Original Details qf the Irish Revolution in 1782. 



1821.1 



for the recovery of tlieir ancient consti- 

 tution ; whatever he sliould demand, 

 tliey were willing to abide by, and no- 

 thing short of it would they accept. 



*The voice of three millions of people 

 was to be expressed by him, and the 

 nation was committed to eveiy possible 

 danger in the event. 



However, many prudential consider- 

 ations must have presented themselves 

 to those men who took a principal lead 

 in the affairs of Ireland at that time. 

 To have made high demands from a 

 cottntiy divided ; a penal code of laws, 

 aflecting at once their religious preju- 

 dices and their temporal concerns, 

 seemed unpromising, when it was op- 

 posed to the pride, the passions, and 

 the strength of England. Besides, if 

 Ireland had at once appeared both im- 

 potent and unruly, she would have in- 

 Tited the rigour, and justified the se- 

 terity of her antagonist. It was neces- 

 sary to fit her for the boldest measures as 

 the safest, for she had no retreat, except 

 in the mercy of an enemy, irritated by 

 opposition, and elated by success. A 

 thanly system of toleration was evident- 

 ly the only means to accomplish this de- 

 sirable end. Discourses on toleration 

 were broached in every company ; men, 

 who, but ten years before, would have 

 been scared by the bare mention of the 

 SJJbject, now held the boldest language. 



•The mass of the people, by occasionally 

 Wending, became insensibly fitted for 

 toleration; the admission of Roman 

 CWhblics into the ranks of the volun- 

 teers, produced an amicable communi- 

 cation, and a more intimate intercourse ; 



■■ 'H sort of brotherly love grew out of a 

 similarity of amusement and common 

 danger; humanity and benevolence 

 flowed spontaneously from the cultiva- 

 tion of arms, which were hitherto stifled 

 By the 2ealots of religion. 



On this important occasion, perhaps 

 Mr. Grattan's conduct in no instance 

 had higher claims on the gratitude of 

 his country, than for the benign and 

 salutary efforts he made to extract from 

 religion the poison of bigotry. By his 

 philanthropy and his 4)ersuasion, the 

 presbyferian was softened towards his 

 catholic neighbour; he supported in 

 Parliament the bill for tolerating the 

 Roman (Jatholics, in a strain of oratory, 

 which, perhaps, has scarcely ei'er been 

 equalled, even by himself; and by con- 

 tributing so strenuously to unite all 

 parties to their common interest, he 

 insured the success of the claims of 

 Ireland. Th* situation of England 



49;') 



also favoured the claims, and forwarded 

 the expectations of Ireland; all the 

 powers of the old and new world were 

 either the avowed or secret enemies of 

 Great Britain. She had already lost 

 thirteen provinces in supporting the 

 supremacy of the British Parliament; 

 many of her resources were exhausted ; 

 her debt increased, and her enemies in- 

 creasing. To have launched info a 

 dispute with Ireland at such a period, on 

 such a subject, and in such a state, 

 were a madness too great even for the 

 imbecility of her councils : and though 

 it was objected against Ireland, that 

 her conduct, in this instance, was un- 

 generous ; yet, let the advocates of Bri- 

 tish power reflect, that the prosperity of 

 England never appeared to be the sea- 

 son cither of her justice, or her libera- 

 lity to Ireland ; that in proportion as 

 the Britisii connexions diminished, the 

 importance of Ireland increased ; and 

 that the demands which Ireland maie,, 

 were founded in her original rights, 

 not conditions arising out of, or wrung 

 from, the incapacity of England to re- 

 fuse. Besides, the loyalty of Ireland 

 must have been stung, to be denied that 

 condition which was offered to, and re- 

 jected by, America in rebellion. 



Mr. Gratfan, in the administration of 

 Lord Carlisle, moved an address to his 

 Majesty,declaring the rights of Ireland, 

 and asserting the independency of the 

 Irish Parliament, which was rejected 

 by a majority against the sense of the 

 nation. Mr. Flood also offered an im- 

 plied declaration of right, by a motion 

 to this purport :— tluit '• the Commons 

 were the representatives of the people, 

 and that no law could pass without 

 their consent." This also was rejected 

 by the same majority, and partly by 

 the insufficiency of the proposition to 

 answer the end proposed ; but the inde- 

 fatigable zeal of Mr. Gratfan, though 

 thwarted, was not vanquished, by a cor- 

 rupt majority. Delegates from 300 

 corps met at Dungannon, the 13th Feb. 

 17S2, and asserted in their resolutions 

 the independency of the Irish Parlia- 

 ment, wliich its own members had al- 

 ready, without any, and once, without 

 a strong justification, refused. Mr. 

 Grattan was now from all quarters 

 promised support in flic assertion of 

 the independency of the Irish Parlia- 

 ment, and in the continuance of those 

 extraordinary exertions wliich resulted 

 from the purest patriotism, and the 

 most consummate a!)ilities. A kind of 

 solemn league and covenant was en- 



leied 



