bitants; but even as to that circumftance, in our present fituation, we are not able to say yes or no. Soon after the existence of the laft violent infurrection in that kingdom, we had heard reports very different indeed from those which are teftified by the prefent meffage. We were given to underftand by our Government, that every thing was perfectly tranquil in that part of the kingdom. An hon. Officer, (Colonel Archdale) who has often diftinguifhed himself in this Houfe, not long ago obferved, when converfing upon this very topic, that, without a knowledge of the local facts, it was impoflible to procure accurate information as to the real fituation of a country; but that it confifted with his knowledge that all was perfectly quiet in that part of his Majesty's dominions. For my part, however, I muft confefs that I cannot conceive it poffible, except by the interference of fome miracle, that the peasants of that country, whose minds were lately fo agitated, and whofe hands were employed in forging pikes for the deftruction of all the loyal inhabitants within their reach, fhould, all of a fudden, be converted into the very contrary description of men, and become perfectly loyal and peaceable fubjects. In addition to these conciliatory accounts I may obferve, by way of queftion, how came Government not to have been better prepared for emergencies fuch as the prefent? How comes it to pafs, that the capital of that part of the united kingdom was within an ace of being taken, and the Government overturned? It appears from all thefe circumftances, that the Government of the country may be fnatched away, without the least notice being previously given to the Houfe, as to the real existing dangers. This being the ftate of things, it required the greateft confideration of Parliament to know what ought to be done. The delay of even twenty-four hours has been objected to in the prefent inflance. Nor can I determine, whether the urgency of the cafe can be fo great as to preclude the urgency of confideration. I really think it is a little curious, that the fortifying of London, which has been a subject lately under difcuffion in this Houfe, and which has been ftated by Minifters to have been in contemplation for a series of years paft, especially during rumours of invafion, has to this day been delayed, but has now at this prefent mom nt become a matter of fuch extreme urgency, as not to admit of the smallest delay; within these few days indeed, of so great importance was expedition and promptitude reckoned as to fortifying London, that Minifters could not even allow

them felve

themselves time deliberately to difcufs the fubject in this House, so as to determine whether the top of a hill or the bottom of a valley were the most proper places for the erection of fortifications. Such a conduct on the part of Ministry is perfectly inconsistent. I may conclude by faving, that if this addrefs is at prefent to be agreed to, it should in my opinion be done only pro forma, and then the matter taken into confideration and deliberate difcuffion; it being a practice not countenanced by the general rules of the House, to vote an immediate addrefs to any meffage from his Majesty.

Mr. Sheridan faid, I do not rife for the purpofe either of voting for the prefent addrefs, merely pro forma, nor do I rife to reply to the obfervations which have fallen from the right hon. Member who has just fat down; I know that no answer becomes neceffary, in the prefent inftance, to any thing that Gentleman has said. No reply is requifite, in order to do away any argument ufed against the propofed measure; for fure I am, that a cordial agreement already prevails in the Houfe as to the motion now under difcuffion. As for argument, I may fay, that the right hon. Member has urged none, and therefore I rife principally to exprefs my astonishment that there fhould be a man in this Houfe, who could think of ftating the leaft objection, or hefitate a moment as to the propriety of adopting the propofed measure on such a preffing emergency. He has stated the ufual practice of the Houfe; but, Sir, I would afk, are not even forms to give way to fuch an important matter as that now under difcuffion? I like the fcheme the better, because we are obliged to proceed in an unusual manner. He has faid, that even twenty-four hours are not of great confequence in fuch a cafe. as this. I beg leave to differ moft decidedly from the right hon. Gentleman as to that particular. I would with him to reflect, what effe&t fuch a delay would have in Ireland. When thousands in that country would be trembling and looking with anxiety to our prefent deliberations, and others perhaps at this moment fharing the fame fate as that of the unfortu nate Chief Juftice in that country, who has already fallen a facrifice to a most rebellious and audacious mob, what would the people of Ireland think, if they understood that we had adjourned for the space of twenty-four hours? No, let us not make the smallest delay in returning that answer which the emergency of the cafe requires. The right hon. Gentleman wishes to reproach Minifters for having difcouraged the

loyal

loyal part of the inhabitants of Ireland. His allegations feem to be totally unfounded. I hope and truft that no infurrection of the kind he has alluded to has exifted on this occafion. Is it to go forth to the people of Ireland, upon his simple authority, that the infurgents were in fuch union as to be able to take the very capital? That would be calling forth infurrection and rebellion over all the united kingdom. Whenever the right hon. Gentleman, who has moved this addrefs, chooses to bring forward the matter for more deliberate difcuffion, I fhall moft cordially and attentively enter into it; but, at prefent, I am ftrongly of opinion that no delay ought to take place in regard to the adoption of the propofed mo

tion.

Mr. Windham explained.

