HISTORY 
The minds of the people of Ire- 
land had so long been prepared to 
expect a motion of this kind, and 
the disposition of the house itself 
was so favourable to it, that hardly 
any opposition was made. . Leave 
being given to bringin the bill, Mr. 
Grattan, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Forbes, 
and Mr. Knox, were appointed to 
prepare it. 
The joy and exultation expressed 
by the Roman Catholics on this oc- 
casion, had never been equalled in 
Ireland: they were accompanied 
with effusions of loyalty and attach- 
ment to the British government and 
nation, that indicated how effectually 
‘Teligious animosities might subside 
through a mild and conciliatory 
conduct, and that religious, as well 
as political differences, are soonest 
terminated by furbearance and 
lenity. — 
But the universal satisfaction 
arising from the hopes conceived of 
an approaching emancipation from 
all restrictions, was quickly damped 
by the intelligence that arrived two 
days only after the passing of the mo- 
tion, that the British ministry was 
averse tothe measure. Lord Fitz- 
William informed them of the great 
danger that would infallibly result 
from retracting the assent so formally 
given to a motion of such impor- 
tance, and explicitly refused, by 
taking upon him that office, to be 
the person to raise a flame which 
nothing but the force of arms could 
keep do Such were his own 
words. — consequence of this 
answer, he was dismissed from his 
t which was conferred upon lord 
mden. 
The consequences of this dis- 
missal were immediately apparent in 
‘|the proceedings of the [rish parlia- 
ment. Sir Laurence Parsons, in the 
OF EUROPE. 225 
house of commons, proposed an ad- 
dress to lord Fitzwilliam, to express 
the confidence reposed in him by 
the Irish nation, and its represen- 
tatives, and the apprehensions they 
felt on his premature removal from 
astation, wherein his conduct had 
been so acceptable to them. Ano- 
ther member Mr. Duguerry, not 
only seconded the motion, but pro- 
posed the impeachment of Mr. Pitt. 
Though this address was withdrawn 
at the request of those who wished 
to prevent farther acrimony on this 
occasion, it sufficiently manifested 
the resentment excited by the mea- 
sures of the British ministry. Ano- 
ther address, however, was voted, 
highly approving of his conduct. 
The universal dissatisfaction of 
the [rish at the removal of lord Fitz- 
william was soon after manifested in 
@ more serious manner: tumults 
arose in several places, which were 
not quelled without the intervention 
of the military. From the mostmo- 
derate of the disaffected, addresses 
to him were presented, full of ran- 
courat the treatment he had exe 
perienced, and of invectives against 
the authors of his disgrace. 
From this period may be dated 
the deep and settled spirit of discon- 
tent, which at once pervaded, and 
by degrees inflamed to the highest 
pitch of violence, both Catholics 
and Dissenters, and was even felt 
by numbers of the protestants them- 
selves, who thought that the most 
auspicious opportunity of reconcile 
ing all parties and interests, had 
been arrogantly thrown aside by the 
unwarrantableand ambitious machi- 
nations of a selfish faction, grasping 
at the exclusive enjoyment of all 
the places of power and profit, and 
at the’sole management of all affairs 
of state, 
[Q] a The 
