296 CHAPTER XIV. End of Lord Harcourt's Administration.-Succeeded by the Earl of Buckinghamshire.-Commissioners sent to treat with American Colonies.-Jealousy and distress of Ireland.-Letter of Lord Lieutenant to Lord North.—Irish ask for enlargement of their Trade.—Their attachment to the King and the Government.-Letter of Lord Lieutenant to Lord Weymouth.-Militia Bill.-Offer by the gentry to raise men among their tenantry.—Independent Companies.—Singular state of Irish affairs.—Lord North's opinion.-Lord Lieutenant's opinions. -Decay of trade.-Exhausted Treasury.-Viceroy borrows 20,000%. from La Touche.-Misconduct of Ministers.-All payments stopped. -Government becomes Bankrupt.-They apply for a second sum of 20,0001.-Messrs. La Touche decline the advance.-Encampment of the Military abandoned.-Gross frauds detected in the payment of the troops.-Desperate state of Ireland.-Spencer's opinions on her resources.-Advice to future Ministers.-Letters of the Lord Lieutenant to Lord North on Irish Fisheries.-Injury inflicted on Ireland, Act being evaded.—Linen Manufacture.-Statement of Military Force.-Stops all Payments, Civil and Military.-Sends Mr. Clements to London to Lord North for assistance.-Letter to Lord Weymouth.-Stops the movement of the troops.-Left without supplies.-Impossible to defend Ireland if attacked. THE prodigal administration of Lord Harcourt terminated in 1776, and on the 25th of January, 1777, the Earl of Buckinghamshire assumed the Government of Ireland. His Ministry forms a most important æra in her history, and led to consequences most favourable to the cause of Civil Liberty. The rupture between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and the just complaints of the latter roused the feelings and rivetted the attention of the Irish people. They now beheld with surprise and indignation that more respect was paid to the Americans, who were termed "Rebels," than to the Irish, whose loyalty and liberality were not only unquestioned, but marked by the expressed approbation of the King and the people of Great Britain. They saw that Commissioners were to be appointed to hear and redress the grievances of the disaffected colonies, while the King and the Ministers were alike careless of the wishes, heedless of the wants, and deaf to the repeated complaints of the people of Ireland. At length the necessities of the country induced the Lord Lieutenant to make a representation to Lofd North, on the state of her distress; and he addressed the following letters to the English minister on the subject of the trade and the defence of the kingdom. The sentiments and expressions here used, were those introduced afterwards into the King's speech, and were subsequently productive of more beneficial results than the mere formalities of an address, and the reception of a reply; but it was owing to the strenuous exertions of the people, that these important objects were achieved, and in opposition to the efforts made by the Government to arrest the progress of the volunteers and discourage the proceedings which they adopted in order to restore the trade and recover the liberties of their native country. THE LORD LIEUTENANT TO LORD NORTH.* MY LORD, In consequence of the very kind disposition expressed by both Houses of Parliament in Great Britain towards this kingdom, at this critical juncture, which have been received here with the utmost satisfaction and gratitude, I have been pressed by many of his Majesty's principal servants, and other gentlemen, who have uniformly and steadily supported his Majesty's measures in Parliament, to lay before your lordship their humble hope that the present situation of affairs may afford an opportunity of improving those favourable dispositions into some real benefits for this country. As they apprehend, that the Act lately passed in Great Britain, for appointing commissioners to treat with the colonies, and the present state of the British empire, must soon bring on the consideration of the whole system of British commerce, they have thought it incumbent upon them to represent it to me as their true sentiments, concurring with those of the public, that this would be a proper time for me to solicit your lordship's favour, and to submit to you their earnest request, that whatever privileges or advantages in trade shall be granted to the colonies, if the conciliatory plan shall take effect, may be extended to Ire * Lord North was first Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. land; and that the colonies may not in any respect be put upon a better footing than Ireland. In different conversations, which have passed between me and some of the ablest men here concerning the trade of this kingdom, I have been thoroughly convinced that an enlargement of it in many instances is become absolutely necessary for its support, as well to enable it to answer the many drains to which it is annually subject, particularly to Great Britain, as to make provision for the expenses of his Majesty's Government, which of late years have increased to a considerable amount. And I am persuaded that the wealth and advantages proceeding from such enlargement of their trade would not only redound to the benefit of Great Britain, but that in return his Majesty may expect the utmost effort of his subjects in this kingdom in support of his government, and for the general service of the British empire. I have therefore made no difficulty in complying with their request, that I would represent this state, as the general sense of the country, to your lordship, in order that when any system of commerce shall be agitated, such steps may be taken with respect to the trade of Ireland, as shall appear to be most for the benefit of the two kingdoms. I cannot entertain a doubt of your Lordship's readiness to promote such a solid advantage to this country; and in justice to it I must declare, that the steadiness of all persons of any rank to co-operate in every measure which can at this crisis conduce to the maintenance of the dignity of Great Britain, and their zeal and attachment to his Majesty and his Government, very fully entitle them to all the assistance which can be given them by his Majesty's ministers, and to every mark of favour that can be granted them by the British Parliament. Your Lordship will therefore permit me to recommend this measure in the strongest manner to of Your lordship will receive by this messenger twenty Bills which have passed the Council. I inclose a list of them herewith, and as there is nothing extraordinary in any them, which is not explained in the letters accompanying them from the Privy Council, except the Militia Bill, I have only to recommend them to your lordship's protection, and to lay before you some observations upon that Bill. Your lordship will find that this bill differs very little from one that was transmitted and rejected in the latter end of Lord Harcourt's administration. That Bill was opposed at the time, as not being then necessary, as being very expensive, and the gentlemen of the army alleged it would clash with the military; but when the Bill now transmitted was under consideration in the House of Commons, those objections were not revived. It passed without opposition, a militia or some force besides that of the army being thought by the gentlemen of this country absolutely necessary in those counties, particularly in the north, from which the regular forces are intended to be withdrawn. But when it came into council, by much the greater number of Lords were of opinion that it would not answer the good purposes for which it was formed. In the southern parts the number of Protestants is so inconsiderble, that it would be difficult to form a militia, and the troops * Lord Weymouth was Secretary of State for the Home Department. |