power makes any objection to absorbing the lesser; the difficulty is to get the lesser to consent to its absorption by the greater. The feris rejected ment continued to increase in many parts of the kingParliament. dom. It had been deemed necessary to bring in a 83. The Union by the Irish bill authorising the Lord-Lieutenant to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, and proclaim martial law in disturbed districts; and this was actually done in Antrim by General Nugent, and in Mayo by the Lord-Lieutenant. The Irish Parliament met on the 22d January, and in consequence of the mention of the Union in the King's speech, a most animated debate ensued on the subject. It began at four P.M., and lasted twenty-one hours, not being closed till one on the following day-when the address as a whole was carried by a majority of ONE, the numbers being 106 to 105.* Great hopes were entertained by the Government that this majority, how slender soever, would decide the question; but they were not of long duration. Two nights afterwards, on January 24, in committee on the address, Sir Lawrence Parsons moved the omission of the paragraph relating to and approving of the Union; and after another long debate, the motion was carried by a majority of five, the numbers being 109 to 104. Immense was the excitement produced, and the rejoicings held on this, as it was deemed at the time, decisive victory. Dublin was thrice illuminated the blaze of bonfires was seen far and wide on *It is a most singular circumstance how many great questions in modern history have been carried in the first instance by a majority of one only, and that slender majority, though often afterwards overcome, has generally proved ominous of the ultimate result. The Irish Union, as seen above, was carried by a majority of one, and ultimately proved successful. The Revolution of France in 1789 was carried by a majority of one on June 10, 1789-the numbers being 247 to 246. The Reform Bill, on its first introduction, was carried by a majority of one, the numbers being 301 to 300, on March 1, 1830. Sir Robert Peel displaced Lord Melbourne and introduced the free-trade system on June 4, 1841, by a majority of one-the numbers 315 to 314, the largest division on record in Parliamentary History.-See Histoire Parlementaire de la France, i. 430; Ann. Reg. 1831, 27. I. 1799. the mountains in the country. In the House of Peers CHAP. there was a majority, though not a large one, in favour of the Union; but as this had been anticipated, it was far from counterbalancing the defeat in the Commons. Still, as the Commons on the first division had decided by the smallest majority in favour of the Union, and the Lords were in its favour, there was some ground for asserting that, upon the whole, the measure had made some progress. The ability with which Lord Castlereagh conducted this debate, and the mingled firmness and, suavity of his manner, attracted universal notice, and reagh Corcalled forth the warmest expressions of satisfaction both 74. from the Lord-Lieutenant and the British Government.1* 1 Castle resp. ii. 73, this defeat on Mr Pitt, Lord Cornwallis, and Lord Castlereagh, who was only beginning political 84. life, and had not yet learned, as he afterwards did, the Effect of great number of "waverers" and waiters on Providence on any serious crisis in which the result is uncertain, had anticipated a very different result, and transmitted a few Lord Castledays afterwards to the Duke of Portland a very curious "MY DEAR LORD,-The conduct you have observed respecting the Union, in the two extraordinary debates you have had to sustain, has been so perfectly judicious, and so exactly what could have been wished, that I should do the rest of the King's servants, as well as myself, great injustice, was I to defer our fullest assurances of the satisfaction it has given us, and of the important advantages we anticipate-I should say, with more propriety, which have been derived from the temper, the firmness, and the spirit you displayed on both these important and most trying occasions; for I must attribute to them the happy termination of the business on Thursday and the defeat and total rout of Mr George Ponsonby's motion-an event which, if improved, as I have no doubt it will be, I look to as being capable of affording greater facility and security to the completion of the Union, than if the address had been carried by no greater majority than we had latterly reason to expect."-DUKE OF PORTLAND to LORD CASTLEREAGH, January 29, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 145. "I cannot omit to observe that the whole of Lord Castlereagh's conduct throughout the course of the proceeding has been so judicious and correct, that it is the decided opinion of the King's servants that the line he has hitherto observed cannot be too strictly adhered to."-DUKE of Portland to LORD CORNWALLIS, February 3, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 155. "I cannot describe to you the pleasure I feel at finding that all your exertions have been justly appreciated here, and that you stand as high as possible in the esteem and confidence both of the Ministers and of the public."-MR ELLIOT to LORD CASTLEREAGH, Burlington House, February 4, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 161. reagh. I. 1799. CHAP. analysis of the vote, showing in what way he had been so much disappointed.* The different characters of the leaders on this great question were strongly evinced by the way in which they took their first serious defeat. Marquess Cornwallis, who, with many great and good qualities, was not equal to his colleagues in the Government in political firmness, was in despair at the result, and almost abandoned all hope of ever being able, under any circumstances, to effect the deliverance of the country. Mr Pitt and Lord Castlereagh, on the other hand, regarded it only as a temporary check, the result of an extraordinary combination of private interests, such as might never arise again; and, so far from desponding, were only the more confirmed in their resolution to persevere in bringing it forward till it ultimately proved successful. The conduct of Government did not belie their firm "The late experiment has shown the impossibility of carrying a measure which is contrary to the private interests of those who are to decide upon it, and which is not supported by the voice of the country at large; and I think it is evident that, if ever a second trial of the Union is to be made, the Catholics must be included." - MARQUESS CORNWALLIS to DUKE OF PORTLAND, January 26, 1799; Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 52. "For myself I see no hope of deliverance, but feel that I am doomed to waste the remainder of my life, and sacrifice the little reputation which the too partial opinion of the world had allowed me, in this wretched country, where nothing can prosper."