Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation

Front matter

RISE AND FALL 01 THE IRISH NATION. 15 SIR JONAH BAMpiQJLLLJ)., K.C., Member in the late Irish Parliament for the Cities 01 Tuam and Cloghet The nations hare fallen, and thou still art young. Thy sun is but rising, when others are set j And, tho* slavery's cloud o'er thy morning hath hung, The full noon of freedom -hjll beam round them yet. Erin I oh Erin I tho' long in the shade, Thy star will shine out, when the proudest -.-ball fade. Moore. gubliir: PUBLISHED BY JAMES DUFFY, 7, WELLINGTON QUAY. 1853. TO THE BARON PLUNKET, JTorti (Cb.utrcllor of |wlanb. Mt dear Lord, Even whilst the twilight of Use is rapidly descending into that mysterious night, by which the whole human race must in evitably be enveloped, there yet remains one gratification, which, whilst intellect survives, age cannot deprive us of — the recollection of past pleasures.

To me none afford more happy recollections than the splendid days of my variegated life, spent in the society of those great and gifted characters, who once adorned that talented and happy island, we were then proud to call the place of our nativity. From that society all distinctions of party were banished, and poli tics were forgotten — all merged in the general glow of private friendship ; there were no contests, save those of wit — no emulation but in the animated sallies of classic convivality; there your talents were conspicuous, and your elevation was predicted. In those societies our intimacy commenced, and generated a friendship, from which my heart and my actions have never for one moment deviated. No man knew me better than your Lordship — no man knows better the sacrifices I made to uphold our country.

Once I was for midable to its enemies, but I have lost my sting, and it required the strength of more than ordinary philosophy to bear up against that DEDICATION'. overwhelming weight of injustice, illegality, haughty and irresistible oppression, which, through unconstitutional proceedings, and for a palpably corrupt purpose, were heaped upon one of the oldest and most proven friends of the British Monarchy. I trust, however, to the justice and liberality of a reformed representation, to afford me a full opportunity of bringing before their eyes that unprecedented scene of injustice, and of convincing the Empire that real culprits, of the higher orders, were at the same moment, not only screened, but elevated. On the most important subject that ever agitated (and has not ceased to agitate) the British Empire, our sentiments, my Lord, were congenial.

Chapter II

State of the Irish Parliament previous to 1779 — Previous to 1780, occasional contests arose in the Irish Parliaments — The absentees — The Irish Bar — Its influence and Independence — Mr. Burgh Prime-Sergeant — The Attorney-general — France assists America against Englaud — France the champion of Liberty ; England of Slavery — France threatens to invade Ireland — England prostrate and incapable of assisting Ireland — Moderation and patriotism of the Catholics — Character of the Irish people misrepresented and misunderstood in England — Irish character defamed by English writers — Character of the Irish peasant — Their undaunted courage — Attachment to their country — The Gentry — Romantic Chivalry of the Irish gentry — Suicide unknown in Ireland — Irish Peerage — Protestant Clergy— Catholic Clergy — Their conduct and manners, p. 36 CHAPTER IU.

Ireland awakened to a sense of h«r slavery — The Irish Parliament totally independent of England — The King acknowledged in Ireland through his Irish crown, and not through the crown of England — Perilous position of England — Moderation and attachment of Ireland — Ireland determined to demand her just rights — Conspiracy against the manufactures of Ireland — The non-consumption agreement adopted throughout all Ireland — Progress of the Volunteers — Their principal Leaders — Sir John Parnell — His character — General effects of volunteering upon the people of Ireland „ p. CONTENTS. XII

Chapter IV

Unexpected events in the Irish House of CommoDS— Mr. Grattan s Amendment to the Address— His public character and vicissitudes— The Amendment—Its effects— Sir Henry Cavendish— His character— Mr. Hussey Burgh (the Prime- Sergeant) secedes from Government aud substitutes an Amendment for Mr. Grattan's— The Amendment passed— First step towards Irish independence— The English Parliament callous to the wrongs of Ireland— Lord Shelburne and Lord Ossory propose resolutions The Irish nation determined to assert its rights— Resolution for a free trade carried unanimously — This circumstance one of tbe remote causes of the Union Rapid Progress of the Volunteers — Extraordinary military honours paid to the Duke of Leinster— Attempts to seduce the Volunteers — Earl of Charlemont — His character p. 64

