CHAP.

I.

1799.

ings. Without presuming to recommend any alteration of the plan of representation decided on, it may be observed that, holding as it does a fair hand between the popular and borough influence, like all compromises, by its impartiality it pleases neither of the parties. If the obstacles above alluded to are so serious as to retard, if not defeat, this great measure, it is worth looking at the possibility of diminishing or removing some of them. The borough objection may be removed at once by pe- porad cuniary compensation; the county impediment, by giving Feb. 1, a second member. The other three classes cannot be Castlereagh Corresp. ii. reconciled by any change in the distribution of the 151, 152. representation."

1 Lord Castlereagh to Duke of

1799;

79.

Govern

reagh on

emancipa.

Deeply impressed with the numerous difficulties with which the measure was beset, and the hourly increasing Views of strength of the opposition which was getting up against ment and it, Lord Castlereagh clearly perceived and strongly im- Lord Castlepressed upon Government the absolute necessity, what- Catholic ever might be done afterwards, of making the conces- tion. sion of the Catholic claim to seats in Parliament no part of the measure of Union. It was difficult enough to carry it without such a clog; with it, the attempt would be altogether hopeless. The Duke of Portland and Mr Pitt, while intending to grant emancipation, in the end entirely concurred in this opinion.* Lord Castlereagh saw that under the existing franchise the Roman Catholics, from their superior numbers, would

I wrote to the Lord-Lieutenant yesterday on the subject of his conversation with Lord Kenmare, in which I deprecated, in the strongest terms, any encouragement being given to the Catholics to hope for any alteration in their situation, as long as the Parliament of Ireland should continue in its present state. The more I consider that proposition, the more I am convinced that it never ought to be attempted, unless a union takes place; that, in the present circumstances-I mean the state of Ireland's present independence—it would be equally injurious to the orderly Catholics, who are now possessed of landed and personal property, and to the Protestants; and that it would once more deluge the country with blood; and that what is called Catholic emancipation cannot be attempted with safety to the persons of either persuasion but through the medium of a union, and by the means of a United Parliament." -DUKE OF PORTLAND to LORD CASTLEREAGH, January 29, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 147.

CHAP.

I.

1798.

soon acquire the command of a purely Irish Parliament; and the moment they did so, nothing but an immediate civil war between them and the Protestants was to be anticipated, for the Catholics had the real and imaginary wrongs of more than a century to avenge. It would be otherwise in a United Parliament, for there the Catholics would be in as decided a minority as the Protestants would be in one in Ireland only. Therefore, it was that uniou must precede emancipation, and the former measure Cores be unclogged by the latter, if success in either was to be looked for.1

1 Castlereagh

142-153.

80.

resistance

to the

measure.

Meanwhile the excitement rapidly increased, and the Increased opposition became more formidable as the time approached when the measure was to be brought forward in Parliament. Every effort was made on both sides to gain votes in the House of Commons in Dublin, by means of Government influence and imperial considerations on the one side, and appeals to religious enthusiasm and national traditions on the other. The bankers and merchants of Dublin met on the 18th December, the Lord Mayor in the chair, when strong resolutions condemnatory of the measures were passed unanimously, on the motion of Mr Latouche, seconded by Mr Beresford.* In several other counties equally hostile demonstrations were made, especially in the north, the stronghold hitherto of

Dec. 18.

* "Resolved, that, since the renunciation, in the year 1782, of the power of Great Britain to legislate for Ireland, the commerce and prosperity of this kingdom have eminently increased.

66

Resolved, that we attribute these blessings, under Providence and the gracious favour of our beloved Sovereign, to the wisdom of the Irish Parliament.

66

Resolved, that we look with abhorrence on any attempt to deprive the people of Ireland of their Parliament, and thereby of their constitution and immediate power of legislating for themselves.

"Resolved, that, impressed with every sentiment of loyalty to our King, and affectionate attachment to British connection, we conceive that to agitate in Parliament a question of legislative union between this kingdom and Great Britain would be highly dangerous and impolitic.

"Resolved unanimously, that the Lord Mayor be requested to sign these resolutions, in the name of the bankers and merchants of Dublin, and that the same be published in all the public papers."—Castlereagh Correspondence,

ii. 48.

Protestantism and attachment to the British connection. Lord Cornwallis and Lord Castlereagh in vain exerted themselves to the utmost to win over, or at least neutralise the influence of, the Protestant magnates, who had hitherto been the chief supporters of Government ; they were only partially successful. The Marquess of Downshire was a decided opponent; and his nominee in the county of Down, the colleague of Lord Castlereagh, voted against the measure when it was brought forward in Parliament. Lord Fingall and the Roman Catholics stood aloof in moody silence, neither supporting nor resisting the measure. So strongly was Lord Castlereagh impressed with the difficulties, all but insuperable, of the attempt, that he wrote to the Duke of Portland on January 2, that nothing but a firm resolution on the part of Government to carry it through at all hazards, and a general conviction that this was the case, could overcome these difficulties.* Nor were ruder appliances calculated for ruder minds awanting; for, in answer to a secret letter of Lord Castlereagh of the same date, Mr Wickham, on the 7th January, despatched a considerable sum of money to be at the LordLieutenant's disposal.t

"Nothing but an established conviction that the English Government will never lose sight of the Union till it is carried, can give the measure a chance of success. The friends of the question look with great anxiety for Mr Pitt's statement. It is not only of the last importance, from the ability with which the subject will be handled, but from the opportunity it will afford him of announcing to this country the determined purpose of Government in both kingdoms to be discouraged neither by defeat nor difficulty, but to agitate the question again and again till it succeeds. This principle is the foundation of our strength, and cannot be too strongly impressed on this side of the water. I have stated it without reserve to several, and it has universally been received by them as a pledge of our success, and that, with a purpose so manly, our friends cannot hesitate to stand by us."-LORD CASTLEREAGH to DUKE OF PORTLAND, January 2, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 81.

