quences of augmented taxation.-When Republics and Republicans are defcribed as violating every principle of moral rectitude, it behoves Kings, and the Representatives of Kings, to fecure the admiration of the world by magnanimity and moderation. Indeed, in the mere attempt to incorporate the two na tions, on the prefumption of the people of Ireland hailing, with promptitude, any change from their political contefts, and religious diffenfions, exhibits the British minister as ignorant of human nature, and the neceffary confequences of a civil war, as of the actual state of Ireland, and of the Irish character. Enthufiafm, though it may defolate a country, is, from its violence, of fhort duration. As Mr. Hume has finely obferved its fury is like that of thunder and tempeft, which exhaust themselves in a little time, and leave the air more calm and ferene than before." In the late rebellion, the different fupporters of the Orange and Green were equally enthusiastic ; their frantic schemes; their inveterate fufpicions; their implacability towards their enemies-I might proceed to heighten the picture of the disease under which these pa ties labour-: ed-but I think without inflaming the paffions, or harrowing up refentment, that every reflecting man must recognize, in the deplorable

extent of religious animofity, the true and exact features of fhort-lived enthufiafm, operating on minds depraved by fuperftition the moft unworthy and intolerant. And I defy any man to point out, in the luminous pages of GIBBON, VOLTAIRE, ROBINSON, and HUME, a fingle inftance where a Civil War has not had the effect of giving a country a more determined afpect, and a more dreaded characterlook at Rome under Marius-Sylla-Pompey Cæfar-Antony-Auguftus-and look likewife at modern France-and the fcholar, the ftatesman, and the philofopher, will fee the force and weight of this obfervation.-Whether Mr. Pitt calculated on the depreffion of Ireland by an Union, on account of the heartrending religious diffenfions amongst its inhabitants or the weaknefs of the country after a defperate and deplorable conflict; he fhewed himself as ignorant of human nature, as of the hiftory of all times and countries.

I now conclude the obfervations I have offered with a very beautiful and appofite quotation from Mr. Burke's celebrated speech on the conciliation with America a quotation which ought to be well weighed, and frequently confidered, by thofe who have infifted, and are determined to push the question of Union in the country. I fubftitute the word Ireland for America.

Ireland

"Ireland is a noble object-it is an object well worth fighting for. Certainly it is, if fighting a people be the best way of gaining them. Men in this refpect will be led to their choice of means, by their complexions and their habits. Those who understand the military art, will of course have fome predilection for it-those who wield the thunder of the state, may have confidence in the efficacy of arms. But I confefs, poffibly for the want of this knowledge, my opinion is much more in favor of prudent management, than of force, or undue influence. Confidering force, or the confidence in force, tho' it never fhould be exercised, not as an odious, but a feeble inftrument, for preferving a people fo numerous-fo active-fo growing-fo fpirited-as this, in a profitable and fubordinate connection with England.

Firft. Because the ufe of force is but temporary. It may fubdue for a moment-but it does not remove the neceffity of fubduing again and a nation is not governed, which is perpetually to be conquered.

My next objection is its uncertainty. Terror is not always the effect of force-and an armament is not a victory ;-if you do not fucceed, you are without refource for conciliation failing, force remains-but force failing, no further hope of conciliation is left. Power and authority are fometimes bought by kindness-but they can never be begged as alms, by an impoverished and defeated violence.

A further objection to any thing but magnanimous polity, is, you impair the object by the very endeavours to preferve. Nothing lefs will content me, than whole Ireland. I do not chufe to confume its ftrength with that of England, because in all parts it is British strength that is confumed. I do not choose to be caught by a foreign enemy at the end of this exhaufting conflict and ftill lefs, in the midft of it. I may efcape--but I can make no infurance against such an event. Let me add, I do not choose wholly to break the Irish fpirit, because it is that spirit which has made the country."

It is unneceffary to urge Mr. Burke's further arguments in favor of moderation, on the fcore of the temper and character of Irishmen,

and

and their jealous affection for manly and rational liberty. A friend to the Legislative Independence of Ireland, and British Connexion, in the honeft fincerity of my foul, and with an unbounded regard for the peace and happiness of the empire, I fhall conjure those, to whose hands power is delegated, and in whofe hands the facred truft of advancing the profperity of this country, is now repofed, to remember the beautiful death-bed admonition of Mecipfa to Jugurtha, when he was raising him to a share in the fovereignty of Numidia :-Non exercitus neque thefauri præfidiæ regni funt, verum amici; quos neque armis cogere, neque auro parare queas; officio et fide pariuntur.

I have argued this GREAT queftion without the false glare of eloquence; with temper, with fimplicity, but with firmnefs, and on the prefumption of an Union, when once effected, being permanent. But my opinion is, that it will feparate the two nations, now bound together by the cords of intereft and affection; not perhaps this year, nor poffibly the nextbut that it WILL feparate the two nations. I read feparation in the feelings of public mind, in the unfmothered fentiment of injury in this country; in the accumulating diftreffes of both; in the depreffion of commercial exertions; in the total annihilation of felf legislation; and in the reflective

reflective mirror of the European world. Consider what has been faid; and may God of his infinite mercy give you sense, honesty, and spirit, to make such constitutional exertions as will prevent the scenes of the last two centuries being repeated in the next; as will prevent rebellions which will distract the peace of your country, of cruel permutations of property, which will impede its profperity, and of a revolution which POSSIBLY may throw your country and your children into the arms of France, but which will certainly feparate the two countries for ever.