Chapter V

Spirit of the Irish and humiliation of the English Government — Preparation for hostilities — Lord North's embarrassment — King's conciliatory speech and the consequent proceedings — Duplicity of Ministers — The people alarmed — Volunteer organization proceeds — Mutiny Bill — Alarming rencontre of the Volunteers and Regular Army — Intolerance of England — Further grievances of Ireland — Proceedings in the Irish Parliament— - O'Neill of Shane's Castle — His character and influence — Address to the Volunteers — Its results p. 80

Chapter VI

Observations as to the strength of a people- — German mercenaries— Farther subject of discontent in Ireland — Dispute between Ireland and Portugal — Portugal encouraged in her hostility towards Ireland by the British Minister — Perseverance of Portugal — Mr. fitzgibbon's motion — Sir Lucius O'Brien — Proposes that Ireland in her own right should declare war against Portugal— Sir. J. Blaquiere — Effects of Sir Lucius O'Brien's amendment — Distinctness of Ireland proved — Federative compact — Arguments for and against prompt proceedings — Spirited reasoning of the Irish — No Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland — Determination of the Volunteers—Origin and progress of delegated assemblies — The Northern Irish — Dungannon Meeting — Mr. Dobbs. — Extraordinary mind His eccentricity — Theories— Colonel Irwin — Account of the Dungannon meeting continued — Dungannon resolutions p. 92 CHAPTER VTL The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry, declares for Irish Independence Sketch of his character — Resistance to English Laws unanimously decided on— Declaration of the Irish Volunteers disclaiming all British authority —The Irish judges dependent on the English Government— Numerical force of the Irish Volunteers— Dissenting Clergymen Their Leaders- State of the Irish Parliament—Members divided into Classes— The leading Members— Mr. Thomas Connolly— Mr. Yelverton_His character P, CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter VIII

The alarm in England increases — The Earl of Carlisle recalled — The Duko of Portland appointed Lord Lieutenant — Duke of Portland's character He attempts to procrastinate — Remarks on the policy of an Union at that junctnre — Mr. Grattan refuses to delay his proceedings — Especial call of the House — Comparison of the English and Irish Houses of Parliament — Character of Mr. Sexton Perry — Embarrassment of the Patriots — Mr. Hutchinson Secretary of State, unexpectedly declares the assent of Government — Mr. Ponsonby moves an address considered insufficient — Dangerous dilemma of Parliament p. 123

Chapter IX

Mr. Grattan moves a declaration of rights and grievances in Parliament — Mr. Brownlow— Mr. George Ponsonby — Mr. Flood — Mr. Fitzgibbon's conduct — His Declaration of Independaace — Enthusiastic rejoicings, p. 138

Chapter X

Design of the British Government to recall the independence of Ireland — Singular conduct of the Attorney-General — His speech — Its powerful effect — Palpable dread of an Insurrection— Effect on England — Duke of Portland's duplicity — .Attains an ascendency over Earl Charlemont — Embarrassment of the English Cabinet — The Volunteers prepare for actual service — Imbecility of England — Insidious designs of the English Government — Mr. Fox — Mr. Pitt — Important meeting of Parliament — The Volunteer Regiments occupy the avenues to the House of Commons — Designs of the Duke of Portland — Dukeof Portland's speech — Mr. Grattan — Mr. Brownlow — The Recorder and Mr. AYalshe oppose Mr. Grattan's address — Mr. Flood neutral— Mr. \\ llshe — Mr. Yelverton — The Secretary — Division — Consequent embarrassment p. 151