"Immediately on the receipt of your lordship's letter, marked 'most secret,' I waited on the Duke of Portland at Burlington House, who, without loss of time, wrote both to Mr Pitt and Lord Grenville on that part of the letter which seemed to press the most, and I have the satisfaction to inform your lordship that a messenger will be sent off from hence in the course of VOL. I. G

CHAP.

I.

1799.

CHAP.

I.

1799.

81.

Lord Castle

reagh's advice to Govern

ment on the

be assumed

forward the

measure.

As the day of conflict in the Irish Parliament approached, which was towards the end of January, the efforts on both sides and the universal excitement became every hour greater. "We are making," said Lord Castlereagh, "every exertion to collect our strength on the first day of the session. Much depends in this language to country, at all times, on first impressions; it is, therefore, in bringing important to assume a tone of confidence, and to avow at the outset, boldly, the measure to which the speech alludes. Decided language on the address will strengthen us in our future proceedings. It is better to provoke the discussion than to wait for the attack. I shall endeavour prevail on the Chancellor to make one of his strong speeches in the Lords, which, thrown into circulation, will have its effect."1 Thus early did Lord Castlereagh resp. ii. 85. give proof of that resolution of character and fixity of purpose by which through the whole of life he was so eminently distinguished. The advice he gave was followed, as, in the circumstances, it was undoubtedly the most wise; and it was resolved to bring forward the outlines of the measure on the first night, and recommend it in the King's speech. Meanwhile Mr Pitt exerted himself personally to win over, or at least neutralise, the most important opponents of the measure, especially the Marquess of Downshire, but with very little effect; and set himself seriously to work to carry out Lord Castlereagh's suggestion as to the union of the exchequer of

1 Castle

reagh Cor

to-morrow, with the remittance particularly required for the present moment; and the Duke of Portland has every reason to hope that means will soon be found of placing a larger sum at the Lord-Lieutenant's disposal."-MR WICKHAM to LORD CASTLEREAGH, January 7, 1799 ("private and most secret"); Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 82. The sum sent over on this occasion was £5000: the numbers of the notes are still to be found in the State Paper Office.-Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 34. Lord Castlereagh answered on January 10-"I have only a moment to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 7th. The contents of the messenger's despatches are very interesting. Arrangements, with a view to further communications of the same nature, will be highly advantageous, and the Duke of Portland may depend on their being carefully applied."-LORD CASTLEREAGH to MR WICKHAM, January 10, 1799; Cornwallis Correspondence, iii. 34.

the two countries, and their gradual approximation to an equality in matters of taxation.*

CHAP.

I.

1799.

82. The Union

in the

House.

At length the eventful day arrived when the measure was brought forward in the House of Commons in both countries. It was announced in the King's speech in the is passed British House, in terms which left no doubt that it British was the settled determination of Government at all hazards to carry it through.t The subject was formally brought forward by Mr Pitt on the 31st of the same month, when he moved eight resolutions in favour of the Union. The Opposition was so ill advised as to move an amendment, which was done by Mr Sheridan; but the resolutions were carried by a majority of 140 to 15. In the House of Lords the question of an address, the echo of the speech, was carried without a division; and upon a conference of the two Houses, a joint address was presented to the King, and most graciously received. So Parl. Hist. far as Great Britain was concerned, therefore, the question Ann. Reg. was carried without difficulty, and both Parliament and 113. the country were nearly unanimous on the subject.1

"I received this morning your letter, enclosing a paper respecting the contribution of Ireland to the general expense, the suggestions of which, I think, entitled to great attention, particularly that (which is a very material addition to the ideas before stated) relating to the gradual equalisation of taxes, and consequent abolition of all distinction in matters of revenue. . . I had a very long conversation with Lord Downshire, who is full of alarm from the consequence of pressing the measure. I urged to him every degree of argument and persuasion that I thought most likely to weigh with him; but I cannot be sure that I succeeded in anything but convincing him that, in all events, the Union will be persisted in. I endeavoured in vain to obtain a positive assurance from him that he would go himself immediately, or write to his friends to support, but could not bring him to a point, and he left me apparently undecided and embarrassed."-MR PITT to LORD CASTLEREAGH, January 17, 1799; Castlereagh Correspondence, ii. 116.

✦ “GEORGE R.-His Majesty is persuaded that the unremitting industry with which our enemies persevere in their avowed design of separating Ireland from this country cannot fail to engage the particular attention of Parliament; and his Majesty recommends it to the House to consider of the most effectual means of finally defeating this design by disposing the Parliament of both kingdoms to proceed in the manner which they shall judge most expedient for settling such a complete and final adjustment as may best tend to improve and perpetuate a connection essential for their common security, and for consolidating the strength, power, and resources of the British empire."HANSARD'S Parliamentary History, January 22, 1798.

xxxiv.1471;

1801, 112,