amph. In the continental mif- was the notorious want of intelligence. The noble earl had faid, that he would refign when he could find a perfon daring enough to contend against the winds. What the public wanted was, not a man who could govern against the winds and waves, but one who would govern with them: this was the cafe in the prefent inftance. The wind had been favourable; and all that had been wanting, was an admiralty capable of making use of it. On the 16th of December, admiral Colpoys received intelligence of the French having failed, the wind continued fair, and if he had proper orders, he would have been off the Irish coaft. Had the hips under ford Bridport been ready, the wind would ftill have been fair. The noble earl had talked of long nights; was it fo great a reach of forefight to know that there were long nights in December? But the French fleet, it feemed, might have gone up the channel. In the first place, the wind was agair.ft them; but if they had, what would have been the cafe? They would have been under lock and key. The remainder of the fubject lay in a very fmall compafs; it turned upon two points. Why were not orders given to admiral Colpoys to go off Cape Clear? And why were not more hips kept ready at Portfmouth? The marquis of Lanfdowne faid, that in Ireland it had been a prejudice to represent the government of this country, as careless of the fifter kingdom. At prefent a new difcontent had arifen, and gentlemen who were in the habit of correfponding with Ireland, knew very well, that they who had formerly taken the part of the government, were now forced to acknowledge that Ireland had been neglected. Applications had been made from thence for protection; and it muft be confeffed that country had been abandoned by England. Minifters had pledged to keep up a great land force in Ireland, which they had withdrawn. In the laft war, a pledge had been made, that a naval force fhould, in all future wars, be kept off the Irifh coaft; and were he minifter now, he should think it necessary to station a fleet in the Cove of Cork immediately. An inquiry could not but be fatisfactory in every point of view; fatisfactory to admiral Colpoys, to lord Bridport, and to the profeffion at large. There were, befides, other perfons concerned in the inquiry; the admiralty, the commiffioners of accounts, and other inferior boards. It would not impede, but accelerate operations Minifters, indeed, had fhewn fome confcioufnefs of the neceffity of a mock inquiry at leaft, by their producing papers; and the first thing to be remarked on thefe papers The earl Fitzwilliam faid, that where there had been blame, there ought to be inquiry. Some expreffions that had been thrown out of 68 greater care being required for England than Ireland," would make a deep impreffion on the minds of the people of that country; and he was forry to have heard them. : Lord Grenville affured their lordfhips, that they might fet their minds at reft on the fubject of Ireland; which, fo far from having been neglected, had been the object of particular attention. The houfe having divided on lord Albemarle's motion, it appeared that it was rejected by 74 against 14. The noble fecretary's repeated aflurances, refpecting the fecurity, external and internal, of Ireland, were not fatisfactory to the members in oppofition to government, nor to fome not always or often in oppofition, in both houfes of parliament. Motions for inquiries into the internal ftate, and allaying the difcontents, of Ireland were made, and gave rife to animated and long debates in both houses. Of thefe debates, however, it would be unneceflary and even nugatory to give other than a very fummary account: as the explosion which foon after took place throws greater light on the fituation of Ireland than was, at this time, enjoyed, proves or difproves the statements of facts, on which much of thofe debates was founded; and, on the whole, finks much of the intereft in those temporary and temporizing effufions, in the events which it produced, and the new fpirit and order of affairs by which thefe have been fucceeded. And here we fhall take occafion, once for all, to obferve, that, in relating the tranfactions of parliament, it is not fo much our object to difplay the eloquence of the different fpeakers, which would fwell our narrative to the fize of feveral volumes,* as to purfue the thread of the main reafoning on which the main decifions turned, or on which, at least, they were refted. In the house of peers, the earl of Moira rofe to make a motion, of which, as ufual in all fimilar cafes, he had given previous notice, refpecting Ireland, on the twentyfirft of March. The exordium of his lordship's fpeech turned on the delicacy that was to be observed, in agitating queftions in which feparate and independant legiflatures, in agitating queftions in which the privileges and the independence of each other, were involved. Yet, when urgent cafes render interference neceflary, the delicacy, which may be obferved, may remove every jealoufy which might otherwife be excited; and it would be meritorious for the different parties mutually to manifeft their attention, and their