2jz ARMED ASSOCIATIONS. 



you did not complain of poverty until you were proved to be 

 a golden object of taxation. Ponder well on thefe fads and 

 be in future filent. 



That the meafure of giving freedom to the Irifh commerce 

 is a wife one, I have not a doubt 5 but I muft own, I regret 

 its not having been done upon principles of found policy, 

 rather than at a time when it can bear the conftruction, true 

 or falfe, of being extorted ; and this leads me to one or two 

 obfervations on the armed affociations, which have made too 

 much noife in England. 



If ill founded apprehenfions have led the legiflature of Bri- 

 tain to do now what it ought to have done long ago, the ef- 

 fect is beneficial to both countries ; but I cannot admit that it 

 is merely giving charity to a fturdy beggar, who frightens us 

 by the brandilhing and fize of his crutch. To fuppofe that 

 Great Britain is at the mercy of Ireland, and that an Iriih 

 congrefs may arife, fupported by forty thoufand bayonets, is 

 mere idle declamation j we have the ftrongeft reafon entirely 

 to reject fuch ideas, because it could not poffibly end in any 

 thing but the ruin of Ireland ; the very conflict would arreft 

 all that profperity which has been gradually flowing in upon 

 her for thefe thirty years paft, and leave her expofed, a divi- 

 ded f, weakened people, open to the attack of every potent 

 neighbour. What a fenfelefs, military mob, led by men who 

 have nothing to lofe, would wifh or attempt, may be doubted ; 

 but that military affociations, officered and commanded by 

 men of the firft property, who have not named a grievance 

 without redrefs following, and who have experienced more 

 favour from three feffions of the Britifh parliament than from 

 three centuries before. To fuppofe that fuch men, having 

 every thfng to lofe by public confufion, but nothing to gain, 

 would fo entirely turn their back to the moft powerful plead- 

 ings of their own intereft and that of their country, is to fup- 

 pofe a cafe which never did nor ever will happen. 



Apprehenfions of any extremities are idle, but there is this 

 misfortune in a feries of conceffions, not given to reafon, but 

 to clamour, that they rather invite new demands than fatisfy 

 old ones ; and from this circumftance refults the great fuperi- 

 ority of coming at once to a univerfal explanation, and agree- 

 ing either to a union, or to fuch a modification of one, as I 

 ftated infection XXII. 



In the next place let me enquire what degree of relief, (fup- 

 pofmg the diftrefles of that kingdom to be as they may) will 

 refult from the freedom lately given to the Irifh in refpect to 

 their woollen and American trades, which will naturally lead 



me 



\- Thefe iu/:o are fo wild as for a moment to conceive an' idea of 

 .this fort, muftfurely have forgot the Roman catholics in that king- 

 dom. It would be eafy to enlarge on this fsinf, but for every reaj 

 fin imfrcptr. 