Chapter XI

Temporary credulity of the Irish Parliament — Country Gentlemen — Singular character of Mr. Bagenal — His exploits — Popularity — His patriotiMn — Commanded many Volunteer Corps — Gives notice of a motion to reward Mr. Grattan — Anti-prophetic observation — Mr. Grattan's increasing popularity — Hasty repeal of the declaratory Act 6th Geo. Ill — And transmitted by the Viceroy to the Volunteers — Doctrine of Blackstone declared unconstitutional — Mr. Bagenal's motion to grant X 100,000, to Mr. Grattan — Mistaken pride of his friends — Extraordinary occurrence —Insidious conduct of Government — Mr. Thomas Connolly makes a most unprecedented motion — Viceroy offers the Palace to Mr. Grattan and his heirs as a reward for his services — Objects of the Government in makingthe offer — Discovered by the indiscretion of the Secretary — Col. Fitzpatrick — His character — Real objects developed — Mr. GrattaD's friends decline so large a grant — Their mistaken principle — Effects of the calumnies against Ireland — False arguments — Comparison of the conduct of Englaod and Ireland — Comparative loyalty p. CONTENTS. XIV

Chapter XII

Epitome of Irish History— Treacherous system of the English Government —First Irish Union— Second Union compared with the first — King Henry's acts in Ireland— His plan to decimate the nation— He relinquished his dominion over Ireland— Abortive attempts to colonize— Totally failed. p. 173

Chapter XIII

Ireland kept in a state of oppression and turbulence — Elizabeth becomes Queen Character public and private of Queen Elizabeth — Henry the VIII Fanaticism of the English — True principles of tolerance— Union of religion and political fanaticism — Religious schisms excited through Luther — Violent dissensions — The Irish roused — Cruel tyranny of Elizabeth— Earl of Tyrone excites the Irish— Extract from his speech — General rising of the Irish and Old English colonists— Immense slaughter Confiscation of whole provinces to Elizabeth — Accession of James the First Comparison with Elizabeth — His wise maxims — Conciliatory principles — Its full success — Charles the First — Disloyalty of the English — Ireland desolated by Cromwell p. 177

Chapter XIV

Restoration of the Stuart dynasty — Usurpation of William — Ireland remained loyal — Comparison of the people — The revolutionary principle undefined — The Irish treated as rebels by William for their loyalty to their King — Character of William the Third — Continued oppression and mal-government of Ireland — The Scotch and English rebelled — Ireland remained tranquil — Comparison of the English and Irish as to their kings — Ireland first infected by the Scotch and English rebellions — Mr. Pitt suppressed the spirit of insurrection in England promptly — Suffered it to increase in Ireland p. 187

Chapter XV

Catholic relaxation Bills opposed by Mr. Rowley — Sir Edward Newenbam — Doctor Patrick Duigenam — His Character — Mr. Ogle — Bills passed — Unjust doctrine — Change in the Irish Parliament — Mr. Fox's candour — His speech — Deception of the British Government developed — Marquis of Rockingham — Total absence of energy — Mr. Burke — Inactive as to Ireland — New debates — Embarrassing consequences of Mr. Grattan's address — Mr. Grattan's motion objectionable — Mr. Flood's reply Unfortunate collision of Grattan and Flood — Mr. Grattan's fallacious motion — Mr. Flood's reply- — Mr. Montgomery moves to build an Irish navy Negatived — Parliament prorogued — Most important session Moderation of Ireland — Duke of Portland's hypocritical speech p. 196

Chapter XVI

Insufficiency of Mr. Grattan's measures— Death of the Marquis of Rockingham and its consequences — Earl Temple Lord Lieutenant Mr. Gren- CONTENTS. XV ville Secretary — His character — Lord Temple — Not unpopular Mr. Corry a principle instrument of Lord Temple — Proceedings of the Volun teers — Strong resolutions to oppose English Laws — Bad effects of the dissension between Grattan and Flood — Sir George Young — Effect of Sir George Young's speech — Lord Mansfield's conduct accounted for — Consequences of these speeches — British Parliament belie their own Act — Lord Abingdon denies the King's right to pass tho Bill — England by Statute admitted her usurpation, and relinquished for ever her right to legislate for Ireland — Renunciation Act — Mr. Grattan still perversely opposes Mr. Flood -The Renunciation Act confirmed Mr. Flood's doctrine . p. 20S