Mr. Hutchinfon faid, that after hearing fuch accounts of his countrymen in Ireland, he looked to that part of the united kingdom with horror and difguft; and was almost afraid to own himself of that country; but he trusted, that he could venture to match himself with any man in point of loyalty. At a time like the prefent, when the fcreams of the widow, and the tears of the orphan were reaching our ears, he thought that no delay ought to intervene, fo as to obstruct the adoption of fome speedy measures for their relief. As he knew the bleflings of the conftitution of his country, he was determined to die in fupport of it; and as he loved his country, this addrefs had his moft cordial concurrence. He hoped and trufted, that the loyal part of that country might not be confounded with the niurderers and traitorous part of it. He thought that we should mark our zeal and determination to fupprefs rebellion, and at the fame time manifeft ourselves to be wife, prudent, and humane in our meafures. Whatever might be his feelings as to his country, he trusted that ftrong measures would be adopted in its behalf on the prefent occafion; and whatever errors in his humble judgment there might be, in regard to what ought, or ought not have been done by Minifters, he fhould not wifh to draw the attention of the Houfe from the particular point' at prefent under dif cuffion. He fhould think that he was violating his own feelings as to his country, were he to urge his opinions un these maiters at this moment, because he thought that the rebellion ought in the first place to be fuppreffed." Let the rebel be pulled down, and let the tyrant tremble." Any attempt to reform grievances at the point of the bayonet ought to be met in a fimilar way.

Lord

Lord Hawkesbury faid, Sir, I am almost ashamed, in rifing on fuch an occafion as the prefent, so as to take up the time of the Houfe with any obfervations on fuch a fubject, or to be the means of delaying for a fingle minute our acquiefcence in the propofed addrels; but I do confefs that the fpeech of the right hon. Gentleman oppofite to me. (Mr. Windham) has made fuch an impreffion upon my mind, that even what has been already faid in anfwer to his obfervations by two hon. Members, fo conformable to my own opinion, cannot prevent me from ftating what at prefent occurs to me. I inuft fay, Sir, that if ever there was an occafion for the Members of this Houfe to unite in one opinion, it is upon this prefent addrefs. The right hon. Gentleman has accused his Majesty's Government of having acted with precipitancy, and otherwife not as it ought to have done. Always attacking every measure of Government, the right hon. Gentleman has been pleased to fay, that this prefent ftep is conformable to the conduct of his Majefty's Minifters. I call on him. I challenge him, I dare him to prove, that ever there existed any Government more ready to give information, more difpofed to meet enquiry, and to act in every way according to the true conftitutional principles of the country, than the prefent Adminiftration. It is the feconftitutional principles which ought to actuate every Government. The attack may have been levelled against myfelt and my right hon. colleagues alone; but when I can tell the right hon. Member, that on former occafions when fuch measures occurred as feemed to preclude the neceffity of all other confiderations than the object before us, that right hon. Gentleman himself has often united with Parliament in voting for addreffes upon the fame day on which his Majefty's Meffage had been delivered. I deny that there is any exiting form or regulation, which, on great emergencies, can prevent fuch a plan from being followed. The right hon. Gentleman himself had formerly none of those delicate feelings, none of those qualins of confcience, which he now affects. It is now, for the first time, that he breaks out, under ci cumftances of rebellion, which peculiarly call forth every active and prompt exertion. A rebellion has broke out in Ireland, more enormous than ever occurred before; and yet the right hon. Gentle man has faid, do not pronounce your fentiments at once, but encourage the loyal.' Though the prefent rebellion has been yct of fhort duration, already has a moft refpectable character. the Lord Chief Juftice of Ireland, fallen a facrifice to the favage VOL. IV. 1802-3. ferocity

4 X

ferocity of an armed mob, having been murdered in a moft fhocking manner, and under circumftances which are far from exciting in us fuch fentiments as the right hon. Gentleman expresses upon the occasion. Muft we, according to his opinion, stop till this armed banditti has had time to commit a few more murders? Are no precautions to be taken to prevent fuch fatal and fuch melancholy confequences? The propofition of delay is perfealy abfurd in fuch a critical emergency as the prefent. I could not refift the impulfe I felt, and I am convinced that every man in the Houfe muft feel a defire to exprefs fentiments directly the reverse of what the right hon. Gentleman has ventured to throw out. The Houfe is by no means precluded from voting for this addrefs at prefent; but grant that it was precluded by forms, which mult on other occafions be rigorously attended to, I would afk, is not this an occafion where a natural and fair line of distinction ought to be drawn? It is not now for us to enquire into the causes which have conduced to this rebellion, or whether it has originated from any degree of neglect; but to say that we shall adopt precautionary measures. The only tendency of the right hon. Gentleman's objection has been to prevent the good effect which would undoubtedly have arifen. from our fhewing to the country that we are all of one spirit, one feeling, and one voice, as to the propriety of adopting fome speedy and effectual measures for quelling the rebellious infurrection which has unhappily teftified itfelf in that part of the united kingdom.

Mr. Windham complained, that he only expreffed a doubt of the propriety of voting this addrefs immediately, unless fome opportunity should be afforded of going into a further enquiry, but contended that he had faid nothing which could at all interfere with the defired unanimity.

Dr. Laurence faid, My right hon. Friend has not, in my apprehenfion, made any objection to the motion, but merely wifhed for an enquiry into the ftate of a country connected with this by every tie of reciprocal intereft, of fituation, and of deftiny. I do not confider it as a proper anfwer to him to fay, "pa's this measure firft, and you may afterwards move any enquiry you think proper." Minifters have no right to throw that onus upon others, it being their duty to produce themselves all the neceffary information. From the manner of the noble Lord, it should feem as if he confidered it as a queftion of paffion and feeling, and not a queftion dependent on the judgment. When they all acknowledged that my