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HISTORY OF EUROPE [223 
CHAP. XIIL : 
State of Ireland, in its Relations, external and internal, a Subject in Debate 
in loth Houses 6f Parliament.—Motion, ty Mr. IVhithbread, in the House 
of Commons, relative to the Invasion of Ireland.— Negatived.— Motion 
relative to the internal State and Disconients of Lreland, in the House of 
Peers, by the Earl of Moira.— Negatived.— Motion on the same Subject, 
in the House of Commons, by Mr. Fox.—Negatived. 
A. The samie time that the oppo- 
sition party in parliament ar- 
-raigned the conduct of government, 
respecting events, still pregnant 
with danger, they condemned it, 
not less severely, respecting an 
event, the danger of which was 
happily past. This was the attempt 
to invade Ireland, of which we have 
given some account in our last vo- 
lume, and which was frustrated, it 
was alleged, throngh physical ac- 
cidenis, and the folly of theenemy, 
rather than any prudence and pro- 
vidence in the British councils. It 
is proper to observe, in this place, 
that, on the third of March, the 
thanks of the house of. commons 
were voted to admiral sir John 
Jervis, for his gallant and merito- 
rious exertions on the fourteenth of 
February last; and also to the vice- 
admiral, captains, and officers of 
the fleet under his command, for 
their gallant conduct and bravery on 
that most glorious occasion. ‘The 
setvices of the seamen, marines, and 
soldiers, were also approved and ac- 
knowledged. 
On thesameday, after these votes 
werepassed, Mr. Whitbreadrose,and 
addressinghimselftothespeaker,said, 
«© Noman in this house sir, orin this 
country, can have a higher opinion 
than Ihave, of the courage, the 
gallantry, the skill and ability of 
the gallant admiral, and the officers 
and seamen acting under him, whe. 
have atchieved an action so emi- 
nently glorious. No man can be 
more desirous of conferring on bina 
and them every praise, and every 
exalted distinction which such bril- 
liant conduct deserves. At the same 
time, sir, that I say this, [ must beg 
leave to observe, that such glorious 
annals of the eventsare by no means 
unprecedented in the British navy. 
However, sir, willing and desirous 
as I amto allow to this gallant action 
every possible degree of merit, and 
every praise which the most enthu- 
siastic admirerof extraordinary vic= 
tories can wish for or desire, I must 
beg leave to call the attention of the 
house to the circumstances which 
have just been related to us, con- 
cerning the situation and number of 
shipswith which the gallantadtairal 
has acquired so great, so brillant, 
and so decisive a superiority. The 
inequality of ships onl our part, un- 
der the command of sir John Jervis, 
is very great, almost, sir, in a pro- 
portion 