-LORD CORNWALLIS to GENERAL ROSS, January 28, 1799; Ibid., iii. 56. "We have failed for the present, and yet I am persuaded, setting aside the question of private interest, which is strong against us, a material progress has been made in establishing the measure. Considering the many classes of selfish politicians that were against us, our strength, notwithstanding the degree to which we were betrayed by some avowed friends and abandoned by others, was considerable, and our party sensibly brought up in tone on the second day. Though we lost the question by a few votes, I am persuaded firmness will carry the measure, and that within a reasonable time. The opposition is more of a private than a public nature, though the local clamour of Dublin gives it a popular aspect."-LORD CASTLEREAGH to the HONOURABLE SYLVESTER DOUGLAS, February 4, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 160. Mr Pitt wrote at the same time to Lord Cornwallis: "I am certainly much disappoind grieved to find that a measure so essential is frustrated for the I. 85. ment re persevere. determination. It was after having received intelligence CHAP. of the defeat in Dublin that Mr Pitt brought forward the resolutions already mentioned, pledging the British 1799. Government to proceed. Their measures in Ireland were The English not less decided. On January 26, the Duke of Port- Govern land wrote to Lord Cornwallis, again expressing the solves to unaltered determination of Government to go on with the measure, and empowering him to dismiss any person, how elevated soever in office, who had been instrumental in opposing it.* He added, after enumerating several noblemen, in particular the Marquess of Ely, whose conduct could not be overlooked-" You will take care that it be understood that the measure neither is nor never will be abandoned, and that the support of it will be considered as a necessary and indispensable test 1Cornwallis of the attachment on the part of the Irish to their con- iii. 47. nection with this country." " 1 Corresp. 86. Union Lord Castle views This rude defeat, however, while it in no degree lessened Lord Castlereagh's confidence in the ultimate success The rejec of the cause, rendered him more than ever alive to the tion of the absolute necessity of separating altogether the question of strengthens the Union from that of Catholic emancipation, and push- reagh's ing the former through by the whole weight of Govern- against ment before the latter was brought forward. Clogged emancipawith concession to the Catholics, it was evident the Union would never pass the Irish Parliament; or if it did, it would, in the present temper of men's minds, lead to a union with France, not Great Britain. Accord time by the effect of prejudice and cabal; but I have no doubt that a steady and temperate perseverance on our part will, at no distant period, produce a more just sense of what the real interest of every man who has a stake in the country requires, at least as much as his duty to Ireland and the empire at large. You will, I hope, approve our own determination to proceed here on Thursday, in opening the resolutions stating the general outline and principles of the plan."-MR PITT to LORD CORNWALLIS, January 26, 1799; Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 57. * "I cannot too strongly impress upon your Excellency's mind the determination of his Majesty's Ministers to propose this measure without delay to the Parliaments of both kingdoms, and to support it with all the weight and energy of Government."-DUKE OF PORTLAND to LORD CORNWALLIS, January 17, 1799; Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 47. immediate tion. I. 1799. CHAP. ingly, on 28th January, he wrote to the Duke of Portland: "It is plain that upon a mere principle of pursuing power, ambition, and revenge, it is the interest of the Catholics to obtain political equality without a union; for as the general democratic power of the State is increasing daily by the general wealth and prosperity, and as the Catholics form the greater part of the democracy, their power must proportionably increase whilst the kingdoms are separate and the Irish oligarchy is stationary or declining. The Catholics, therefore, if offered equality without a union, will probably prefer it to equality with a union; for, in the latter case, they must ever be content with inferiority-in the former, they would probably by degrees obtain ascendancy. In addition to the usual supporters of emancipation, many of the anti-Union party will now take up the Catholic cause, the better to defeat the question of Union. Were the Catholic question to be now carried, the great argument for a union would be lost, at least as far as the Catholics are concerned. It seems therefore, more important than ever for Government to resist its adoption, on the grounds that without a union it must be destructive; with it, that it may be safe. I am of opinion that the measure hereafter, to insure its success, must be proposed on a more enlarged principle; but if the immediate object of Government is to resist the Catholic claims, rather than to renew the question of Union, I must doubt the policy of at present holding out to them any decided expectations. It might weaken us with the Protestants, and would not strengthen us with the Catholics, whilst they look to carry their question unconnected with Union. 1 Castle resp. ii. 140-143. . I should despair of the success of the measure at any future period, so weighty is the opposition of the country reagh Cor- gentlemen in our House, were I not convinced that their repugnance turns more upon points of personal interest than a fixed aversion to the principle of union." 1* * This letter of Lord Castlereagh is very remarkable. It distinctly shows, and on irrefragable grounds, the necessity of postponing the question of eman |