fome Plan for a Final Adjustment between the two Countries, and wishing to know what were the grounds of the grievances of which they complained. In answer to this Meffage, the Parliament of Ireland stated certain grievances, the principal of which was, the power claimed by the Parliament of Great Britain of making Laws to bind Ireland; but, with refpect to that part of the Meffage which related to the propriety of adopting fome Measures for a final adjustment between the two Countries, they were wholly filent. This Addrefs was laid before the Parliament of Great Britain, to whom a fimilar Meffage had been fent, and on that ground was moved the Repeal of what was called the Declaratory Act, which Motion was affented to by the British Parliament. This fatisfaction was complete to Ireland, as far as related to the grievance of which her Parliament had complained, viz. the Power of the British Parliament of making Laws for Ireland, becaufe, by the Repeal of the Declaratory Act, that power was given up. But fo far was the Minifter of that day from confidering that the Repeal of that Law finally terminated all differenees, and established the Connection between the two Coun

tries upon a folid bafis, that he thought it neceffary to move that a farther Settlement was indif penfable for the maintenance of that Connection.

[Mr. SHERIDAN acrofs the Table, defired that that part of the Journals to which Mr. PITT alluded, might be read. ]

Mr. PITT continued. Sir, I have ftated the fubftance of the Journals correctly; they were read on a former night, and the Honourable Gentleman may, if he chooses, have them read again.* If he does he will find that they fully justify the statement I have made, but I beg that at prefent I may not be interrupted. I do maintain, that upon a reference to the Journals of the period to which I have alluded, it will appear that a farther agreement between Great Britain and Ireland is there ftated, in the opinion of the Adminiftration of the day, to be abfolutely neceffary.

I beg farther to ftate, that after the Bill of which fo much has been faid, was passed, an Addrefs to HIS MAJESTY was moved and carried, praying him to take fuch further measures as to him feemed proper, to ftrengthen the Connection Vide Appendix.

between

between the two Countries.

HIS MAJESTY'S

moft Gracious Anfwer, ftating, that in compliance with the Address, he would immediately take fuch measures as might be neceffary for that purpofe, was delivered to the Houfe by an Honourable Gentleman who then filled the office of Se-. cretary of State, and whom we have not lately feen in the House, though he still continues to be a Member of it. I do affert, without the least fear of contradiction from any Gentleman whatever, that it was in the contemplation of the Government of that day, to adopt fome measures of the nature alluded to in the Addrefs; fince that period, however, no fuch measure has been taken. I do alfo maintain, that that very system which by these very Minifters who brought it forward was found to be imperfect, even for the purpose of maintaining the Connection between the two Countries, remains at this moment in the fame imperfect ftate. It leaves the two Countries with separate and independent Legislatures, connected only with this tie, that the Third Eftate in both Countries is the fame-that the Executive Government is the fame-that the Crown exercises its power of affenting to Irish Acts of Parliament under

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under the Great Seal of Great Britain, and by the advice of British Ministers.

This is the only principle of Connection which is left by the Final Adjustment of 1782. Whether this is a fufficient tie to unite them in time of Peace; whether in time of War it is fufficient to confolidate their strength against a Common Enemy; whether it is fufficient to guard against thofe local jealoufies which must neceffarily fometimes exift between countries fo connected; whether it is calculated to give to Ireland all the important commercial and political advantages which the would derive from a clofer Connection with Great Britain; whether it can give to both Nations that degree of ftrength and profperity which muft be the refult of such a Measure as the prefent, I believe need only to be stated to be decided.

But I have already faid that I have upon this point, the authority of an opinion to which I be fore alluded-an opinion delivered upon a very important Measure, very foon after the Final Adjuftment of 1782. The Measure to which I refer, was that of the Commercial Propofitions which

were

were brought forward in 1785. I am not now going to enter into a difcuffion of the merits of that Measure.The beft, perhaps, that can be faid of it is, that it went as far as circumftances would then permit, to draw the two Countries to a clofer Connection. But those who think that the Adjuftment of 1782 was final, and that it contained all that was neceflary for the establishment of the Connection between the two Countries upon a firm bafis, can hardly contend that the Commercial Propofitions of 1785 were neceffary to prevent the danger of feparation between the two Countries, and to prevent the conflicting operation of Independent Legislatures. Yet, if I am not mistaken, there will be found, upon a réference to better records than those in which Parliamentary Debates are usually stated (I mean a statement of what paffed in the difcuffion upon thofe Propofitions fourteen years ago, made, as I have understood, by fome of the principal parties themselves) that the CHANCELLOR of the ExCHEQUER of that day in Ireland, in a Debate upon the Irish Propofitions, held this language-" If this infatuated Country gives up the prefent offer, fhe may look for it again in vain." Here the

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