diced, the difpaffionate, the fober judgment of the Parliament of Ireland. I with that thofe whofe interefts are involved in this meafure fhould have time for its confideration-I wifh that time thould be given to the Landed, to the Mercantile and Manufacturing Intereft, that they fhould look at it with all its bearings, and that they fhould cooly examine and fift the popular arguments by which it has been opposed, and that then they fhould give their deliberate and final judgment.

I am the more encouraged in this hope of the ultimate fuccefs of this measure, when I fee, not

withstanding alles which it has excit

the

ed, that barely more than one-half of the members that attended the Houfe of Commons were adverfe to it, and that in the other Houfe of Parliament in Ireland, containing, as it does, fo large a portion of the property of the kingdom, it was approved of by a large majority-When I have reafon to believe that the fentiments of a large part of the People of that Country are favourable to it, and that much of the Manufacturing, and of the, Commercial Intereft of Ireland are already fenfible

how

1

how much it is calculated to promote their advantage, I think, when it is more deliberately examined, and when it is feen in what temper it is here propofed and difcuffed, that it will ftill terminate in that which can alone be a fortunate refult.

It would be vain indeed to hope that a propo fition upon which prejudices are fo likely to ope rate, and which is fo liable to mifconception, fhould be unanimously approved. But the appro. bation I hope for is, that of the Parliament of Ireland, and of the intelligent part of the Public of that Country. It is with a view to this object that I think it my duty to bring this measure forward at prefent; not for the fake of urging its immediate adoption, but that it may be known and recorded; that the intention of the British Parliament may be known, in the hope that it will produce fimilar fentiments among our Countrymen in Ireland. With this view it is my intention not to go at prefent into any detailed ftatement of the plan, becaufe fhould it ultimately be adopted, the minuter parts muft neceffarily become the objects of much diftinct difcuffion; but to give such a general statement of the nature of

the meature as will enable the Houfe to form a correct judgment upon it.

T I fhall therefore, Sir, before I fit down, open to the House a string of Resolutions, comprifing the general heads of this plan. It will be neceffary for me, for the purpose of difcuffing those Refolutions with regularity and convenience, to move that the Houfe fhould refolve itfelf into a Committee. And I have already ftated, that it is not my intention then to prefs the Committee to come to an immediate decifion upon the Refolu, ic tions; but if, upon full and deliberate examination, the Refolutions which I fhall have the honour to propofe, and which contain as much as is neceffary for an outline of the plan, fhall be approve ed, my opinion is, that nothing can contribute more to obviate any doubts and diffatisfaction which may exift, than that Parliament fhould adopt those Refolutions, and that it fhould then humbly leave them at the foot of the Throne, leav 2.11 ing it to HIS MAJESTY'S wifdom to communicateob's them to the Parliament of Ireland, whenever... circumftances, fhould appear favourable to fuch or a Measure. I fhall therefore, Sir, proceed as

C

fhortly

fhortly as I can to ftate to the House the nature of the Refolutions, and of the Addrefs which I fhall propose to accompany them, if it fhould be the pleasure of the House to adopt them.

Having now, Sir, explained to the House the mode I mean to pursue, and my reasons for perfifting, under the prefent circumstances, in fubmitting this Measure to the confideration of Parliament, I will endeavour to ftate the general grounds on which it refts, the general arguments by which it is recommended, and to give a short view of the particulars of the Plan.

As to the general principle upon which the whole of this Measure is founded, I am happy to observe, from what paffed upon a former occa fion, that there is not a probability of any difference of opinion. The general principle, to which both fides of the Houfe perfectly acceded, is, that a perpetual Connection between Great Britain and Ireland was effential to the interests of both. The only Honourable Gentleman who, when this fubject was before the Houfe on a

former

former day, opposed the confideration of the Plan altogether, ftated, in terms as ftrong as I could with, the neceffity of preferving the strictest Connection between the two Countries. I most cordially agree with him in that opinion, but I then stated, that I do not barely wish for the maintenance of that Connection as tending to add to the general strength of the Empire, but I wish for the maintenance of it with a peculiar regard to the local interefts of Ireland, with a regard to every thing that can give to Ireland its due weight and importance, as a great member of the Empire. I wish for it with a view of giving to that Country the means of improving all its great natural Resources, and of giving it a full participation of all thofe bleffings which this Country fo eminently enjoys.

Confidering the fubject in this point of view, and affuming it as a propofition not to be controverted, that it is the duty of those who wish to promote the Intereft and Profperity of both Countries, to maintain the ftrongeft connection between them, let me afk, what is the fituation of Affairs that has called us to the difcuffion of this

subject?