abroad and at home, as have made them regret their opinions and conduct. Conventions, however, fucceeded conventions; clubs multiplied upon clubs; popular influence increased and became commanding; and popular measures were repeatedly adopted by the legiflatures, fome of which, upon the principle of Ireland being a distinct and independent state, were to be approved of, but all of which tended to weaken the controul of Great Britain, neceffary to the present state of connexion. But all did not fatisfy. The nation became agitated through its whole extent by separatists and renovators. Strides were making towards feparation and republicanism. The legislature feemed to look on with amazement. At last, in December 1792, the national guards, as they were affectedly called, were actually preparing, and about to march in full display, as the first act in the dreadful fcene, which it was hoped, would, under the direction and aid of France, be foon completely exhibited. A confiderable portion of the Roman Catholicks (many, very many of thems without wicked intention, but deceived by plotting confpirators) moved in correfpondent fyftem. Roman Catholick parliaments met, difcuffed and diffeminated the principles of infubordination and refiftance, and promoted the general plan of feparation, which had been fet on foot by a tribe of active leaders, many of them men of 'fituation and abilities, and followed by no inconfiderable part of the wealth of the country. A party in the state contending for power, and either not feeing or not regarding the confequences, courted popularity, in a moment most eventful, as the inftrument of aggrandizement; and then indeed, had not the fu preme executive arrested the danger, all things tended, as at the commencement of the revolution in France, to produce the effects to be naturally expected, when rank and authority appear to fanctify popular prejudice and enthufiafm. The evil fwelled into enormous magnitude, grew bold and terrible by impunity and fuccefs; and but for unprecedented exertions of power, would have perpetrated its designs. This appears to plain fense to be a train of confequences, nuturally flowing from that proud fpirit of independence and diftinct authority, which firft grew, with gradual profperity, which ftrengthened into overawing affertion of perfect equality, which, fpreading through the community, generated jealoufy and rivalry, and, impregnating the prejudiced and violent multitude, prepared Ireland for the long-defired and now deep-laid fcheme of feparation. The opportunities of acquiring property have been multiplied, and confequently we have feen a great diffusion of wealth among the lower orders of the community but an attachment to the laws and conftitution, under the protection and encouragement of which, property has been gained, has not been the confequence of fuccefs. On the contrary, a vulgar pride, an impatience of controul, a contempt of authority, have been added to the antient hoftility; and accordingly, notwithstanding that conceffion has fucceeded conceffion, yet the chief effect on the minds of thofe to whom they were granted,, has been a loud and imperious demand of new and dangerous grants, which, now that the truth has broken forh, are confeffed to have been intended intended as the means of effecting feparation and a modern republick. Although thofe demands, as we now clearly know, were fo intended, yet the number of men of respect and influence, who, in a period of awful anxiety, joined in the call for emancipation and reform, was very confiderable; and had not the deftructive measures of the great confpiracy been precipitated, it is not improbable that the dangerous opinions might fo powerfully have prevailed, as ultimately to fway the legislature. At all events we know, that in the very hour of dark confpiracy, reform upon French models, calculated in form and spirit to give force and effect to democracy, with emancipation, which, under the pretext of religíous liberality, was clearly intended to give the spirit of democracy extenfive prevalence, were fplendidly propofed under the fanction of great names, and, as in France, feconded by the clubs. The executive power no doubt, and the most leading men of property deeply interested in the welfare of Ireland, defcried the tendency of fuch meafures, and defeated them in that place, where indeed they would foon have proved fatal. But the opinions which greatly prevail in any nation, gain by degrees upon men of condition and influence. Fear operates upon fome; ambition upon others; the love of popularity upon many; and even the best cha racters often thrown themselves into a predominant party, in the vain hope of curing or preventing evils by accommodation. The hiftory of mankind abounds with inftances of this kind of progrefs: but modern D 2 ཝཱ France France furnishes an impreffive example, fresh in our: obfervation, and pregnant with instruction. Admit what we hope and expect, that Ireland continues, and, from the 'nature of profperity, accelerates her progrefs in riches and power. It is by the people at large the acquifition is made: great numbers therefore of the lower ranks are daily rising into wealth and importance; confequently the immense body, which has deeply imbibed principles inimical to our laws and religion, muft rapidly gain extensive influence; to be employed, as defigning demagogues fhall direct; who, flattering vulgar opulence, not confirmed in loyal principle by ages of useful habit, point the power of the country to deftructive ends. The religious antipathy in the meantime operates; lends pretext to every fcheme, and gives force to every effort; while the idle and the vicious, the vain, the enthufiaftick, and the theoretick, of every religion, or of no religion, fwell the overpowering multitude of those who demand renovation ;—a renovation, purfued no doubt from various motives, and generally plausible in the commencement, but approaching every hour, by haftened ftrides, to total overthrow. Mobilitate viget, virefque acquirit eundo. Parva metu primo; mox fefe attollit in auras. In fuch a state of things, no man can be fo unobferv. ing of human affairs as to fuppofe, that the legislature could remain ultimately uninfluenced. In the degree that general property and influence embrace particular opinions, men of the fame opinions must find their way into the legislature. What muft follow? Demands in fa vour vour of democracy become formidable. Demands granted increase the power of democracy, and generate new demands. The power of the democracy becomes irrefiftible: the antient antipathy to England gains strength. from that spirit of rivalry which grows with towering prosperity; and the destructive wish for separation is prompted by pride as well as by prejudice. Ireland then become immenfely powerful, and actuated by diftinct intérest and distinct patriotism, feels herfelf equal to a conteft with Britain: or if prudence, fuggesting some disparity, or apprehension of a party remaining favourable to Britain, fhould look out for aid, a powerful foreign nation, near at hand, is per petually ready with all its might, to co-operate in the fubjugation of a power, the object of its envy and the determined foe to its defigns. The feparation of Ireland, the downfall of establishment, and the deftruction of all now held dear by the loyal inhabitants, could not then be far off: and the elevated profperity of Ireland, with her accumulating wealth and property, could in the end ferve no other purpose, than to promote the ambitious defigns of a malignant enemy, and, in her own ruin, the more certainly to effect the ruin of Great Britain; in the downfall of which great nation, not only the loyal Proteftants of Ireland would lose their grand protector, but the civilized world an example and a defence. The Union of thefe kingdoms in the fame crown, or the fame executive prefiding over both, constitutes a bond of connexion, which has hitherto been preferved. But the legislative power, that which creates law, is the powe |