Should the all-grafping ambition of our republican neighbours, at any future period, in the restless spirit of fpoliation and dominion, affail the tranquillity of England, could not the loyal fpirit of our people be as readily called to action under the exifting form of their conftitution, as under this projected plan of innovation? Or is there any hidden amulet in the Union, that, on a fudden emergency, could fhorten the paffage to a junction of the Irish and British forces? Could it fay to the howling of the tempest, "be calm," or to the conflicting billows, "be ftill ?" Or could he, on the failure of veffels to convey our armies beyond the channel, open a dry paffage through the deep, as formerly effected by Divine Omnipotence, for the Ifraelites? No, thefe are miracles not to be expected either at his hands or those of his Cabinet conjurors, however nearly approaching political omnipotence. Therefore, as the Union cannot make us better fubjects, better foldiers, or better citizens, in the name of common fenfe, Mr. Pitt, let us enjoy our prefent repofe, nor revive the dying embers of our past grievances.

Can any man, converfant in the affairs of this kingdom, be brought by the fophiftry of any writer, however polished his periods, and high his office in the ftate, to think that the Union would caufe an influx and extensive circulation of foreign capital in Ireland?

Not

Not a single spring of commercial energy can arife from the accomplishment of fuch a meafure, creative of fuch an influx that we, already, are not in equal poffeffion of, no quarter of the peopled globe being more advantageously fituated for all the purposes of becoming the emporium of infular trade. What, though our capital be yet in a state of infant weakness! the invigorating arm of all-maturing time will ftrengthen our own means; our finances will rife in proportion to our induftry, and confequently our commerce,

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"Grow with our growth, and ftrengthen with our ftrength." And in proportion to our population and profperity, the British empire muft, IN TOTO, feel an acceffion of ftrength and power, not experienced before. The inaufpicious barrier of religious separation fhall fall afunder: our countrymen fhall have that liberal protection at home, the impolitic deprivation of which has, to the misfortune of the parent ftate, fo long militated and turned our own arms against us. The common enemy shall now invariably feel the ponderous efficacy of those arms, if it be the gracious intention of England to divide us no more. Let not the champion of liberty be henceforward interrogated if he has fubfcribed to the THIRTYNINE ARTICLES, or addreffes the Deity in church, chapel or kirk. Under this happy mutuality of confidence, we fhall be cemented.

The

The plains of the old and new worlds no longer fhall behold the fubject armed against his lawful prince; the fon encamped to carry terror to the father's breaft:-but internal peace, unclouded by an Union, fhall extend her filent olive over every corner of thefe dominions; and the fons of freedom fhall appear clad in terror against their foes, actuated by the nobleft incentives that, next to heaven, can animate the human breast-public virtue.

The power of parliament, it must be confeffed, can do much, but there is one barrier at which it stops fhort: the furrender of a feptennial truft, to which furrender the houses of legislation are no more adequate than the trustee in private life to delegate or transfer his truft. Here, the reprefentative must act in unifon with his conftituent, otherwife the covenant must be null and void. If he attempts to move in oppofition to this leading principle, he ufurps an authority that does not belong to him; but independently of this conftitutional reftriction, the Legislature of this kingdom cannot-furely will not, ftoop to fo bafe a traffic. Our Peers have the illuftrious privileges handed down by their noble ancestors, to transmit pure and unfullied to their defcendants. Our Commoners cannot defert their princely feats their natural authority and confequence in the arms of their country, to dance humiliating attendance on a foreign Cabinet, or to

be

be hunted down by a minifterial pack, when he lifts his voice in defence of the public good of his Country.

The Commons being in a great meafure compofed of the first ornaments of the Bar, their legal information cannot fail to guide them with certainty through every labyrinth in the power of their opponents to throw before them, to puzzle or bewilder their faculties to decide upon this question at once. They- poffefs ample fortunes, and, for the most part, hereditary eftates, on which they enjoy the OTIUM CUM DIGNITATE, during the recefs from the Courts and Parliament. In England, they yet have no fuch retreats, though abfolutely neceffary for the purposes of health, recreation, and ftudy, after the harraffing and perplexing buftle of Weftminfter-Hall. And here, the Bar prefents another weighty objection to the Union.

In this kingdom, every native Barrifter has either his relative, or cultivated cultivated connections. The junior Pleader, if he cannot immediately become the object of popular notice in the Four-courts, ameliorates his fortune, on the provincial circuits, where birth, or fome collateral intimacy, recommends him to a brief. Beyond the water, he has no fuch patronage to hope for. Among ftrangers, all respectively attached to their particular advocates, what can a young gentleman of the Irish Bar (be his profeffional abilities however high,) expect to

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gain? Accumulated debts; while his revenues do not keep pace with his expenditures. But it will be objected that our Courts and Circuits are ftill, as ufual, to be open to them, and this new fyftem will not operate against their practice. True; the Courts and Circuits will, as ever, be open to their pursuits; but neither, it is to be apprehended, will be effentially the fame, the Union carrying in its train, a transfer of property, a transfer of abilities, a transfer of power, and a transfer of Judicial Avocation! The Pleader of practical eminence will endeavour to obtain his delegation to the English Commons Houfe, where, it is more than probable, he will bring his merchandize to the best market, and unite with the facra legio of the Minister.

If England would wish to fee her ftrength fufficiently augmented to ftand the shock which fhe acknowledges the fuperiority of the French Republic capable of giving-if she would stand armed against that terrific power that impreffes confternation and difmay throughout the whole progress of her arms, is it by this infidious measure the prefumes to engage the bravery of this country to fight her battles? No; never can fhe win our arms and our hearts, but by fair and honourable dealing. On the folid basis of honefty can fhe alone expect to erect the bulwark of her ftrength? Let her drop her odious, though, to herself, precious project, all at once, nor force it on our indignant eyes! Long have we been cordially embarked in one bottom