I forefee, with great fatisfaction, the time when, if this union takes place, the whole ftate of Ireland will be changed. The overflowing of British capital will, on a peace, inftead of finding its way into France or America, fettle in Ireland. It will, in time, convert the bogs of that country into cornfields; it will cover its barren mountains with forefts; it will dig its mines, cut its canals, erect its fabrics, explore new channels of commerce, and improve the old ones; in a word, by fupplying labour, it will render the people induftriously enlightened, content. ed, and happy. I, my lords, fhall not live to fee the effects of this measure, for great objects do not attain their full perfection at once, but our pofterity will fee them, and will have caufe to blefs the enlarged policy of two legiflatures, which, rifing fuperior to petty jealoufies, which, facrificing partial interefts on the altar of general fafety, have coalefced into one, for the benefit of both." There was a question, bishop Watfon obferved, of great importance, whether the British conftitution would or would not undergo fome change, and if any, what change from the introduction of, Irish members into our two houses of parliament. On thefe and fimilar questions, as well

difadvantages' attending an union, he could fpeak at fome length: but he purpofely declined it, partly from a perfuafion that his advice would not be needed, but princi-. pally to his diflike to the appearing forward in obtruding his political fpeculations on the attention of the houfe, having ne ambition whatever to affect the character of a statefman: a character, indeed, when wifely and honourably fuftained, of the higheft importance to human happiness, but which did not befit a retired and and unconnected churchman, who wished to fpend the remainder of his days in con, templations of quite a different tendency. When the late duke of Rutland, whofe memory would ever be dear to the bifhop, was lordlieutenant of Ireland, he honoured him with his confidence, and converfed with him on fubjects of political importance. In writing to the duke, about the time when the Irifh propofitions, as they were, called, were under difcuffion, he' perfectly well remembered having faid to his grace, you and your friend, the minifter of England, would immortalize your characters, if, instead of a mere commercial arrangement, you could accomplish, by honourable means, and on equit, able terms, a legislative union between the two kingdoms. The duke's answer to this fuggeftion was fo fingular, that he fhould never forget it. He wholly approved the measure, but added, that the man who fhould attempt to carry it into execution' would be tarred and feathered.

Whether his re

of a few leading individuals only, he had no means of afcertaining, nor was it now of any ufe to inquire. He mentioned this circumflance to fhew, that the vote he fhould give this day was founded on an opinion not rafhly or recently taken up, but deliberately formed, many years ago, when his mind was neither heated by refentment against rebellion, nor diftrurbed by the apprehenfion of danger, and when he was much more in the habit of confidering fuch fubjects than he had been of late years. In detaining their lordships fo long, he had probably done as much violence to his own feelings as their patience; for he felt a daily increafing reluctance to the mingling in public political debate. this great fubject had compelled him to come forward.

But

Lord Boringdon, on the trite question of the fuppofed final adjuftment of 1782, referred to Mr. Fox's fpeech on the commercial propofitions of 1785, in which he declared, that the resolution of the house of commons, on the feventeenth of May, 1782, in no wife referred to commerce, but folely to objects political and imperial.

Lord Minto faid, that it was not only for the advantage, but neceffary to the fecurity and prefervation of both countries, that there fhould fubfift between Great Britain and Ireland a clofe connection of fome kind: and the only mode of connection, that could perfectly remove the evils of feparation, and fully confer the benefit of union, was a perfect identity and incorporation of their governments. Federal connections were, in their nature, very inadequate to the purposes of union, and of very precarious du

ration. As to the competency of parliament to decide on the prefent queftion; if parliament was not competent, where could there be found a more adequate authority.. For whatever the whole nation could do, if there were no parliament, could be done by the regular and fundamental powers of parliament.

He analyzed the idea and fentiment of true patriotism; which, he fhewed, confifted not in a fond attachment to one nation, merely as it flood in a ftate of diftinctnefs from other nations, but in doing real and actual good to one's country.

Did our limits, which we have already fomewhat tranfgreffed, and were it our object to exhibit fpecimens of logical reafoning, and juft and fine compofition, we fhould infert in this sketch the whole of lord Minto's fpeech on this interefting fubject, which appears to us to be a happy medium between the fpeeches of the laft century, or rather the first part of it, drawn from hiftory, the law of nations, and maxims of jurifprudence and philofophy, but overloaded with quotation, and, in many inftances, degenerating into an affectation of learning; and thofe clumfy and defultory, though fenfible remarks, on one hand, and those animated fallies and effufions on another, that characterizę many orations well received in our times. At the fame time, as we have been led to. alume the province of the critic, it may be proper to obferve, that* lord Minto's fpeech was not more confolidated by a found and enlightened judgement, than enlivened by many delicate and pleafing contours of a fine imagination. It was

the

the oratory of Fletcher, of Saltown, employed in an oppofite and more aufpicious caufe. The queftion on the addrefs being put, was carried nem. con. Lord Grenville, lord Auckland, the bishop of Landaff, and lord Minto, were named as a committee, for drawing up an addrefs, conformably to the motion, which, after a conference with the commons, was prefented to his majefty, as the joint addrefs of both houfes of parliament.

*

That the various proceedings in parliament, of most importance, might be contemplated with the more intereft, as well as order, we have thought it proper to view them not in the connection of adjourn ments, from time to time, but under the four heads of finance, measures of external defence, measures of internal tranquillity, and measures of political economy. The union with Ireland may be referred to either the fecond or third of four general heads, or more properly to both. To both, alfo, may be referred a bill, proposed in February, and paffed in the course of the feffion, for reducing the militia and regulating the provifional cavalry. The fupplementary militia was now almoft trebled. If fully completed, under the prefent laws, it would amount to 106,000. It was, however, deficient of that number, and did not exceed 82,000. This last number of 82,000 fupple

mentary militia, combined with our other forces, being confidered as perfectly adequate to every purpofe, was not to be increased, but continued as it now stood. The claufe in the bill, relating to the provifional cavalry, was founded on the fame principle as that refpecting the fupplementary militia, viz. a wifh not to increase our force beyond what was actually neceffary. And it was judged the more particularly expedient to do fo, at a feafon of the year when fo many hands would be wanting for the purposes of agriculture. The volunteer and yeomanry cavalry had rifen from 5,000 to 30,000. By this vaft augmentation, the provifional cavalry-act being superfeded, it was thought unneceffary to call forth that part of our intended force.

On the firft of March, Mr. Wilberforce made his annual motion for the abolition of the flave-trade. A new and interefting circumftance varied the ufual topics and arguments, this year, in the debate on this fubject : an army of negroes, under Touffaint, in St. Domingo, and democratical, or, as they were at this time called, French princi-. ples, fupported and encouraged by that ftriking revolution, ftriving hard to make their way into the very heart of the British colonies. Mr. Wilberforce's motion was loft, by 84 votes against 54.

CHAP.