had been objected alfo, that the prefent was not the time for bringing this measure forward; but times when real danger arofe were thofe which were moft fit for applying the remedy; precautions and regulations arofe out of circumftances as they occurred.

He hoped, whatever might be done, that no proceeding of that Houfe might ever appear to force the confideration of the queftion on the Parliament of the other country. In the Addrefs which that House was to prefent to his Majefty, after the Refolutions, &c. fhould be agreed to, he trusted that not a word would appear that could be construed to throw the flightest imputation on the Irish House of Commons. The jealousy they lately manifefted was certainly a laudable exertion of that liberty they enjoyed; and a proof of their complete independence. But he trufted that their ferious and difpaffionate confideration would lead them to a different line of conduct; and he was convinced that, if they fhould finally adopt the meafure recommended by the Parliament of this country, it would produce a more beneficial change in Ireland, than had ever taken place in any country; it would place her independence and fecurity on a rock that would be immovable and impregnable; and the trength and power of both countries would be promoted by it. With these fentiments, he fhould give the meafure his moft cordial fupport.

The first, fecond, third, fourth, and fifth Refolutions were then agreed to by the Committee, and upon reading of the fixth Refolution, which regarded the future commercial arrangements that were to take place between England and Ireland.

Mr. Wilberforce Bird faid, that it was well worth the attention of the Committee to confider maturely the effects which an agreement to this Refolution might produce upon particular manufactures throughout the Kingdom. When indeed a comprehenfive theoretical view was taken of the general commercial and manufacturing interefts of a great nation, fuch as had been taken by an Adam Smith, it might, perhaps, not be improper to lofe all fight of local and particular interefts, and to attend only to what might promote the general welfare and profperity of the whole community. But this was not exactly the light in which a measure of that complicated tendency fhould be viewed by the reprefentative of a manufacturing town, whofe particular interefts it might materially affect, and who might confequently come forward with petitions against it when it was finally determined to

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put the measure into execution. It would be a very bad argument for any Gentleman to ftate to his Constituents, after their trade was ruined, that it was done by a measure which went to promote the general good of the country.He would therefore oppofe that propofition.

Mr. Dent obferved, that as none of thofe great towns had fent any Petitions against the present measure, it was to be taken for granted that they did not difapprove of it; or that they entertained fentiments different from the Honourable Gentleman.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the Honourable Gentleman was perfectly juftified in directing his attention to whatever he supposed might affect the local intereft of the town he reprefented; but he had a paramount duty to perform before he fuffered himself to be influenced by particular confiderations. Before he looked to his immediate conftituents, he ought to advert to the permanent profperity of the empire. It was perfectly immaterial in what part of the kingdom any particular manufacture flourished; except that it fhould be in that part in which they could be carried on to the greateft advantage. But while he faid this he had not the leaft reafon to think thefe Refolutions would create any injury to the manufactures of this country: but he was no ways apprehenfive that the fyftem of the propofed refolution, though generally beneficial, would be locally injurious.— The manufacturers of this country, he was proud to fay, were not in fuch a fituation, that opening a free trade, with refpect to Ireland, would be injurious to any part of them, but much lefs in the view of this refolution, was, there any ground to fear on that head. The only apprehenfion was, that the refolution deferred to too diftant a period that which was to operate to a general good. The only apprehenfion was, that it did not give thofe advantages immediately, which it admitted ought ultimately to refult; but the reafon why it was fo framed was, to guard against temporary inconveniencies, and against the prejudices which might be feit in Ireland. It might alfo be right never to introduce too fudden a change in commercial matters, as it might affect the ftock which was vefted in trade and manufactures. Nothing could be more true than that opening the markets would be advantageous; it was equally fo, that fome must be maintained by a fyftem of protecting duties. However advantageous it might be for each to have a market in each, yet it was neceflary that the alteration should not be too fudden; and therefore it was, that a moderate

fyftem

fyftem of protecting duties was reforted to. There was nothing in this that the Parliament ought to be jealous of. In 1785, objections fimilar to the prefent were ftated, and petitions came from moft commercial places in the Empire, though the measure then propofed was far fhort in its tendency to that of a general Union. It might be remembered, that with refpect to the commercial treaty with France, that which was refufed to the fifter kingdom was adopted in favour of our ancient rival, and found to be attended with folid and permanent advantages. Indeed, from that part of the kingdom where there was most oppofition, namely, Manchefter, the principal ground of the oppofition was, because the system was not accompanied by an Union, but, on the contrary, precluded the hope of it.-Grounds of jealousy were stated, which it was admitted an Union would obviate. The advantages granted to France were attended with an increase of commercial establishment, fo folid and immoveable, fuch an increase of capital, as gave the fairest profpect of what refult was to be expected by the propofed measure, with regard to Ireland. Though the period was not arrived at which Petitions could be prefented against the measure, yet the Refolutions had been fome time public, and he had not heard any intention of the kind fuggefted. When he confidered the flourishing ftate of the manufactures, and the liberal and extended policy of the manufacturers, he did not think they would oppofe it. On thefe grounds, he hoped the Honourable Gentleman would not perfift in oppofing the Refolution.

