182 CHAPTER VII. Lord Fitzwilliam arrives in Ireland, January, 1795-Joy of the people -Addresses from Protestants and Catholics-His reply-Speech to the Irish Parliament—Mr. Grattan moves the address to the King— Edmund Burke's remark-Mr. Grattan proposes a grant of 200,000l. to raise 40,000 seamen-Sir Lawrence Parsons as to the principles and intentions of the Whig party-Reduction in the national expensesMr. Grattan obtains leave to bring in the Catholic bill-Lord Fitzwilliam is recalled-Sir Lawrence Parsons moves a short money billAlarming state of the country in consequence of Lord Fitzwilliam's recall-Vote of approbation of his conduct by the House of Commons -Private history of the intrigues of the Beresford party with Mr. PittProceedings as to Messrs. Beresford, Cooke, Wolfe, and Toler-Letters of Lord Fitzwilliam and the Duke of Portland, respecting Mr. Beresford-Treacherous conduct of Mr. Pitt-Fatal consequences-Mr. Grattan's opinion thereon-Letters of Mr. Forbes, Lord Loughborough, and Mr. Burke-Proceedings in the British ParliamentProtest of Lords Ponsonby and Fitzwilliam-Letters of Lord Fitzwilliam and Lord Milton. On the 4th of January, 1795, Lord Fitzwilliam arrived in Ireland: he was received with joy by all classes of people, and addresses of congratulation were presented to him from the principal towns and counties throughout Ireland. The Protestant dissenters welcomed him as the friend of civil and religious liberty-the inheritor of the virtues of his illustrious relation, the late Marquis of Rockingham; the Roman Catholics hailed him as the harbinger of peace, to whom was reserved the glory of completing the benevolent wishes of the father of his people for the union of all his subjects, and they prayed for the abolition of all religious distinctions. In his answers to these addresses, Lord Fitzwilliam stated the principle of his government, and what party was to uphold them, so as to remove all doubts as to his inten CHAP. VII.] LORD FITZWILLIAM'S REPLY. 183 tions and instructions, and to satisfy the minds of the people. "From the submissive and peaceable conduct of the Catholics of Ireland, under the pressure of restrictions, which considerations of temporary policy, and circumstances peculiar to some unhappy periods of civil dissension, had imposed, there is every reason, at this day, to rely on them for firm fidelity and cordial allegiance. The language you now hold confirms this reasonable expectation; while the gratitude you express to our beloved Sovereign for his paternal care, to which you so loyally and justly ascribe the first openings of your emancipation, and the sentiments you entertain of the magnanimity of a liberal and enlightened Parliament, that rose superior to the prejudices of ages, and displayed a cordial disposition to cease to discriminate between his Majesty's subjects, when every motive for that discrimination had ceased, must be highly satisfactory to every description of your fellow subjects. Such declarations, while they bear so visible a stamp of sincerity and truth, as your address discovers, must afford a pleasing earnest of the happy consequences that necessarily follow from mutual confidence and reciprocal trust among the inhabitants of the same empire, and manifest the wisdom of the measure that had led the way to that unity of sentiment and interest on which, as on their only solid basis, the strength and prosperity of nations rest. "In the faithful discharge of my duty to his Majesty, it shall be my study to call to my councils those who are distinguished and known for their wisdom, their integrity, and their talents, and who possess the confidence of his Majesty's people. Assisted by their advice, and availing myself of their support, I trust that I shall be enabled to promote the first wishes of his Majesty's heart, by securing the full and cordial union of all his subjects, as the surest means of securing their happiness." These expressions were clear and intelligible, and could not have been mistaken by Mr. Pitt; he was apprized of them long before the Irish Parliament assembled; he knew their import and tendency, and he never objected to them in the slightest degree, or wrote to Lord Fitzwilliam on the subject. In fact, they were in strict accord ance with the arrangement made by the respective parties in London (Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Portland, Lord Fitzwilliam and Mr. Grattan); but a more distinct intimation of their nature was given in about three weeks afterwards, when on the 22d of January the Irish Parliament assembled. The Viceroy on this occasion delivered a remarkable speech from the throne: he departed from the annual and hacknied commendation of those exclusive establishments (The Protestant Charter schools), and recommended to Parliament the consideration of the state of education in the kingdom. He declared- "That some parts admitted of improvement, others required new arrangements; that the advantages hitherto had been but partial, and