430 CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT. THE UNION. [CH. XI. fully prepared to enforce his views upon the subject. He seemed resolved to carry the measure of Union at any hazard, if he could only get it supported by Parliament, though it might be opposed by the people. He knew the country was subdued, and its spirit conquered: in truth, before the measure of Union was proposed, Parliament had sealed its own doom; for when it handed over the people to be flogged by the soldiery, it decided its fate. Parliament had lost its greatest support out of doors; it had abandoned the people, and when a question about its existence arose, the people abandoned the Parliament they certainly were in heart against the measure; but they feared to stir. They would, if they could, have taken up arms in order to preserve a pure constitution, though not to fight for such a House of Commons; but the Government had so managed that they rendered the thing impossible; they had disarmed them-defeated them: stopped their meetings-prevented them from declaring openly against the Union, and now weighed them down by a military force of upwards of 100,000 men : these were the fruits of the proceedings of 1798 -a result which should teach men to be very cautious how they support any government in strong measures. When the insurgents were put down, the country was put down; for a government is certain always to convert its victory over a party, into a conquest over the people. The real object of the Minister was to render matters easier for himself, and get rid of the trouble of two Parliaments. His professed object was to consolidate the people; but his plan proposed no such thing, for it kept the Irish divided by law, which was certain to keep them disunited in sentiment. Mr. Pitt did not seek to gain the strength of the country, for he left the Catholics upon half CHAP. XI.] MR. COOKE'S PAMPHLET. 431 privileges; and the heavy charge against him was that his proposed plan, like his former government in Ireland, went to continue, as it had originated, a hostile impression towards England, and one that could only pass away with the generation. In proof of this, when Mr. Cooke, the under-secretary, had written a pamphlet in favour of the measure, and held out to the Roman Catholics the promise of emancipation as a lure to induce them to support the Union, Lord Castlereagh interposed, and stopped the publication of the work only half of it was printed--the copies were suppressed, and the impression destroyed.* Mr. Grattan, hearing "the dreadful note of preparation," returned to Ireland; but his health proved unequal to sustain him in the conflict; he was powerless, and incapable of attending to public affairs. The British Parliament had assembled earlier than the Irish, and on the 4th of January, 1799, the King had sent to it a message recommending the Union, and hoping that "the Parliament of both kingdoms will proceed in the measures which they may judge most expedient for effecting such a complete and final adjustment as may best lead to confirm and perpetuate the connexion essential to their common security, and to augment and consolidate the strength, power, and resources of the empire." This was opposed by Mr. Sheridan, who, after alluding to the final and solemn settlement made between the two countries in 1782, moved an amendment in opposition to the principle, and praying his Majesty would not listen to the counsels of those who advised it. This was * Mr. Knox, who had been private secretary to Lord Castlereagh, and was friendly to the Catholics, saw the work, and used to relate the anecdote. The report, however, having got into circulation, excited great sensation, and the pamphlet was eagerly sought for, but in vain,Lord Castlereagh had destroyed it. 432 CANNING. SHERIDAN'S OPPOSITION. [CHAP.XI. rejected without a division. It was on this occasion that Mr. Canning highly praised the pamphlet of Dr. Duigenan, which he said had effectually demolished his opponent. It is probable that before his death he changed his mind on this subject, as he lived long enough to see and hear both of these individuals in the Imperial Parliament. On the 31st of January, Mr. Pitt, although he had heard of the rejection of the measure by the Irish Parliament, brought forward nine resolutions in favour of the Union. On this, Mr. Sheridan moved two resolutions declaring that the full assent of the Parliaments of both countries was indispensably necessary, and whoever attempted to obtain it by intimidation or corruption,* was an enemy to his Majesty and the constitution. This measure of paramount importance, and the spirited and successful efforts made in 1799 to defeat it, will be more fully particularized in a subsequent chapter. It is here briefly referred to, that Mr. Fox's letter and opinion on the subject * This was a necessary resolution to adopt, as may appear from the following anecdote regarding one of Mr. Grattan's relations. Sir John Blackwood and his son Stevenson,-of whom mention