LORDS AND COMMONS. Being the THIRD SESSION in the Eighteenth Parliament of Great-Britain: Held in the Year 1798. FORMING A SOURCE OF POLITICAL INFORMATION, HIGHLY INTERESTING TO EVERY BRITISH SUBJECT. VOL. XXII. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. STRATFORD, No. 112, HOLBORN-HILL; AND SOLD BY ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS IRELAND. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tuesday, January 22. Mr. Secretary Dundas brought up a Meffage from his Majefty, to the fame effect as that in the Houfe of Lords, and moved that the meflage be taken into confideration to morrow. Mr. Sheridan faid, that when the motion came under confideration, he must take it for granted that an Addrefs would be moved to his Majefty affuring him that the House would proceed immediately with the fubject. If this should really be the courfe the Right Hon. Gentleman would purfue, he did not know how otherwife he could perform his duty but by oppofing it. He must think fuch a measure not only unwife and impolitic at this time, but one replete with mifchief. But with refpect to the fentiments expr Ted generally in his Majefty's Meffage, he was fure no Member of that Houfe, or of the community, more cordially concurred in them. He was particularly anxious that no opportunity fhould be mifimproved for the benefit of the two countries, and wifhed the connection between them might be perpetuated. His objection was not to the fuggeftion thrown out, that it is neceflary to take fuch fteps as may fecure and perpetuate the connection between the two counties, but only to the propofal for agitating the difcuflion in fuch hafte; and under the impreffion that it was intended to proceed immediately to the difcuilion of the topics embraced in the Meffage, he must fay he fhould think it neceffary to arrest the progrefs of fuch meafures. He was convinced it was the common feeling and wifh of that House (and he hoped of this country) that fuch measures may be purfued as may lead to reftore cordial harmony between the two countries; but to difcufs any points of Union now, might be fatal to the profperity, perhaps the exiftence of both. It was in fact, one of a feries which had but too long been pursued; however, as he most undoubtedly thought it neceffary that the independence of Ireland fhould be afferted and maintained againit every kind of enemy, he was not adverse to the adoption of every falutary precaution against the disturbers of its repofe. But it happened to him to think that immediately to agitate any difcuffion, fuch as that pointed to by the Meflage, was not to make the most falutary effort to guarantee the independence or increase the join in an Addrefs to his Majefty, thanking him for his grahappiness of Ireland. While, therefore, he would chearfully cious communication, he muft oppofe the taking any pre cipitate |