140 PENSION AND BARREN LANDS BILLS. [CHAP. v. One of the chief measures of the session was the bill which limited the pension list to 80,000l. a-year.* The King surrendered his power over the hereditary revenue of Ireland, and accepted a fixed sum for his civil list, which was not to exceed 225,000., and no pension greater than 1,2007. a-year was to be granted to any but the Royal family. Mr. Forbes succeeded also in his Place and Pension Bill, which, though altered from the original form, at length was adopted. It excluded from Parliament all individuals who held offices of profit under the Crown, and on acceptance thereof subjected them to re-election : but he strove ineffectually to disqualify persons employed in the revenue. The merit of carrying this measure belonged to the exertions and integrity of Mr. Forbes. The question had been much agitated of old in Ireland; it had been brought forward prior even to the accession of George III., and was long the subject of Doctor Lucas's expostulations and harangues; then of Mr. Flood's ardent eloquence and strenuous labours; and lastly, of Mr. Forbes's calm and steady perseverance; but it took near half a century to carry; so tedious are the contests, and so hard-earned are the victories obtained by the people! The other important measures that passed were the Barren Land Bill of Mr. Grattan, which exempted from tithe for seven years all lands * When Mr. Banks, in 1812, proposed, in the Imperial Parliament, his bill for retrenchment, he attacked this measure by proposing to reduce the Irish Pension List to 40,000l., and on a division he was defeated only by two votes,-those of Mr. Grattan and Mr. George Ponsonby. They contended that a contract had been made with the Crown, and 300,000l. given to get the Pension List fixed at 80,000l. a-year, and having made the agreement, they conceived it should be kept. In this opinion they were certainly right; for it is an unwise thing to set the example to kings of popular infidelity; it is one that will surely be turned against the people. CHAP. V.] LIST OF PLACEMEN. 141 newly reclaimed, and the bill permitting the trade of Ireland with the East Indies under certain regulations.* These and the Catholic Bill were the beneficial results of this very important session, which terminated on the 26th of July.† * A proviso was introduced into the bill, directing that if by any arrangement with the East India Company the trade was opened to Great Britain, it should only be carried on by Ireland, subject to the duties that were to be paid in England. On this occasion Mr. Forbes distinguished himself by a most able and luminous speech. This list shows the influence of the Crown in Parliament, and the necessity of Mr. Forbes's bill : In the Military Department. Robert Wynne-Clerk of Ordnance Deliveries. R. Archdall-Secretary to Ordnance. Hon. John Stratford-Agent for regiments abroad. E. Cooke Secretary to the Military department. Francis Cradock-Quarter-Master Gen. and a Lieut. Col. of Foot. Right Hon. H. T. Clements-Constable of Dublin Castle and agent for military pensions. R. H. R. Cuningham-Commander-in-Chief, a General, a Colonel of Dragoons, and Governor of Kinsale fort. Peter Daly-Governor of the garrison of Galway. Hon. Robert Taylor-Lieut.-Col. Dragoons. John Doyle-a Lieut.-Col. Commandant. Charles Eustace-a Major-Gen. and Deputy Quarter Master. Stephen Freemantle-a Lieut.-Col. and Deputy Adjutant General. John Hely Hutchinson, jun.—a Lieut.-Col. Hon. Geo. Jocelyn-a Commissioner of Barracks. Hon. John Knox-a Lieut.-Col. and Major of Foot. Robert Langrishe-Superintendant of Barracks. Richard Magenis-Captain of Invalids. Eyre Massey-a Lieut.-Gen., and Colonel of Foot. John Moore, jun.