of parlia Two other subjects occupied the attention of parlia- 1787. ment during the session: the consideration of the Prorogation commercial treaty with France, and a favourite plan of ment education, which Mr. Orde had been preparing for two years, and now submitted to the house. It was neither relished nor supported according to his expec tations. The parliament was prorogued on the 28th of May, with the usual thanks for the supplies, promises of economy, and a recommendation to the people to be peaceable. In the discussion of the treaty of navigation and commerce with the French king, Mr. Flood, who had been now transplanted into the British senate, made an eloquent speech, in which he was combated by Mr. William Grenville upon the rejection of the Irish propositions, who now admitted them to have been an offer from the British government, though when first brought forward, he had represented them as coming from Ireland. On this occasion Mr. Flood, perhaps the most violent asserter of Irish independence, admitted a political necessity for a controlling superiority in the British parliament, whose indispensable duty it was, in every great national measure, to look to the general interests of the empire, and to see, that no injurious consequences followed to the opposition bench with their silence, as if proceeding from inability and ignorance, which was highly resented by Mr. John O'Neile; who warned ministry to desist from that overbearing exultation, with which they carried questions by rank majorities, and insolently attempted to run down country gentlemen from standing up in support of their oppressed countrymen. The attorney-general made a full apology. 1787. Death of the Duke the peculiar interests of any part of it. But, as Ireland claimed no such controlling right over Great Britain, the independence of Ireland was not absolute, because not perfectly reciprocal. The Duke of Rutland died in October, 1787. He of Rutland. was calculated to command the affections of the Irish; being open, free, liberal, and convivial. Too much addicted to the pleasurable indulgences of youth, he committed the management of the public business to those about him. Under him the expences of driving the state equipage through the beaten track increased in an alarming degree. Many, who had most strenuously opposed his administration, rendered willing tribute to his amiable qualities. The errors of his government were attributed to his advisers, and the majority of that house, which had constantly support ed them. CHAPTER IV. Administration of the Marquis of Buckingham. 1789. ceeds the Duke of Rutland. UPON the death of the Duke of Rutland, Mr. Pitt Marquis of Buckingselected the Marquis of Buckingham as the fittest per- ham sucson to give effect to his system of government over this part of the British empire. When in January, 1788, his excellency met the parliament, his speech bespoke entire approbation of the Duke of Rutland's administration, and called upon the house to pursue the same measures. The address was therefore opposed, by Mr. Parsons, who indignantly spurned the insult of summoning the house to sanction the abominations of the late administration. If, said he, the press be not liberated, attachments discontinued, and the police and riot act be not abandoned, it is evidently the intention of ministers by fomenting discontent and turbulence to goad the country into rebellion. Upon Mr. Secretary's* bringing in a bill for reco- Tithes. vering a just compensation for tithes withholden in the years 1786 and 1787, Mr. Grattan moved for a committee to enquire, whether any just cause of discontent existed amongst the people of the province of Munster, or of the counties of Kilkenny or Carlow, on account of tithe, or the collection of tithes; and if any, • Mr. Fitzherbert, afterwards Lord St Helen's. 1788, Secret system of the new vice. roy. to report the same, together with their opinion thereupon". It was negatived by 121 against 49. Stifling enquiry was a favourite maxim of Mr. Pitt's school. The new viceroy affected to conceal, even from his friends, the plan and principles of his administration f. As far as could be collected, it was generally concluded, that the late system was to be followed up: consequently the same system of opposition was adhered to. Notwithstanding the new lord-lieutenant's attack upon the subaltern officers of the revenue, and domestic restrictions at the Castle, the gentlemen of the opposition did not give him credit for any economical reform in the original dispensation of the public money. Mr. Forbes was zealous, though unsuccessful, in his efforts against the pension list and other Government extravagances. The attempts of the patriots to enforce economy were baffled by singular logic. The house had, it was observed, given credit to the * 8 Parl. Deb. p. 192. The system of tithes in Ireland still calls loudly for reform. Mr. Grattan's wonderful speech upon that important subject will be found in the Appendix to my Historical Review, No. LXXVIII. It is a master-piece of eloquence and reasoning. Amongst the proselytes, that went over to Lord Buckingham was Mr. Longfield, who had considerable parliamentary interest; he and the friends he introduced had uniformly opposed the late administration amongst these was Mr. Curran, who could not bend his principles to the pliancy of his friend, or take a subordinate part in supporting an administration, whose intended measures were made a secret: he therefore purchased a seat in a vacant borough, and offered it to Mr. Longfield for any person, whose principles were at his command. present government for their intentions of economy; they were therefore laid under restrictions never imposed on any other government. The most violent attack upon the minister, during this session of parliament, was Mr. Forbes's motion for an address to the crown, in order to leave to posterity, on the face of the Journals, the grievances, under which the people laboured in the year 1788*. The minister carried the question of adjournment by 103 against 40. Mr. Conolly's motion for the repeal of the hearth-tax was rejected even without a division. Mr. Dennis Browne-referred to an assertion of the lord-lieutenant in conversation, that he had rather put his right hand into the fire, than grant a pension to any person, which every honest man should not approve of Sir Henry Cavendish, though staunchly devoted to that administration, remarked, that doubling the pensions of members might be avoided, "for he, that had 4001. a year for his vote, would not refuse voting, though he were to be refused 4007. a year moret.” The feelings of the people without were in strict unison with the sentiments of the patriots within the walls of parliament; and the lord-lieutenant finding himself pressed by the weight of talent, influence, and popularity of those, who had ranged themselves in opposition to his measures, got rid of them by an early prorogation. This afforded him an opportunity of The detail of grievances, together with the address, are to be seen in my Historical Review, vol. II. p. 185, &c. +8 Parl. Deb. p. 355. 1789. |