230] 
berations on this side of the water 
had an irresistible influence over 
those on the other? The question, 
before the British parliament and 
nation, was clear and unequivocal : 
it required neither explanation nor 
comment; were the Irish Roman 
Catholics to be freed from all dis- 
qualifications, on account of their 
religion, or were they still to remain 
subject to them? They had been 
led to expéct this emancipation, 
and now it was withheld, in a man- 
ner almost amounting to a denial. 
What could ministry propose either 
by adelay or a refusal? the danger 
was nearly equal from both; and, 
in the present circumstances of af- 
fairs, there was little, if any, dif- 
ference between the one and the 
other: as probably the Irish would 
soon see, and take their mea- 
sures according to the interpretation, 
of those who saw matters in this 
light. Impatience and indignation, : 
at our tardiness in doing what they 
considered as no more than our du- 
ty, would provoke them as much 
as if we had determined never to 
do it; and we should lose, through 
an unseasonable hesitation, the op- 
portunity of granting that with a 
good grace, which might afterwards 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
be extorted from us by the evil hour 
of necessity and compulsion. 
Other speeches were made by 
the supporters and opposers of ad- 
ministration, much in the same 
strain as the antecedent. After 
which, an end was put to the de- 
bate, by the order of the day being 
moved by Mr. Pitt, and carried by 
one hundred and eighty-eight, a- 
gainst forty-nine. 
Such were the most interesting 
debates, during this session ;_ which 
closed, on the 27th of June, with 
the customary formalities. The 
speech from the throne contained, 
as usual, the king’s acknowledge- 
ments to parliament for the ample 
supplies granted for the prosecution 
of the war: the liberal assistance 
given to extricate the prince of 
Wales from his embarrassments, and 
to settle an income upon him, was 
duly noticed; and it concluded 
with the hope of such a change in 
the government of France, as might 
produce a disposition to maintain 
the accustomed relations of peace 
and amity; and with the promise 
to make the most effectual use of 
the force entrusted to government, 
for the attainment of these salutary 
purposes. 
CHRONICLE 