Chapter XVII

Lord Charlemont's courtly propensities — Comparison of Grattan and Flood — Consequences of their jealousy to the country — The people enlightened, learn the true state of their situation — Discussion — And Arguments — Inefficiency of the measures as a future security — A Reform of Parliament indispensable to public security — Mr. Pitt — His duplicity and corruption — Constitutional reasons for a Reform of Parliament — Deduction — Conclusion drawn by the Volunteers^Provedhy incontrovertible fact — State of Electors and Representatives compared— Mr. Cm-ran — His character p. 221

Chapter XVIII

Volunteers received by the King — Happy state of Ireland — Progressively prosperous — Untoward consequences of the collision between Flood and Grattan — A second Dungannon meeting of delegated Volunteers — Mr. Flood gains ground — Arguments — A National Convention decided on — Their first meeting — Interesting procession of the Delegates described — Entrance of the Delegates — Extraordinary coincidence of localities— Embarrassing situation — The Delegates meet at the Rotunda p. 234

Chapter XIX

The Bishop of Derry takes his seat at the Convention — His splendour — And pageantry — Procession — Popularity — Extraordinary visit to the House of Lords — A Gjiard of Honour mounted at his house — Entirely devoted to the Irish people — His great qualities and acquirements — Opposes Charlemont and Grattan — First treacherous scheme of the British Government again to enslave Ireland — The spirit of the Irish Parliament declines — Reasons for Reform in Parliament — Absolutely essential to her prosperity — Further traits of Lord Charlemont's character — His inefficiency — His view^ — Opposes the Bishop of Derry 's election for the Presidency of the National Convention — Many members of Parliament attend the Convention also — Earl Charlemont's dilemma — Proceedings of the Convention — The Bishop and Mr. Flood acquired the ascendency — The Parliament and Cemvention — Desperate step of Government — Fitzgibbon's phillippic — Most violent debates— Bill rejected — Extraordinary coincidence of facts — Mr. Connolly's motion — Feeble and insiduous resolu- CONTENTS. ♦ion of Lord Charlemont— Fatal adjournment— Called a meeting of his partisans — Breaks his trust— Inexcusable conduct— False statement— Virtually dissolves the Convention before the full meeting— Lord Charle mont justly reprobated— Volunteers beat to arms — Lord Charlemont's intolerance — Opposed by the Bishop of Derry P- 245

Chapter XX

Celebrated Address of the Volunteers to the Bishop— Reply of the Bishop —Some thought tbe Bishop's answer too strong— A new Bill suggested New measures of Earl Charlemont— Decline of the Volunteers — Insmoerity of the concessions — Cupidity of English traders —^rdid interest absorbed her justice — Commercial treaty and tariff proposed — Commercial propositions — Mr. Pitt's duplicity— Magnificence of the Irish Court The propositions rejected — Mr. Brownlow opposes the eleven propositions — Passed the Commons — Mr. Pitt proposes twenty propositions — Embarrassment of the Secretary — Most violent debates in the Irish Parliament — The Minister virtually defeated — Tbe treaty euded — Defeat of the treaty effected by the country gentlemen — Mr. Forbes a leading member of the House of Commons— Mr. Hardy— Mr. Carleton, Solicitor- General — His singular character P 258

Chapter XXI

Death of the Duke of Rutland — Marquis of Buckingham's second Government — The question of a Regency — Mr. Pitt's conduct — The Prince submitted to the restraints — The Irish resisted, and refused to restrain him — Unprecedented case — Collision between the two Parliaments — Round Robin — Irish address to the Prince — Sketch of the arguments on the Regency question iu Ireland — Constitutional state of both nations — Conduct of the nations contrasted — Reasons for the Irish Parliament proceeding by address, and not by statute, to appoint a Regent — Question whether the Parliaments of England or Ireland had committed a breach of the Constitution — Threats of the Viceroy — The Round Robin — Viceroy determined to retire — Reception of the Irish Delegates by the Prince — Address of the Irish Parliament to the Prince — Reply of the Prince, eulogising the Irish Legislature — Afterwards neglected p. 270

