individual, whofe only aim is to unveil the evil (for evil there unquestionably is) and with a boldnefs not meaning to offend, but perhaps inspired by the energy of the fubject, imprefs the remedy.-The queftion of a Legislative Union is of so important a nature, as to awaken the feeling of every thinking man in the community : The human mind, like the human body, is various—we are not all bleffed with genius or with beauty-a perfect freedom of difcuffion is neceffary to call forth what we have of the one, as a becoming ease and liberty are neceffary to fhew the the other. graces of Let us now, by way of introduction, to the fucceeding pages, produce MR. GRATTAN and MR. FOSTER on the subject of Conftitution, Parliament, and Independence. MR. 2. Y MR. GRATTAN. The birth of the borough inundation was the deftruction of liberty-it is a court inftrument that murders freedom. The price of boroughs is from 14 to 16,000l.; this 14 or 16.000l. muft ultimately be paid by you-thus things go on it is impoffible they can laft-the trade of Parliament ruins every thing. 'It is this increase of the price of boroughs which has increased the expence of your establishments, and this increase of your establishments which has increafed the price of your boroughs; they operate alternately like cause and effect, and have within themselves the double principle of rapid ruin. The recognition of our Parliamentary rights has been rendered abortive by unexampled exertions of bribery and corruption. MR. FOSTER. I ftate its perfection, talking of the conftitution, to urge its value and its efficacy for every end of happiness. -That country, whose fafety at this inftant is endangered by a theoretic propofal to reform the fyftemat the time that it is working with ease and increasing benefit. -No-no-cherish the Parliament-all natives of one country their ftake is in it-their hearts as well as their interefts are engaged in its prefervation-its profperity its glory. It is not your Constitution he (Mr. Pitt) wants to take away for any fuppofed imperfection, but because it keeps the purse of the nation in the honeft hands of an Irish Parliament. MR. IRISH INDEPENDENCE, &c. &c. IN taking a view of the question of Union the writer of the following pages may, by fome perfons, be thought to lean more to the Roman Catholic than is either juft or politick; he can only fay, that in looking into the state of this country he found the Catholic fo prominent a feature that his attention was compelled, and for the reafons which he shall advance, he is penetrated with the juftness of their claims, and, fpeaking as a member of the empire, with the faving policy of their full emancipation. ral The writer is neither a bigot in religion or in politics; he hopes he looks with a clear and libeeye on MAN; it is for him that religions are formed and polity established; it is for the good of man that his mind fhould be impreffed with certain tenets leading to and compelling the moral duties; and that the licence of natural liberty be reftrained reftrained within the honourable bounds of focial order. Sparta was free, but fhe had her helots; Rome was free, but she had her flaves; Britain is free, but she has her negroes.-Can we fay Ireland is free when fhe has her Catholics? The flave has the fame right to liberty as his mafter; his motions may be directed by a fuperior force, but whenever he can he will rife, and affert the great charter of his nature; and who fhall prefume to cenfure his effort? It proceeds from a feeling marked upon his heart by the indelible finger of God! and therefore he is the best friend of Ireland, and the true friend of Britain, whose councils and exertions go to the destruction of that partial policy which feeds the fire that may confume the state. The first safe step to that deftruction is a legiflative Union with Great Britain; without Union you cannot emancipate, and without emancipation there can be no real, efficient, operative, and indiffoluble Union. If the British connexion is an advantage (and who but a fool or an incendiary would deny that it is?) union will fecure it; if it is neceffary to the exiftence of the Proteftant establishment in Ireland, union will convert that neceffity into a duty on the part of Great Britain; at prefent her aid is precarious, it lies at her own will-union would leave her no choice-fhe muft defend herself. We are now diftinct governments, under the fame King! independent States, mutually dependent! Britain depends |