Mr. W. Bird faid, that as the Refolution had not been properly before the Houfe till now, no Petitions could be prefented against it.

Mr. Dent denied that there exifted any Petitions against the Refolution, confequently there was no fymptom of complaint or diffatisfaction; the Refolution was put and agreed to.

The feventh Refolution being read,

Mr. P. Carew objected to it as not precifely expreffing that an identity of taxation fhould take between the two countries as foon as the Union should be effected.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that it was impoffible at present to fix the exact proportion to be paid by the two countries; but at the fame time nothing could be more important than that Ireland should know what would be the effect of this measure, as far as it effected her public burdens. That however proper and expedient it might be to fix at fome diftant period after the Union fuch an identity No. 24. 6 A

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of taxation, yet for the prefent it would be wife and politic not fo far to offend exifting local prejudices as to require immediately an equal proportion of burdens to be fuftained by Ireland, but on the contrary, as he had remarked upon another occafion, to exact for the prefent only that proportion which Ireland hitherto paid in time of peace and war. He (Mr. Pitt) had stated, that there might be found fome great and comprehenfive tax, that would be a teft of the refpective wealth of the two countries; or what he should prefer, an internal tax, fo modelled, as to give reason to hope that the period might come when there would be an identity of taxation; but in either cafe Ireland would be fafe.

Mr. P. Carew expreffed himself fatisfied with the expla

nation.

The Refolutions were then all agreed to. The House being refumed, the Report was ordered to be received on Thursday.

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and at ten o'clock the Houfe-Adjourned.

Sir Charles Bunbury prefented a Petition from the debtors confined in the King's Bench prifon, praying for relief.

Mr. Lloyd gave notice, that on Monday fe'nnight he would move for leave to bring in a bill to remedy the abuses committed by the venders of wine, fpirits, and mixed liquors, by adulterating the fame; and for affixing a stamp on glass bottles and phials.

ΤΗΣ

THE UNION.

The report of the Committee, in which the refolutions for the Union with Ireland were voted, being proposed to be brought up, and the question being put for that purpose.

Mr. Hobhoufe faid, that after the courfe which this meafure had taken, and feeing the very thin attendance in the Houfe, he had very little encouragement to enter upon the difcuffion of it at this moment; however, his duty to the country demanded that he fhould do fo, and that duty he fhould perform. When firft he heard the Minifter was employed in a fcheme of Union between this country and Ireland, it was matter of no fmall furprise to him to find fron many perfons with whom he converfed upon the subject, that there were fo few of the Right Honourable Gentleman's own friends in favour of the measure, and that it was fo well received by thofe who are known to cherish hopes and entertain wishes for the total feparation of the two countries, and that with the view of realizing fuch hopes, fome of thofe very perfons favoured the plan of a Union. The approbation of fuch perfons to any public meature ought to induce those who valued the welfare of the Empire to doubt at least the excellence of the measure. But it was faid that the difaffection manifefted in Ireland argued the propriety of this measure. Upon that he doubted. He inclined, indeed, to an opinion that it would be received as an ill return for the exertions of the friends of that country in the late difturbances which diftracted it. They would afk, Have not the yeomanry bravely defended that country when it was attacked by rebels? Has any thing been wanting that gallant men could do to reftore tranquillity, to bring back the bleflings of peace and good order? And now the return for thefe exertions is ingratitude and pride, calling on us to give up that conftitution, for the fupport and maintenance of which we have been fo freely fhedding our blood! Such were likely to be the expreffions, because probably they were the feelings, of the best friends of Ireland. With regard to thofe who wished for a Parliamentary Reform (he did not mean thofe hypocrites who, under the pretext of a Parliamentary Reform, really aimed at a revo lution, but those who admired the true fpirit of the conftitution, and only wifhed to remove thofe abuses which, perhaps unavoidably in the courfe of things, had crept into its practice), all fuch perfons would have their hopes blafted by a Union: they were therefore naturally adverfe to the measure as one that could poffibly do nothing lefs than de

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