Chapter XXII

Ireland acted on her independence — Prosperous state of Ireland at that period — The Rise of the Irish Nation consummated by the withdrawal of the Viceroy — Particularly important observation — Lord Westmoreland — Major Hobart — His character — State of Ireland on his accession to office — Concessions by Goverment — Delusion and negligence of the Opposition — Catholic emancipation commenced— Arguments of the Catholics Catholic petition rejected by a great majority— Deep designs of Mr. Pitt Mr. Pitt proceeds with his measures to promote a Union Lord Fitzwilliam appointed Lord Lieutenant — His character — Deceived and calumniated by Mr. Pitt— Great popularity of the Lord Lieutenant Earl Fitzwilliam recalled — Fatal consequences — Ireland given up to Lord Clare, and in- CONTENTS. XVII surrection excited — Lord Camden— United Irishmen — Unprecedented Organization — Lord Camden 's character — Despotic cenduct of lord Clare — Earl Carhampton com mander-in-chief — Disobeys Lord Camden — Again disobeys — The King's sign-manual commands him to obey — He resigns, p. 279

Chapter XXIII

Insurrection — Topography of Wexford county — Persecutions and cruelties of the Wexford Gentry — Commencement of Hostilities — State of insurgents — And their number — Expected attack on Dublin — Excellent plan of the insurgents — Executions in cold blood, and barbarous exhibition in the Castle-yard — Major Bacon executed without trial — Major Foot defeated — Colonel Walpole defeated and killed — General Fawcett defeated — General Dundas and the cavalry defeated by the pikemen — Captain Armstrong's treachery — Henry and John Shears — The execution of the two brothers — Progress of the insurrection — Different battles — Important battle of Arklow — Spirited reply of Colonel Skerritt — Battle of Ross Bagenal Harvey — Death of Lord Mountjoy — Unprecedented instance of heroism in a boy — The Royal Army driven out of the town — Description of Vinegar Hill — Details of the engagement — General Lake's horse shot under him — Enniscorthy twice stormed — Wounded peasants burned — Mr. Grogan tried by a Court Martial — His witness shot by the military — Bill of attainder — Ten thousand pounds costs to the Attorney- General — Barbarous execution of Sir Edward Crosby aud Mr. Grogan, under colour of a Court Martial. p. 291

Chapter XXIV

Appointment of Lord Cornwallis — His crafty conduct — French invade Ireland in a small number — Pritish troops totally defeated, their artillery all taken — Races of Castlebar — Ninety militia men hanged by Lord Cornwallis French outwit Lord Cornwallis — Lord Jocelyn taken prisoner — French surrendered — Mr. Pitt proceeds in his projects of a Union — The subserviency of the Lords — The Bishops — Bishops of Waterford and Down Political characters of Lord Cornwallis and Lord Castlereagh — Unfortunate results of Lord Cornwallis' conduct in every quarter of the world— Lord Castlereagh — Union proposed — Great splendour of the Chancellor — Celebrated Bar Meeting — Mr. Saurin — Mr. Saint George Daly Mr. Thomas Grady — Mr. Grady 's curious harangue — Mr. Thomas Goold's speech — Thirty-two County Judges appointed by Lord Clare — Lord Clare opposes the Bar — Opening of the session of 1799 — Lord Clare'3 great power — Lord Tyrone's character — Seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald — Mr. John Ball— His character p. 310

Chapter XXV

The three leading arguments used in Parliament in favour of a Union- Arguments of the Anti-Unionists — Not England which quelled the insurrection English militia never acted in Ireland — Mr. William Smith supports the Union — Corrupt conduct of Mr. Trench and Mr. Fox — Mr. CONTENTS.