anxiety, for objects in which their common interefts were concerned. On thefe grounds he had now rifen, for the purpofe of moving a humble addrefs to his majefty, that he would be gracioufly pleafed to interpofe his paternal and beneficent interference to remedy the difcontents which prevailed in Ireland, and which create the moft ferious alarm for the deareft interefts of that country, and of the British empire. The extent and rapid increase of the difcontents, which prevailed in Ireland, were fubjects of fufficient notoriety to form the ground of this proceeding. He fhould abftain, therefore, from an enumeration of the particulars which had *The curiofity of knowing what was faid, on fuch and such an occafion, by fuch and such a speaker, will be best gratified by the newspapers and magazines of the day; and the annual volumes of parliamentary debates. come come to his knowledge, and of the people with confidence in gowhich, indeed, he had recently vernment, would quickly call forth been witness. In addreffing his that fond affection of the inhabimajefty, to the effect propofed, the tants of Ireland to this country, houfe would not only exercife one which circumftances might cloud, of its most important privileges, but could not extinguith; infpire but fulfill one of its most important that zeal fo neceflary in the preduties. If it appeared that the fent moment; and furnish those recounfellors, more immediately about fources which were requifite for his majefty's perfon, his majefty's the critical fituation in which we minifters, had not given that ad- were placed, and the arduous convice which was calculated to en- teft in which we were engaged. fure the happiness and profperity On thefe grounds he refted the of Ireland, it was the duty of their motion which he was now to prolordship's to approach the throne pofe: "That a humble addrefs with advice more wife and falu- be prefented to his majefty, praytary. But it might be faid, What ing that he would be graciouйly influence could fuch an addrefs pleafed to interpofe his paternal carry with it, to change the coun- and beneficent interference to allay cils by which Ireland was govern- the difcontents which at prefent ed? To prove the influence of fubfift in his kingdom of Ireland, the British cabinet he appealed to and which threaten the dearest ina recent fact: he meant the recall terefts of the British empire." of the earl Fitzwilliam, at a time. when all Ireland concurred in the measures which he purfued, when that country gave the faireft profpect of tranquillity, and the fureft pledge of affiftance and fupport to Britain, in the arduous circumftances in which fhe was placed. It might be asked, What plan he withed to purfue? This, lord Moira obferved, was indicated in the motion, he was about to make, itfelf. When they addreffed his majefty to interpofe his paternal care and benevo lence, the known goodness of his nature left no room for doubt as to the refult. It was by temper, equity and good faith, that the diftractions of Ireland were to be appeafed, and their affections conciliated. No good could be expected from a profecution of the prefent fyftem. He was confident, however, that the adoption of measures, calculated to imprefs Lord Grenville faid, in reply to lord Moira, that his motion could not be adopted without breaking the folemn contract which had been entered into between the two countries; without tearing afunder every bond of union and connection, and fpreading distraction and divifion between the members of the British empire. He should, therefore, give his decided oppofition to the prefent motion, and every propofition of a fimilar tendency. The motion he confidered, firft, as unneceffary; fecondly, as mifchievous. Under the firft head he expatiated on the mealures that had been taken by his majefty, in the courfe of a reign of thirty-fix years, from year to year, to remove every ground of uneafinefs or difcontent which the fituation of the Irifh prefented; the improved ftate of their commerce; their full enjoyment of civil and religious liberty; the Catholics ad which, fo far from having been neglected, had been the object of particular attention. The houfe having divided on lord Albemarle's motion, it appeared that it was rejected by 74 against 14. The noble fecretary's repeated affurances, refpecting the fecurity, external and internal, of Ireland, were not fatisfactory to the members in oppofition to government, nor to fome not always or often in oppofition, in both houfes of parliament. Motions for inquiries into the internal ftate, and allaying the difcontents, of Ireland were made, and gave rife to animated and long debates in both houses. Of thefe debates, however, it would be unneceflary and even nugatory to give other than a very fummary account: as the explosion which foon after took place throws greater light on the fituation of Ireland than was, at this time, enjoyed, proves or difproves the statements of facts, on which much of thofe debates was founded; and, on the whole, finks much of the interest in those temporary and temporizing effufions, in the events which it produced, and the new fpirit and order of affairs by