suspected. Expense, fatigue, avocation from business, and subordination, will, by rendering their situation irksome, thin their ranks, and a peace would soon put a period to

their existence.

The conduct of all denominations of men, upon the rumours of the last week, which now appear evidently to have been a wicked imposition, carries with it the agreeable conviction of there never having existed a period when Ireland was equally able and willing to resist any attempt of invasion.

I have the honour to be, &c.

BUCKINGHAM.

THE LORD LIEUTENANT TO LORD WEYMOUTH.

MY LORD,

Dublin Castle, June 25, 1779.

I have mentioned to your Lordship at different times the applications that had been made to me for arms for the use of the self-created troops and companies in this kingdom, and my determination not to comply with such applications. Some of the most respectable noblemen of this kingdom, who are governors of counties, have since represented to me that, in case of an invasion, it would not be in the power of gentlemen of the country to defend themselves, the people in general having no arms; and that they must, consequently, be at the mercy of any banditti who might choose to pillage; and have, therefore, requested that they may be supplied with arms from his Majesty's stores, to be deposited in barracks, and not to be delivered out but by the express order of the governors of the counties.

I must inform your Lordship that there are at this time in His Majesty's stores in Dublin above 5,000 new arms,

and a further quantity is in hand; the whole of which will be wanted for the use of the regular troops, but there are also in store about 20,000 militia arms in perfect order.

Had a militia been arrayed, a number of these arms, equal to that of the militia, would, of course, have been issued, and put under the direction of the governors of counties.

I apprehend, as there has not been any array, it is not perfectly regular to place these arms in other hands; yet, upon such an emergency, as at present threatens, I submit whether it might not be justifiable and proper to lodge a number of them under the care of the commanding officers in some of the provincial towns in the southern parts of Ireland, in order that if there should be immediate occasion for them, they might be there ready to be delivered without delay.

As this is a case of great delicacy, and very different in its circumstances from the other applications for arms, and as upon my compliance with any of the applications in question, I must expect they will become general from every county in Ireland, I would not determine positively upon the matter, until such time as I should have an opportunity of stating it to your Lordship, and receiving directions for my conduct therein.

I have the honour to be, &c.
BUCKINGHAM.

362

C.HAPTER XVI.

Exertions of the Press in favour of Ireland's rights.-Dean Swift's advice to use domestic manufactures.-Mr. Johnson.-Jebb, Dobbs, Pollock, O'Leary's writings.-Counties agree to use domestic manufactures.— Enter into non-importation and non-consumption agreements.-Lord Lieutenant's and Lord Weymouth's letters.-Invasion apprehended. -Privy Council orders the issuing of arms.-Roman Catholic priests. -The minister apprehends danger.-Government plan to discourage volunteers. Conduct of Privy Council.—Their resolution.-Speech from the throne.-Letters of Lord Lieutenant and Lord Weymouth respecting the opening of the Session of Parliament in 1779.

THE press, that great great champion of public liberty, that terror of tyrants, that powerful engine in the cause of the people, was neither indifferent nor inactive on the occasion of the important crisis referred to in the last chapter. The recommendation given by Dean Swift so many years before, to encourage the use of native commodities, and promote Irish manufactures, for which his Drapier's Letters were prosecuted, and voted to be dangerous and seditious libels,

was now revived, and seemed likely to prevail. Numbers of most excellent publications, written by distinguished persons, though under fictitious names, daily appeared, and were circulated throughout the country, and received with the greatest avidity. Mr. Robert Johnson, afterwards Judge, and Dr. Frederick Jebb, published letters on the affairs of Ireland, recommending domestic manufactures, denying the right of the British Legislature, and asserting the claims of Ireland to free trade. They appeared under the titles of "Guatimozin" and "Causidicus." Mr. Charles Sheridan wrote observations in reply to Sir W. Blackstone, on the powers of the British Parliament. Mr. Pollock wrote a series of spirited and patriotic letters under the title of "Owen Roe O'Nial," addressed to the people of Ireland, and in support of the volunteer associations: these were from time to time published in the papers of the day, and were full of freedom and ardour. Others appeared in the daily papers under various titles,-Brutus, Decius, Fidelis, Hibernicus, &c., -asserting in constitutional language the rights of the country. Mr. Dobbs wrote to defend the non-importation agreement, and in support of domestic manufactures and home consumption, in reply to Doctor Tucker; and Doctor O'Leary's letters to the Roman Catholics, enjoining their union with their countrymen to oppose the foreign enemy, made a great and general impression.

Resolutions were also entered into by the volunteer associations, in support of home manufactures, accompanied by a determination to consume no other, and demanding an extension of their commerce.

This measure was now generally adopted, and being sanctioned by the leading men of the country, made great and rapid progress, viz. the consumption of home-made goods. In the early part of the year, the grand jury and many of the resident gentry passed resolutions on this subject, in Cavan, Carlow, Kilkenny, Queen's county, &c. They signed declarations, that in consequence of the distress of the nation, the unjust exclusion from trade, and the injurious and restrictive commercial regulations, they would not use imported goods, but consume their domestic manufactures, and that this declaration should be in force so long as the country remained excluded from participation in commerce. Lords Lanesborough, Farnham, Carlow, De Vesci, and a number of influential men of property, affixed their names to these documents, which quickly extended through the country, and were adopted by numerous county meetings.

From the statements already made, it appears that Government was unable to afford the subject the ordinary return for allegiance,-(protection against either domestic distress, or foreign danger,) and it fell, with the nation, a sacrifice * See Appendix.