of cementing, tend to their feparation, and ultimately prove deftructive to both. Bodies linked together by fo unnatural a bond of Union as mutual diftruft and hatred, muft eventually be divorced, or exift together, to their mutual hatred and deftruction.

Although the Author of the following pages muft in common with every inhabitant of this metropolis lament the melancholy alteration this city muft undergo from the removal of her Legislature; yet as a good citizen he would chearfully and fpeedily forget the humiliating circumftance, were he fully afcertained it muft ferve the general intereft of the kingdom, (trufts however he has fhewn the reverfe, and that the principle itself is not receivable) he would diveft himself of every partial confideration and local regard, which in such a case ought no more to be regarded, compared with the aggregated public weal, than the wafted duft in the balance, easily diffipated without weight, without confideration. However much every country muft fuffer from the fudden and unexpected alteration of the feat of Government, particularly to another country,

country, and it may fairly be compared to the heart in the human frame, which at once animates, and vivifies the whole kingdom, circulates blood and vital warmth from centre to circumference, and is, in fact, the mirror in which the profperity of the reft of the country is reflected with its departure, the fine arts, all the elegant and cultivated pursuits which adorn, improve and embellish life, fade and droop away.

Occidit, occidit, Spes omnis, et fortuna noftri nominis.

Some perfons imagine, and argue, as if a confolidation of the Legislatures would correct the vices and cure the corruption of Par liament, and abfolutely reafon as if the pu rity of the Irish reprefentatives would in crease, when removed from their conftitu ents, and as if croffing George's channel could wash away all political depravity, and even render the objects of their former, condemnation (for furely many of the members of the present Parliament could be again chofen) men of pure and immaculate integrity, as if they confidered the British Senate the chofen fpot, the confecrated temple of genuine and unfullied freedom, and that of Ireland no better than the Augean C ftable,

ftable, which no time or labour could cleanse of its filth and free from its impurities. But, my friends and countrymen, you have too much understanding to be deluded by such monstrous and absurd positions, which have fuch little foundation, either in fact or in a knowledge of human nature. You know the reverfe too well. The British mace is equally liable as the Irish to be warped by the powerful and infinuating touch of corruption. Should the accufation be true, and well founded, furely commiffioners appointed from so rank and vitiated a body, would be most unfit te tranfact fuch very momentous concerns, as negociating for you. The argument would go against entertaining or receiving the principle of Union at all.

Suppofing, for a moment, the principle of an incorporate Union admiffible, furely poised as we are at prefent, between diftraction and repose, we should not venture to agitate this or any other subject of political magnitude, and the public mind after the great exertion it has made, might reafonably expect fome relaxation. How frantic and how culpable is it now deemed in Eng

land.

land to encourage the difcuffion of any to pic, which may in the remoteft degree re-. vive political controverfy-how much more. fo in Ireland, when the Minifter, in the fpeech from the Throne, at the commencement of the prefent feffion, has told you, the spirit of rebellion is only checked and crushed, but by no means extinguished, in Ireland. Follow then the wife example of your fifter country, avoid all political difcuffions, unless either obtruded on your confideration, or of fuch a momentous nature, as to involve in its confequences every thing dear to you and your pofterity.

Attollens humeris famamque fataque nepotum.

While I write, I tremble for the fate and character of my country. I hope to see it emerge from barbarity and obfcurity, and if independent, truft it may at fome future day, obtain its merited rank and name amongst the nations of the earth. Could I be the hum ble inftrument of roufing my countrymen from their apathy, and raising in them a dignified and honourable pride, my utmost ambition would be gratified. You ftand in a great and responsible fituation-therefore let the Irish Harp affume a firm and manly tone. By a declaration of the general will alone, can the C 3 baneful

baneful measure be counteracted, before it is too late. I fhall, I hope, foon bring you to the teft. However, before I conclude, I fhould wish to offer a few words of advice to a certain defcription of perfons in this country, whofe interpofition may have con fiderable effect in preventing this blafted project from ever being brought forward: I allude to the borough holders of Ireland, whom I fhould beg leave to addrefs, as a friend anxious for the protection of their property, and folicitous for the prefervation of their fame, Should an Union be adopted, it is generally understood the counties alone will return representatives to the imperial Parliament. In which cafe, although poffibly fome fordid and paltry compenfation may be intended, for the lofs they will fuftain, by the privation of Parliamentary property (for fuch I must call it in every fense of the word-nor need they blufh for å poffeffion which often preferved the Houfe of Commons from the obloquy of being indoctum Parliamentum) which perhaps might have, in courfe of revolving time, occafionally been affixed to it, had not an English borough returned to Parliament a CHATHAM, in the fplendour of his glory, and an Irish one a GRATTAN in the meridian of his.