which thefe have been fucceeded. And here we fhall take occafion, once for all, to obferve, that, in relating the tranfactions of parliament, it is not fo much our object to difplay the eloquence of the different fpeakers, which would fwell our narrative to the fize of feveral volumes,* as to purfue the thread of the main reasoning on which the main decifions turned, or on which, at least, they were rested. In the houfe of peers, the earl of Moira rofe to make a motion, of which, as ufual in all fimilar cafes, he had given previous notice, refpecting Ireland, on the twentyfirft of March: The exordium of his lordship's fpeech turned on the delicacy that was to be observed, in agitating questions in which feparate and independant legiflatures, in agitating queftions in which the privileges and the independence of each other, were involved. Yet, when urgent cafes render interference neceflary, the delicacy, which may be obferved, may remove every jealoufy which might otherwife be excited; and it would be meritorious for the different parties mutually to manifeft their attention, and their anxiety, for objects in which their common interests were concerned. On thefe grounds he had now rifen, for the purpofe of moving a humble addrefs to his majefty, that he would be gracioufly pleafed to interpofe his paternal and beneficent interference to remedy the difcontents which prevailed in Ireland, and which create the most ferious alarm for the deareft interefts of that country, and of the British empire.The extent and rapid increase of the difcontents, which prevailed in Ireland, were fubjects of fufficient notoriety to form the ground of this proceeding. He should abftain, therefore, from an enumeration of the particulars which had *The curiofity of knowing what was faid, on fuch and fuch an occafion, by fuch and fuch a speaker, will be beft gratified by the newspapers and magazines of the day; and the annual volumes of parliamentary debates. come come to his knowledge, and of the people with confidence in government, would quickly call forth that fond affection of the inhabitants of Ireland to this country, which circumftances might cloud, but could not extinguish; infpire that zeal fo neceflary in the prefent moment; and furnish those refources which were requifite for the critical fituation in which we were placed, and the arduous conteft in which we were engaged. On thefe grounds he refted the motion which he was now to propose: which, indeed, he had recently been witness. In addreffing his majefty, to the effect propofed, the houfe would not only exercife one of its most important privileges, but fulfill one of its most important duties. If it appeared that the counsellors, more immediately about his majefty's perfon, his majefty's minifters, had not given that advice which was calculated to enfure the happiness and profperity of Ireland, it was the duty of their lordship's to approach the throne with advice more wife and falutary. But it might be faid, What influence could fuch an addrefs carry with it, to change the councils by which Ireland was governed? To prove the influence of the British cabinet he appealed to a recent fact he meant the recall of the earl Fitzwilliam, at a time when all Ireland concurred in the measures which he purfued, when that country gave the faireft profpect of tranquillity, and the fureft pledge of affiftance and fupport to Britain, in the arduous circumstances in which he was placed.It might be asked, What plan he withed to purfue? This, lord Moira obferved, was indicated in the motion, he was about to make, itfelf. When they addressed his majesty to interpofe his paternal care and benevo fence, the known goodness of his nature left no room for doubt as to the refult. It was by temper, equity and good faith, that the diftractions of Ireland were to be appeafed, and their affections conciliated. No good could be expected from a profecution of the prefent fyftem. He was confident, however, that the adoption of meafures, calculated to imprefs "That a humble address be prefented to his majefty, praying that he would be graciously pleafed to interpofe his paternal and beneficent interference to allay the difcontents which at prefent fubfift in his kingdom of Ireland, and which threaten the dearest interefts of the British empire." Lord Grenville faid, in reply to lord Moira, that his motion could not be adopted without breaking the folemn contract which had been entered into between the two countries; without tearing asunder every bond of union and connection, and fpreading diftraction and divifion between the members of the British empire. He fhould, therefore, give his decided oppofition to the prefent motion, and every propofition of a fimilar tendency. The motion he confidered, firft, as unneceffary; fecondly, as mifchievous. Under the first head he expatiated on the measures that had been taken by his majefty, in the courfe of a reign of thirty-fix years, from year to year, to remove every ground of uneafinefs or difcontent which the fituation of the Irifh prefented; the improved ftate of their commerce; their full enjoyment of civil and religious liberty; the Catholics ad |