246] 
against the principles they had im- 
bibed, and the prejudices by which 
they were guided, was an idea 
which history and human nature 
proved to be absurd. What, said 
Mr. Fox, is the actual situation of 
affairs with respect toJreland ? You 
have raised enormous burtbens both 
in England and Ireland; you have 
_ produced .great discontents. In 
fact, we are now precisely at the 
point in which we stood, in 1774, 
with America; and, the question 
is, whether we are to attempt to 
retain Ireland by force, instead of 
gaining her by concessions, and a 
full communication of all the bless- 
ings of a free constitution? Mr. 
Fox, having spoken highly of the 
administration and popularity of the 
earl Fitzwilliam, in Ireland, said, - 
that he could scarcely conceive that 
any objection could be urged against 
the motion he was about to make, 
in point of form. The isterests of 
this country and of Ireland ‘were 
thesame, — Its affairs were conduct- 
ed by ministers, and the British ca- 
binet, and it was the privilege of 
that house to advise his majesty, If 
he were to justify the measure by 
precedent, he might quote the case 
of an impeachment of the earl of 
Lauderdale, by the English par- 
liament, before the union, for the 
conduet of the government of Scot- 
land. But why, said Mr. Fox, 
should I speak of forms, when the 
consequences of the discontents in 
Ireland may be a contest to be sup- 
ported by Englishmen, and English 
money ? J shal] therefore move, 
‘© That an humble address. be 
presented to his majesty, that his 
majesty will be graciously pleased 
to take into his royal consideration 
the disturbed state of his kingdom 
of Ireland, and to adopt such hea‘- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
ing and lenient measures as may 
appear to his majesty's wisdom 
best calculat-d torestore tranquillity, 
and to conciliate the offections of 
all descriptions of his majesty’s 
subjects, in that kingdom, to’ his 
majesty’s person and government.” 
This motioa was seconded, in a 
short, but very elcgant as well as 
animated, speech, by 
Sir Francis Burdett, who said, 
whoever has the slightest informa- 
tion, concerning the situation of | 
Treland, must admit the propriety 
of this motion ; but, without ha- 
ving beem an eye-witness to the 
effects produced by tae measures of 
the minister of that country, it is 
impossible to have an adequate idea 
of the magnitude of the evils arising 
fromthem. Whoever has seen Ire- 
land, bas seen a country where the 
fields are desolated, and the prisons 
overflowing with the victims of op- 
pression ; hasseen the shocking con- 
trast between a profligate extrava- 
gant governmentandan enslaved and ~ 
impoverished people. Qne person 
now immured within the wails of a 
dungeon in Dublin Castle, I have 
the honour to be connected with : 
for honour as well as happiness [ 
shall ever esteem it. “ After a warm 
panegyric’on the public and private 
virtues of Mr.O’Connor, sir Francis 
said, when such men become objects 
of hatred, and fear to government, 
it is not difficult to ascertain the 
nature of that government. But 
perhaps, sir, 1 may be charged with 
speaking more like a discontented 
Irishman than a true friend to the 
interests of England. Sir, I speak 
like a friend to humanity and li- 
berty, and like an enemy to cruelty 
and oppression. J believe the in- 
terests of Ireland and of this coun- 
try to be the same. I believe it 
for 
