VI. CHAP. East Indies, were reprobated as reducing the country to little less than a state of slavery; 1785. although that surplus, granted in return for the most substantial advantages, was to be applied to the support of the naval force of the empire, under the direction of the Irish parliament itself; and the prohibition of trade to the East Indies, only placed the Irish in precisely the same state, in which all the English were, except the East India company, and was indispensably necessary for the preservation of public faith and chartered rights. It is to be observed too, that Mr. Pitt had declared it to be his intention to empower the company to take from the ports of Ireland such part of their outward bound cargo as they might find convenient; and likewise to import directly into Ireland, from the East Indies, such articles of the produce of that country, as they might think proper; which would have been important provisions in favor of Ireland, and ought to have prevented any dissatisfaction on the ground of the East Indian trade. But unfortunately, the Irish at this moment were taught to consider every thing which originated in England as an object of jealousy and mistrust, and as concealing hostile intentions under the guise and semblance of friendship. It is also to be remem bered, that there always existed in Ireland, a large body of men, who, from various causes, but chiefly from hostility to the protestant ascendancy, were anxious to produce a separation between the two kingdoms, and who never failed to encourage and foment any discontent which might arise with respect to the conduct of Great Britain. On the 12th of August, Mr. Orde brought the plan before the Irish house of commons; and after a speech explanatory of the grounds upon which the parliament in England had altered, and added to, the original resolutions, he moved for a bill similar to that which Mr. Pitt had introduced into the British house of commons. The motion, after a long and violent debate, which lasted till nine o'clock in the morning, was carried by only 128 to 107; which small majority induced Mr. Orde, a few days afterwards, when he presented the bill, and obtained leave to have it printed, to inform the house, that it was not his intention to proceed any farther with the business in the present session. He was, he said, desirous of giving leisure, both to parliament and to the public, to examine and to understand the plan; and he trusted, that when the present ferment should have subsided, and the system should be calmly and dispassionately con CHAP. VI. 1785. VI. 1785. CHAP. sidered, free from the errors of misrepresented facts, and the delusion of sophistical reasoning, it would be found eminently calculated to promote the prosperity of Ireland, and in no degree violating the privileges she now enjoyed: he added, that when he should have reason to think, that such a conviction had taken place, he should again call the attention of the house to the subject. The failure of this plan was a most severe mortification to Mr. Pitt. He had labored unremittingly for nearly twelve months, to make it as perfect and as unexceptionable as its extensive and complicated nature would allow; and he was satisfied that it would have proved highly conducive to the most important interests of Ireland, as well as to the general welfare of the empire. He thought it, however, wise in the Irish government to yield to the present clamor, and to wait for a change of sentiment, to which he looked forward, at no distant period, with the utmost confidence*. Some communication passed in the summer of 1787, between Mr. Pitt and the Irish government, relative to the revival of this plan, with such alterations as might be thought expedient, but it was determined not to make the attempt. It may be a question, whether the adoption of . this plan would not have prevented the continuance and increase of that discontent, and of those distresses, which at length produced open rebellion in Ireland. VI. There being now no occasion for the British CHAP. parliament to meet on the 27th of October, it was prorogued by commission, without a speech from the throne. DURING the progress of this unsuccessful attempt to improve the trade and manufactures of Ireland, the volunteers were exerting all their influence to excite in the nation, a spirit of disaffection and hostility to Great Britain, which must have contributed in no small degree, to render the commercial propositions unpopular, the obvious tendency of which was to establish a more intimate and beneficial connection between the two kingdoms. A reform of parliament continued to be their professed object; and after the rejection of Mr. Flood's bill, they had recourse to a most unconstitutional and dangerous expedient. On the 7th of June 1784, they called a general meeting of the citizens of Dublin, who passed a variety of resolutions; in which, among other things, they asserted, that the people had an unalienable right to correct any abuses which had crept into the representation, and that the existing house of commons was notoriously venal and corrupt: they farther agreed, that an address should be circulated throughout the kingdom, for the purpose of stimulating the 1785. VI. 1785. CHAP. body of the people to a general and zealous co-operation to accomplish a reform in the representation; and also, that a petition should be presented to his majesty, praying for the dissolution of the present parliament. This address to the people, contained a detailed account of the various hardships, under which the Irish had long labored, and attributed them to the defects of their representation in parliament: it stated, that all the endeavors, which had hitherto been exerted to obtain a reform, had failed; and therefore, they called upon their fellow-subjects to unite with them, in adopting some more efficacious mode of application; and with that view they proposed, "that five persons should be elected from each county, city, and considerable town, to meet in Dublin, on the 25th of October, in national congress, to deliberate, digest, and determine on such measures, as may seem to them most conducive to re-establish the constitution on a pure and permanent basis, and secure to the inhabitants of this kingdom, peace, liberty, and safety." This address was farther remarkable for recommending, that the roman catholics should be admitted to vote at the election of members of parliament. The petition to the king, after complaining of the inadequate state of representation, the long |