-Secretary to the Master of the Ordnance. Hon. Thomas Pakenham-Surveyor of the Ordnance. George Sandford-Barrack-master of Dublin. Hon. Henry Skeffington-Governor of the Garrison of Cork. John Ormsby Vandeleur-a Major of Dragoons. 142 LIST OF PLACEMEN. In the Law Department. Wm. Burton-Custos Rotulorum of the county of Galway. Charles Henry Coote-a Commissioner of Accounts. Rt. Hon. Viscount Jocelyn-Joint Auditor General. [CHAP. V. Rt. Hon. Sir Lucius O'Brien-Clerk of the Crown, and Hanaper. Rt. Hon. Arthur Wolfe-Attorney-General. In the Revenue Department. Hon. R. Annesley-a Commissioner of the Revenue. Samuel Hayes-a Commissioner of Stamps. Jonah Barrington-Clerk of the Ship Entries. Rt. Hon. John Beresford-First Commissioner of the Revenue, &c. Marcus Beresford-First Taster of Wines, &c. Rt. Hon. Sir John Blaquiere-Alnager of Ireland. Rt. Hon. Sir H. Cavendish-a Commissioner of Treasury. Rt. Hon. Theophilus Jones-Collector of Dublin Port. Hon. John Loftus Loftus-Cashier of the Exchequer. Rt. Hon. Sir H. Langrishe― a Commissioner of Revenue. Rt. Hon. Sir J. Parnell, Bt.-Chancellor of Exchequer. George Rawson-a Commissioner of Stamps. Hon. Chichester Skeffington-Collector of Belfast. CHAP. V.] LIST OF PLACEMEN. Henry Stewart-Accountant General of Post-office. John Tydd-Paymaster of Corn Premiums. Mount. Longford-Weighmaster, Cork. State and Miscellaneous Officers. Sylvester Douglas-Secretary to his Excellency. S. Hamilton-Secretary for the Civil Department. Sir Boyle Roche-Gentleman Usher. Sir Rich. St. George-Register of the Order of St. Patrick. Nath. Warren-First Commissioner of the Police. Many of the above had offices in several departments. PENSIONERS, who are not placemen. Ponsonby Tottenham Sir William Godfrey Sir John Stewart Hamilton Hon. John Massey Sir Richard Johnston Thomas Nesbit Sir James May £300 300 300 400 800 500 300 36 19 38 9 7 109 143 CHAPTER VI. Irish Parliament meets, January 1794-Mr. Grattan supports the war against France-Sir L. Parsons's motion opposed by Mr. GrattanHis reasons-Mr. Ponsonby-Reform Bill-Mr. Grattan's speech in favour of Bill-Rejected-Parliament prorogued-Death of Richard Burke-Edmund Burke's advice to the Catholics-His letter to Mr. Mr. Grattan Proceedings of United Irishmen and Defenders Hamilton Rowan-Mr. Tone- Mr. Jackson - Conduct of Government-Mr. Grattan applied to, to form part of new administration and refuses-Letter of Lord Fitzwilliam-Goes to England-Interview with the Duke of Portland-Dinner with Mr. Pitt-Denis Daly-W. G. Hamilton and Serjeant Adair's opinion of Mr. Pitt-His interview with Mr. Grattan-He agrees to grant the Catholic question -Letters of Mr. Grattan and Lord Fitzwilliam-Accepts office of Lord-lieutenant-Mr. Grattan's interview with the Duke of Portland -Jobs complained of-Breach of faith-King's levee-Conduct of Mr. Pitt. THE Session of 1794 opened on the 21st of January, with a congratulation from the Throne, on the successes abroad,* and the suppression of disturbance at home. This was accompanied by a declaration, that the King had full reliance on the loyalty and attachment of the Irish in supporting him against the unjust aggressions of France. On this occasion, Mr. Grattan adopted a line of conduct most likely to prove advantageous to Ireland, but which was not wholly approved of by some of the opposition, who were not so decided in their opinions as to the extent *On the 8th of March 1793, the Duke of Saxe Coburg defeated the French, relieved Maestricht, and drove them beyond Aix-laChapelle. On the 17th Clairfait defeated Dumourier at Neerwinden, which decided for this year the fate of the Low Countries; and on the 23rd of May the allies and the Duke of York attacked the French camp at Famars, killed their general, and defeated their army. They then invested Valenciennes, which on the 26th of July surrendered to the Duke of York. |