has been already made, sat in Parliament for the borough of Killyleagh, and when Lord Castlereagh was recruiting for votes in support of the Union, he called upon them in the county of Down. Sir John was an independent man, and was hostile to the measure. In times past there had been in some branch of the family a title of "Dufferin and Claneboy," so Lord Castlereagh taking up the old baronet's snuff-box which lay on the chimney-piece, and which bore the family arms, observed, " How well a coronet would become this box! and if you like it, you can easily have it by voting for the Union! Sir John Blackwood immediately rang the bell, and when the servant came in he desired him to show that gentleman down stairs! The servant did so, and without saying another word, he turned Lord Castlereagh out of his house.—Oh si sic omnes! This spirited old baronet, though very ill, set off in January, 1799, to vote against the Union, but he was unable to reach Dublin, and died shortly afterwards. Lord Castlereagh, as I have also heard, was afterwards turned out of another person's house in the North of Ireland, for conduct of a similar nature. Sheridan was right in proposing his resolution, and Mr. (now Lord) Brougham, was under a mistake when he said in one of his speeches, that Lord Castlereagh "had never put the question directly." CHAP. XI. DIVISIONS ON THE UNION. 433 may be introduced, and Mr. Grattan's absence from Parliament during this period may be satisfactorily accounted for. The speech from the throne was delivered by Lord Cornwallis on the 22nd of January, and contained the following paragraph : "The unremitting industry with which our enemies persevere in their avowed design of endeavouring to effect a separation of this kingdom from Great Britain, must have engaged your particular attention; and His Majesty commands me to express his anxious hope, that this consideration, joined to the sentiments of mutual affection and common interest, may dispose the Parliaments in both kingdoms to provide the most effectual means of maintaining and improving a connexion essential to their common security, and of consolidating, as far as possible, into one firm, lasting fabric, the strength, the power, and the resources of the British empire.' The address of approval in reply was moved by Lord Tyrone, one of the Beresford family, and was seconded by Mr. Robert Fitzgerald of Cork. This was ably opposed on the debate that lasted twenty-two hours. Mr. Ponsonby proposed to add to that part of the address in reply to the Viceroy's speech, recommending a Union, these words: "But maintaining the undoubted birthright of the people of Ireland to have a free and independent legislature resident within the kingdom, as it was asserted in the Parliament of this kingdom in 1782, and acknowledged and ratified by his Majesty and the Parliament of Great Britain upon the final adjustment of the discontents and jealousies then prevailing among his Majesty's loyal subjects of this country. The numbers on the division were-Ayes, 105-tellers, George Ponsonby and Sir Laurence Parsons; Noes, 106-tellers, Lord Tyrone and Maurice Fitzgerald (Knight of Kerry). 434 DIVISIONS ON THE UNION. [CHAP. XI. Thus the address was carried only by a majority of one. On the 24th, on bringing up the address, Mr. Ponsonby got leave from the House, upon motion, to speak a second time to the question, in consequence, no doubt, of Lord Castlereagh's very pointed attack on him. His reply to his antagonist was powerful. The numbers on division were against the tenth paragraph, (recommending a Union,) remaining part of the address,-Ayes, 104-tellers, Mr. Smith and M'Clelland (made judges after); Noes, 109-tellers, Sir L. Parsons and Denis Bowes Daly. Thus the Minister was defeated by a majority of five. Mr. Grattan announced this intelligence to Mr. Fox in the following letter: MR. GRATTAN TO MR. FOX. Kildare-street, Dublin, 20th Jan. 1799. MY DEAR SIR-I enclose the pamphlet written on the Irish Union; it is written with much spirit, by a very worthy man, who is a great admirer of yours, and who wishes to stand well in your opinion, that he may stand well in his own.* * You see by the papers the fate of that question. The Irish Ministry betrayed the worst designs, accompanied with distinguished inability. They threatened-they dismissed-and they bought notoriously and ineffectually, and could only muster 107 on the question of the Address, when they thought themselves most strong, and were finally beaten by a majority of five. In the loss of the question, they have lost their reputation for address; but in the attempt, they have lost the confidence of every party in Ireland. I hear, from no bad authority, they had reckoned on a majority of forty. I was happy at the Duke of Leinster's conduct-vexed at Conolly's-and ashamed for Yelverton's. I beg to be remembered to Mrs. Fox, and I hope, in a few weeks, to see you at Ann's Hill. I am, with great sincerity, yours, Mr. Goold, afterwards Sergeant, and now Master in Chancery in Ireland. |