XVIII Trench palpably gained over— Mr. Trench recanted what he had a few moments before declared— The Place Bill and its unfortunate effects- Mr. Fox created a Judge of the Common Pleas for his tergiversation— Originally a Whig Made a -false declaration to avoid being counted - Effect of the Place Bill— His second deception — Conduct of Mr. Cooke and Admiral Pakenham— Mr. Marshall's disgraceful conduct—Debate commenced— Great popularity of the Speaker — Lord Castlereagh's policy Sir John Parnell denied the competence of both the King and the Parliament to enact a Union — Mr. Tighe the same — Great effect of Mr. Ponsonby's speech — Remarkable agitation — Description of the scene — Lord Castlereagh's violent speech — Attack on Mr. Ponsonby — Mr. Pon sonby's sarcastic reply — Lord Castlereagh's desperation— Mr John Egan attacks Mr. William Smith — Sir Laurence Parsons made a most able and eloquent speech — Mr. Frederick Falkiner nothing could corrupt— Prime-Serjeant Fitzgerald dismissed — Mr. Plunket's speech — Spirited speech of Col. O'Donnell — Second shameful tergiversation of Mr. Trench — Created Lord Ashtown — Most important incident in the Annals oi Ireland — State of the House of Commons — Mr. Fortescue's fatal speech — Mr. French and Lord Cole seceded — John Claudius Beresford — Extraordinary change in the feelings of the House — Sarcastic remark of Sir Henry Cavendish — Great popularity of the Speaker — Joy and exulta tion of the people — Singular anecdote of Mr. Martin — Meeting of the Lords — Their infatuation — Conduct of Lord Clare — Unpopularity of the Irish Peers — Two Bishops, Down and Limerick, opposed him — Character of the Bishop of Down — Commission of compensation — Subsequent pro ceedings of the Viceroy and Lord Castlereagh — Ruinous consequence of Mr. Fortescue's conduct — Mistaken conduct of the Anti-Unionists — Their embarrassment — Bad effects of Mr. Fortescue's conduct — The Catholics — State of parties p. 323

Chapter XXVI

she different views of the Opposition — Opposition not sufficiently organised or connected — Disunion in consequence of the Catholic question — Catholics duped — Alternately oppressed and fostered — Lord Clare's great influence — Very important despatch from Mr. Pitt to Lord Cornvvallis — Unprecedented plan of Lord Castlereagh — Remarkable dinner The plan or conspiracy — Acceded to — Rewards in perspective — Meeting of Anti- TJnionists at Lord Charlemont's — Opposition Lords meet— Lord Castlereagh's plan laid before them — -Counter-plan proposed Rejected — Earl Belmore — His motion to the same effect as Mr. Ponsonby's Rejected Very numerous addresses against the Union — Particularly Dublin— A Privy Council — Lord Clare's Violence — Military execution— People killed and wounded— Inefficiently brought before Parliament Anti-Union dinner— Mr. Handcock of Athlone, a conspicuous patriot Corrupt state of the British Parliament — Compared with that of Ireland at the Union — Mr. Han deock bribed p_ CONTENTS. XIX

Chapter XXVII

Felons in the gaols induced, by promise of pardon, to sign petitions in favour of the Union — Every means of corruption resorted to by the Viceroy — Viceroy doubtful of future support — Resorted to Place Dill- Unparalleled measure of public bribery avowed by Lord Castlereagh — Bill to raise £1,500,000, for bribes — Grave reflection on the King's assenting to an avowed act of corruption — A few bribes called Compensation — The British Parliament had anticipated the proposal— Lord Cornwallis's speech peculiarly artful — Lord Loftus moves the address — Lord Castlereagh's reason — Sir Laurence Parsons important motion and speech — Debate continued all night — Lord Castlereagh's plan put into execution—Mr. Bushe — Mr. Plunkett — Mr. St. George Daly — His character — His attack on Mr. Bushe — On Mr. Plunket — Replied to by Mr. Barrington — Mr. Peter Burrows — Affecting appearance of Mr. Grattan in the House of Commons — Returned for Wicklow the preceding evening — The impediment laid by Government —Returned at midnight — Entered the house at seven in the morning in a debilitated state — Description of his entry — Powerful sensation caused by his splendid oration — Mr. Corry induced to reply — No effect on the House — The three Bagwells seceded from Government — Lord Ormond changed to the minster — Mr. Arthur Browne's tergiversation — Division — Mr. Foster's speech — Important incident — Bad conduct of the clergy — Very singular circumstance — Mr. Annesley chairman of the committee on the Union — Bishop of Clogher returns Mr. Annesley to Parliament — Messrs. Ball and King petition — Succeed — Mr. Annesley declared not duly elected — Left the chair and quitted the House— Not a legal chairman — Shameful and palpable act of corruption by Sir William Gladowe Newcomer. — Bribe proved — Bribery of Mr. Knox and Mr. Crowe — Their speeches against the Union — The Earl of Belvidere most palpably bribed to change sides — His resolutions — Mr. Knox and Mr. Crowe bribed — Mr. Usher bribed to secrecy — The corrupt agreement of Mr. Crowe and Mr. Knox to vacate their seats for Union members, in presence of Mr. Usher, a parson — The terms with Lord Castlereagh Mr. Charles Ball's affecting conduct — The Anti- Union Members, despairing withdraw iu a body — Last Sitting of tbe Irish Parliament — The House surrounded by military — Most affecting scene— Bad consequences to England — Unhappiness of tbe Speaker — Ireland extinguished p. or THE IRISH NATION.

