~ 
—3799-) — 
of the right honourable gentleman. If 
any thing could augment the mifchiefs 
arifing from the meafure, it was that 
pledge, as this affertion had caufed a very 
ferious fenfation, and excited much dif- 
guit throughout Ireland. ‘The beft mode, 
he obferved, of rendering the people happy, 
was not to corrupt its parliaments ; and 
if this fyftem had not been adopted five 
years ago there would have been no rebel- 
lion in that country. He concluded by 
moving, ** That the propofing any mea- 
fure to promote tbe effential intereft of 
Great Britain and Ireland, that had not 
for its bafis the free confent of the Irith 
fegiflature, and which endeavoured by 
corruption or intimidation to procure the 
fame, was incompatible with the indepen- 
dence of the Irifh legiflature, and that 
any minifter who would bring forward 
the fame was an enemy to his majeity.”’ 
IWMr. Grey and Mr. Johnes ipoke in 
favour of Mr. Sheridan’s motion, which, 
on a divifion, was negatived by 141, 
againft 25. 
The order of the day being read, and 
the quettion that the {peaker do leave the 
chair being put, Mr. St. John rofe and 
objected to the motion. He was of opi- 
nion, that it was better the meafure 
fhould reft where it did, than pafs it, 
again the fenfe of the parliament in Ire- 
land. ; 
Meflrs. Grey, Dundas, and Sheridan 
ipoke feverally on the fubjeét, and dif- 
culled the queition at confiderable Jength. 
The houfe then divided—for the fpeaker’s 
leaving the chair 149, againit it 28. 
The order of the day being read on the 
' 11th of February for going into a com- 
mittee, Mr. Sheridan rofe, and obferved, 
that he had a propofition to make, which 
was to do away all civil and religious in- 
capacity; the {pirit of which meature - 
was evinced under Lord Effngham’s ad- 
miniftration, and in which the Britifh 
cabinet, with Mr. Pitt at their head, cer- 
tainly concurred at that period. He there- 
fore moved, that it be ** an inftruction to 
the committee to confider whether it may 
not be conducive to the interefts and con- 
folidation of the empire at large to do 
away all civil incapacities arifing from re- 
ligious diftinétions.”” Mr. Pitt faid, the 
motion was of the moft extraordinary na- 
ture, and that. the whole tenor of the 
mover’s fpeech was marked with contra- 
dictions. If {uch a refolution was adopted 
it would, in ref{pect to Ireland, deftroy the 
very trame and eflence of its conftitution, 
as re{ting on a proteftant afcendancy, and 
therefore he felt it his duty decidedly to 
NIONTHLXY Mac. No. XL, 
State of Public Affairs: 
16t 
oppofe it. The yueftion was put, and 
Mr. Sheridan’s motion negatived.. The 
remainder of this night’s debate, though 
confiderably extended, principally con- 
fitted of explanations, and reciprocal ani- 
madverfions on what fell from contend- 
ing fpeakers. The only point of confe- 
quence immediately revelent to the im- 
portant fubjeét of an union, and marked. 
with argument, was, Whether the Settle- 
ment of 1782 did or did not leave an 
opening for further arrangements between 
two independent legiflatures, and parti- 
cularly for the attainment of the great 
object of the prefent meafures. In fupport 
of the afhrmative, Mr. Pitt, in reply to 
General Fitzpatrick, ftated part of an 
addrefs in 1782, from the Irifh parlia- 
ment to his majefty, on the repeal of the 
6th of George the Firft, praying him 
to take fuch meafures as would be moft 
likely to produce the eftablifhment of a 
connection between the two kingdoms.’” 
On the other hand, General Fitzpatrick 
contended, that although there were fome 
matters to fettle through the appointment 
of commiffioners, they were of a coms 
mercial and not of a cox/titutional nature. 
On this ground Mr. Tierney alfo argued, 
and adduced a document from an addrefs 
of thanks to his majefty, moved by Mr. 
Grattan in the Irifh houfe of commons, 
and containing this expreflion, ‘¢ gratified 
in this particular (the adjuftment of 1732) 
we do affure his majefty, that no contti- 
tutional points will longer exift to inter- 
rupt our harmony.’ Mr. Dundas in- 
fitted, that notwithftanding Ireland was 
fatisfied with the independent legiflatare 
fhe had obtained, there was nothing ta 
that fettlement which hindered the two 
independent legiflatures from making any 
further fettlement which they might think 
would \conduce to the benefit of th two 
countries. 
The folicitor-general, Dr. Lawrence, 
and feveral others, contended on the fanie 
ground. The queftion being again agi- 
tated on the following day, Mr. Sheridan 
rofe, and declared that he was againft the 
meafure in fafo, and whenever the {peaker 
left the chair, he fhould certainly leave 
the houfe. He was convinced, that at ne 
period whatever, would an union be be- 
néficial to either country. 
The heufe then formed itfelf into a 
committee; when the firft refolution was 
read from the chair, and the queftien put, 
Mr. Banks rofe, and oppofed the mea. 
{ure in a fpeech of confiderable length. 
The refolutions being agreed to in the 
committee, the houfe was reaflumed, and 
‘ the 
