Conflict between Executive and Commons. 307 Without popular rights of election, this new law was no great security for freedom, but it disturbed, early in the reign of a young king, the indefinite lease of power, hitherto enjoyed by a corrupt confederacy; while discussion and popular sentiments were beginning to exercise greater influence over the legislature. tween the and the 1769. money bills, 1769. A new Parliament was called, after the passing of the Act, in which the country party gained conflict be ground. The government vainly attempted Executive to supplant the undertakers in the manage- Commons, ment of the Commons, and were soon brought into conflict with that assembly. The Commons rejected a money bill, because claim to it did not take its rise in that House;' and originate in order to prove that they had no desire to withhold supplies from the crown, they made a more liberal provision than had been demanded. The lord-lieutenant, however, Lord Townshend, marked his displeasure at this proceeding, by proroguing Parliament as soon as the supplies were voted; and protesting against the vote and resolution of the Commons, as a violation of the law, and an invasion of the just rights of the crown.1 Repeated So grave was this difference, that the lord- tions. lieutenant suspended the further sitting of Parlia proroga Chesterfield's Letters, iv. 468; Plowden's Hist., i. 352, 387; Hardy's Life of Lord Charlemont, i. 248-261. 1 Lords' Journ. (Ireland), iv. 538. The lord-lieutenant, not contented with this speech on the prorogation, further entered a separate protest in the Lords' Journal.-Commons' Journal (Ireland), viii. 323; Debates of Parliament of Ireland, ix. 181; Plowden's Hist. of Ireland, i. 396; ii. 251; Grattan's Mem., i. 98-101; Lord Mountmorres' Hist., i, 54; Hardy's Life of Lord Charlemont, i. 290. ment, by repeated prorogations, for fourteen months,' -a proceeding which did not escape severe animadversion in the English Parliament." Parliament, Dec. 21, when at length reassembled, proved not 1771. Oct. and more tractable than before. In December, 1771, the Commons rejected a money bill because it had been altered in England;3 and again in 1773, pursued the same course, for the like reason, in regard to two other money bills. In 1775, having consented to the withdrawal of four thousand troops from the Irish establishment, it refused to allow them to be replaced by Protestant troops from England,"—a resolution which evinced the growing spirit of national independence. And in the same year, having agreed upon the heads of two money bills, which were returned by the British cabinet with amendments, they resented this. interference by rejecting the bills and initiating others, not without public inconvenience and loss to the revenue. This first octennial Parliament exhibited other signs of an intractable temper, and was dissolved in 1776.8 Nor did government venture to meet the new Parliament for nearly eighteen months.9 6 1 From Dec. 26th, 1769, till Feb. 26th, 1771; Comm. Journ. (Ireland), viii. 354; Plowden's Hist., i. 401. 2 Mr. G. M. Walsingham, May 3rd, 1770; Parl. Hist., v. 309. Comm. Journ. (Ireland), viii. 467; Adolphus, ii. 14; Life of Grattan, i. 174-185. 4 Dec. 27th, 1773: Comm. Journ. (Ireland), ix. 74. 5 Comm. Journ. (Ireland), ix. 223; Grattan's Life, i. 268. 6 Viz. a Bill for additional duties on beer, tobacco, &c.; and another, imposing stamp duties. 7 Dec. 21, 1775; Comm. Journ., Ireland, ix. 244; Plowden's Hist., i. 435. Plowden's Hist., i. 441. The old Parliament was prorogued in June 1776, and after American of the In the meantime, causes superior to the acts of a government, the efforts of patriots, and the Effect combinations of parties, were rapidly ad- of the vancing the independence of Ireland. The war. American colonies had resented restrictions upon their trade, and the imposition of taxes by the mother country; and were now in revolt against the rule of England. Who could fail to detect the parallel between the cases of Ireland and America? The patriots accepted it as an encouragement, and their rulers as a warning. The painful condition of the people was also betraying the conse- Condition quences of a selfish and illiberal policy. people. The population had increased with astonishing fecundity. Their cheap and ready food, the potato, —and their simple wants, below the standard of civilised life, removed all restraints upon the multiplication of a vigorous and hardy race. Wars, famine, and emigration had failed to arrest their progress: but misgovernment had deprived them of the means of employment. Their country was rich in all the gifts of God,-fertile, abounding with rivers and harbours, and adapted alike for agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. But her agriculture was ruined by absentee landlords, negligent and unskilful tenants, half-civilised cottiers; and by restraints upon the free export of her produce. Her manufactures and commerce,-the natural resources of a growing population,—were crushed by the jealousy of English rivals. To the wards dissolved: the new Parliament did not meet till October 14th, 1777.- Comm. Journ, ix. 289, &c. Plowden's Hist., i. 441. ordinary restraints upon her industry was added, in 1776, an embargo on the export of provisions.' And while the industry of the people was repressed by bad laws, it was burthened by the profusion and venality of a corrupt government. What could be expected in such a country, but a wretched, ignorant, and turbulent peasantry, and agrarian outrage? These evils were aggravated by the pressure of the American war, followed by hostilities with France.2 The English ministers and Parliament were awakened by the dangers which threatened the state, to the condition of the sister country; and England's peril became Ireland's opportunity. cial restrictions removed, 1778. Encouragement had already been given to the Commer- Irish fisheries in 1775;3 and in 1778, Lord Nugent, supported by Mr. Burke, and favoured by Lord North, obtained from the Parliament of England a partial relaxation of the restrictions upon Irish trade. The legislature was prepared to make far more liberal concessions: but, overborne by the clamours of English traders, withheld the most important, which statesmen of all parties concurred in pronouncing to be just. The Irish, confirmed in the justice of their cause by these opinions, resented the undue influence of their jealous rivals; and believed that commercial freedom was only to be won by national equality. 1 Grattan's Life, i. 283. 2 Ibid., 283-289, 298, &c.; Hardy's Life of Lord Charlemont, i. 368-379. 15 Geo. III. c. 31; Plowden's Hist., i. 430. Parl. Hist., xix. 1100-1126; Plowden's Hist., i. 459-466; 18 Geo. III. c. 45 (flax seed); c. 55 (Irish shipping); Adolphus' Hist., ii. 551-554; Grattan's Life, i. 330. 1 removed, The distresses and failing revenue of Ireland again attracted the attention of the British Further Parliament, in the ensuing session. Eng- restrictions land undertook the payment of the troops on the Irish establishment serving abroad;2 and relieved some branches of her industry :3 but still denied substantial freedom to her commerce. Meanwhile, the Irish were inflamed by stirring oratory, by continued suffering, and by the successes of the Americans in a like cause. Disappointed in their expectations of relief from the British Parliament, they formed associations for the exclusion of British commodities, and the encouragement of native manufactures.1 lunteers, Another decisive movement precipitated the crisis of Irish affairs. The French war had en- The vocouraged the formation of several corps of 1779. volunteers for the defence of the country. The most active promoters of this array of military force, were members of the country party; and their political sentiments were speedily caught up by the volunteers. At first the different corps were without concert or communication:5 but in the autumn of 1779, they received a great accession of strength, and were brought into united action. The country had been drained of its regular army, for the American war; and its coasts were threatened by the enemy. The government, in its extremity, 1 Parl. Hist., xx. 111, 136, 248, 635, 663. 2 King's Message, March 18th, 1779; Parl. Hist., xx. 327. E.g. hemp and tobacco.-19 Geo. III. c. 37, 83. 4 Plowden's Hist., i. 485: Grattan's Life, i. 362-364; Hardy's Life of Lord Charlemont, i. 389. • Plowden's Hist., i. 487; Grattan's Life, i. 343. |