Chapter I

I. More than six centuries had passed away, since Ireland had first acknowledged a subordinate connexion with the English monarchy — her voluntary but partial submission to the 3ceptres of Henry and of Richard had been construed by their successors into the right of conquest — and the same spirit of turbulence and discord, which had generated the treachery and treasons of M'Morrough, was carefully cultivated by every English potentate, as the most effectual barrier against the struggles of a restless and semi-conquered people — and Ireland, helpless and distracted, groaned for ages in obscurity, under the accumulated pressure of internal strife and external tyranny. The apathy produced by this habitual oppression had long benumbed the best energies of Ireland ; — her national spirit, depressed by the heavy hand of arbitrary restraint, almost forgot its own existence ; and the proudest language of her constitution could only boast, that she was the annexed dependant of a greater and a freer country.

It was not until an advanced stage of the American revolt had attracted the attention of enlightened Europe to the first principles of civil liberty, that Ireland began steadily to reflect on her own depri vations. Commerce and constitution had been withdrawn from her grasp, and the usurped supremacy* of the British Parliament gave a death-blow to every struggle of Irish independence. * The claim of the British Parliament to bind Ireland by British statutes was at length most ably refuted by Mr. William Molyneux, reprer* But in whatever relative situation the two nations really stood, the same jealous and narrow principle might be perceived uniformly attending every measure enacted as to the Irish people. If at any time a cheering ray of commercial advantage chanced for a moment to illuminate the dreary prospects of Ireland, the sordid spirit of monopoly instantly arose in England, and rendered every effort to pro mote a beneficial trade, or advance a rival manufacture, vain and abortive.

Commercial jealousy and arbitrary government united, therefore, to suppress every struggle of the Irish nation, and root up every seed of prosperity and civilization. Alarmed at the increasing population, the unsubdued spirit, and the inexhaustible resources of that strong and fertile island; a dread of her growing power excited a fallacious jealousy of her future importance. In her timidity or her avarice, England lost sight of her truest interests, and of her nobler feelings ; and kings, usurpers, and Viceroys, as they respectively exercised the powers of govern ment, all acted towards Ireland upon the same blind and arbitrary priuciples, which they had imbibed from their education, or inherited from their predecessors. This desperate policy, so repugnant to the attachment, and fatal to the repose of the two countries, excited the spirit of eternal war fare: — an enthusiastic love of national independence sharpened the sword, and the zealots of religious fanaticism threw away the scab bard — the septs fought against each other, the English against all — the population was thinned, but the survivors became inveterate ; and though the wars and the massacres of Elizabeth and of CromwelL by depopulating, appeared to have subjugated the nation — the tri umph was not glorious — and the conquest was not complete.

Direct persecution against principles only adds fuel to a conflagra tion — the persons of men may be coerced — but it is beyond the reach of human power to subdue the rooted, hereditary passions and prejudices of a persevering, ardent, and patriotic people: — such a nation may be gained over by address, or seduced by dissimulation, but can never be reclaimed by force, or overcome by persecution — yet from the very first intercourse between the two countries, that destructive system of force and of dissension, which so palpably led to the miseries of Ireland, had been sedulously cultivated, and unre mittingly persevered in. sentative for Dublin University, in his celebrated work, published in 1698, entitled, " The Case of Ireland." Thus grievously oppressed, aud ruinously disunited, Ireland struggled often, but she struggled in vain: the weight of her chains was too heavy for the feebleness of her constitution, and eveiy effort to enlarge her liberty only gave a new pretext to the conqueror, to cir cumscribe it within a still narrower compass.