would ftand on the fuppofition of a Union, I have no fcruple to ftate my concurrence with those who think that an attempt to grant what is called Catholic emancipation, while the local Parliament remains, would excite fuch a struggle between property and numbers as would greatly aggravate many of those mischiefs wich now exift in Ireland, tending to revolution and feparation, through the medium of a civil war of the most destructive and ferocious kind.

I have, in a former part of what I have faid, anticipated the answer to the commercial part of the propofal, and fhewn, that if we were inclined, or it were right to grant every thing that may ftill be wanting to an entirely free trade, we could not give permanent fecurity to the grant otherwife than by Union.

With regard to the union of hearts and affections, I will not recur again to any difcuffion of that fentimental kind of connexion of late fo much talked of by perfons not apt to be led aftray by a glare of words, but which, unless arifing from one of a coarfer but more intelligible fort; that which a permanent and unchangeable identity of interefts and an indiffoluble confpiratio et confenfus partium in the political machine have a neceffary tendency to produce and perpetuate; is, in my judgment, mere idle and unprofitable declamation.

The other project is the reverfe of this; if I have understood it, it might be thus expreffed: Beware of the Catholics of Ireland; tread back the rafh and inconfiderate fteps you have taken in their favour; erafe them again from the catalogue of electors, and re-enact against them that Popish code, the relaxations of

which, at least till the laft in 1793, have been the univerfal boaft and praife of his Majefty's reign on both <fides of the channel: let there, however, be this modifi 'cation in your proceeding, that although all Romanists, as they were called, fhall be prima facie confidered as having, by their prefumed fhare in the late confpiracy and rebellion, forfeited all the privileges their fect had • recovered within the last twenty or thirty years; " yet each individual among them may take upon himself the burden of proving his innocence of that charge; and, having established it (a jury being fummoned I fuppofe to try each particular case), he shall not only be reftored to thofe privileges, but fhall, on fuch purgation, be put individually into the poffeffion of every right belonging to Protestants.'

The hardship, cruelty, impolicy, and impracticability to any extent, of this fcheme, I am fatisfied did not, when it was thrown out, occur to the Hon. Propofer in the forcible manner in which they must imprefs the minds of those who have had occafion to attend much to the late history and prefent condition of that kingdom. But the numberlefs difficulties which would belong to the execution of its detail, in establishing again a religious and Proteftant, not a geographical and English pale, and in separating man by man, as they fhould present themselves to the outlet of that ideal fold of penalties and difabilities in which it is proposed to enclose and coop up the body of the Catholics; the innocent from the guilty, the fheep from the goats, were pointed out in fo clear a manner immediately after the plan was ftated to the Houfe, that it would be in vain to attempt to add any thing to what was then faid.

Sir, I am too fenfible of the unufual length of the in trufion I have been guilty of on the time and indulgence of the Houfe to continue it ftill longer, by any other apology than this, that as it has certainly not been my habit often to trouble them, fo it fhall be my practice in future to avoid trefpaffing on their patience, unless per- ‹ haps on fome rare occafions, like the prefent, where, being particularly led by a fenfe of duty to the confideration of any question of importance, I may feel it to be an irresistible part of that duty to submit to them the grounds of my opinion, and the reasons and motives for my vote.

APPEN

APPEND Í X.

No. I. Page 1.

1. The King's Meffage, prefented by Mr. Secretary Dundas, 22d January 1799.

HIS Majefty is perfuaded that the unremitting industry, with

which our enemies perfevere in their avowed defign of effecting the feparation of Ireland from this kingdom, cannot fail to engage the particular attention of Parliament, and his Majefty recommends it to this House to confider of the most effectual means of counteracting and finally defeating this defign; and he trufts that a review of all the circumftances which have recently occurred (joined to the fentiment of mutual affection and common intereft) will dispose the Parliaments of both kingdoms to provide, in the manner which they fhall judge moft expedient, for fettling fuch a complete and final adjustment as may best tend to improve and perpetuate a connexion effential for their common fecurity, and to augment and confolidate the ftrength, power, and resources of the British empire.

2. Addrefs thereupon prefented to his Majefty, 24th January 1799.

We, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled, beg leave to return your Majefty the thanks of this Houfe for your Majefty's most gracious meffage; and to affure your Majefty, that, impreffed with a deep fenfe of the magnitude of the objects to which your Majefty is pleased to direct our attention, and anxious at all times, and particularly at the prefent crifis, to avail ourselves of every opportunity to improve and perpetuate the connexion between Great Britain and Ireland (fo effential to their common fecurity,) and to promote the ftrength and profperity of every part of the British empire, we shall not fail to enter on this confideration

A a

with

with all due difpatch, and with the diligence and attention which its tranfcendent importance demands.

3. Refolutions, as moved by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and voted in the Committee of the whole House, 14th Feb. 1799.

FIRST.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, That, in order to promote and secure the effential interests of Great Britain and Ireland, and to confolidate the ftrength, power, and refources of the British empire, it will be advisable to concur in fuch meafures as may beft tend to unite the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland into one kingdom, in fuch manner, and on fuch terms and conditions, as may be eftablished by Acts of the refpective Parliaments of his Majefty's faid kingdoms.

SECOND.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, That it would be fit to propofe, as the first article, to ferve as a bafis of the said Union, that the said kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland shall, upon a day to be agreed upon, be united into one kingdom, by the name of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land.'

THIRD.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, That, for the fame purpose, it would be fit to propose, that the fucceffion to the monarchy and the imperial crown of the faid United Kingdom fhall continue limited and fettled in the fame manner as the imperial crown of the faid kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland now ftands limited and fettled, according to the exifting laws, and` to the terms of the Union between England and Scotland.

FOURTH.

That it is the opinion of this Committee, That, for the fame purpofe, it would be fit to propofe, that the faid United Kingdom be represented in one and the same Parliament, to be ftyled, 'The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and that such a number of Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and fuch a number of Members in the House of Commons, as fhall be hereafter agreed upon by Acts of the refpective Parliaments as aforefaid, fhall fit and vote in the faid Parliament on the part of Ireland, and thall be fummoned, chofen, and returned, in fuch manner as fhall be fixed by an Act of Parliament of Ireland,

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