as circumstances had made other considerations highly necessary, he hoped that Parliament would order every thing in the manner best adapted to the occasions of the several orders of men who composed his Majesty's subjects in Ireland.” Hopes were entertained that the education of the great mass of the people would be favourably attended to by Parliament; and as nothing had been done since the plan proposed by Mr. Orde, in the time of the Duke of Rutland (1787), that a system would at length be adopted which would embrace all classes of Irish. This important measure, however, which had been mentioned by Mr. Burke in a preceding letter, fell very short of the wants of the people: it was not carried into effect as desired, and only led to the establishment of the Catholic College of Maynooth, for the purpose of preserving the clergy from the contagion of French principles. In alluding to the war with France, the speech reproached the false and spurious liberty of that country, as an ignominious servitude, extinguishing all good arts, and presenting nothing but impiety, crime, disorder, and CHAP. VII.] MR. GRATTAN MOVES THE ADDRESS. 185 ferocious manners. In calling on the Irish Parliament to assist in that war, the Viceroy said, "You must be duly sensible in such a crisis as the present, which rarely occurs in the course of human affairs, of the advantage of thus endeavouring to profit by the united strength and zeal of every description of his subjects. I have to assure you of his Majesty's most cheerful concurrence in every measure which the wisdom and comprehensive patriotism shall point out for this salutary purpose. On my part you shall find me, from principle and from inclination, thoroughly disposed to concur with his Majesty's paternal wishes, and with the wise measures of his Parliament. On a cordial affection of the whole of Ireland, and on a conduct suitable to that sentiment, I wish to found my own personal estimation and my reputation in the execution of the great trust committed by the most beneficent of sovereigns to my care." Mr. Grattan moved the address in answer to the speech, and following up the idea expressed by the Viceroy, observed― "To be attached to Great Britain is of no avail, unless you are also attached to one another; external energy must arise from internal union, and, without that, your attachment to England, and your allegiance to the king, though extremely honourable, would be entirely useless. "His Majesty, therefore, in the second part of his speech, recommends national harmony; he bids perpetual peace to all your animosities; he touches with the sceptre those troubled waters which have long shattered the weary bark of your country, under her various and false pilots for ages of insane persecution and impious theology. It is a continuation of that pious and profound recommendation which enlightened the speech of 1793, when the olive descended from the throne, on the experiment of that advice, and he congratulated the liberality of Parliament: he now spreads his parental wing over all his children, discerning with parental affection and a father's eye, in the variety of their features, the fidelity of their resemblance. He, therefore, over-rules the jingling jargon which disgraces your understanding, and that poverty of pride which is vain of mutual degradation, and creates a real poverty of condition'; and he calls forth all the public and productive energies of all his people, neither resting his throne on the mo nopoly of allegiance, no more than he rested your fortunes on the monopoly of commerce." Mr. Duquery proposed an amendment condemning the war and the conduct of Mr. Pitt, in refusing to treat with the French government. This was rejected, and the address was agreed to. Mr. Grattan then presented the petition of the Roman Catholics of Dublin, praying for the removal of the restraints and penalties to which they were subject on account of their religion. These proceedings of the Irish Government and their chief supporter were not only known to Mr. Pitt and his party, but approved of by them; and on the account reaching England, Mr. Burke, on the 29th of January, in a letter to Mr. William Smith, then a member of the Irish Parliament, afterwards Baron of the Exchequer, says, "I congratulate you on the auspicious opening of your session. Surely Great Britain and Ireland ought to join in wreathing a never-fading garland for the head of Grattan."* Accordingly, on the 3rd of February, in full confidence that faith would be observed towards Ireland, and that the British minister would not recede from his agreement, Mr. Grattan moved that 200,000/. be granted for the purpose of raising men for His Majesty's fleet; and stated that his friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Parnell) would move in committee forty-one thousand men for the home defence, and as the revenue was now equal to the peace establishment, the taxes would be inconsiderable. The motion. was agreed to without a division. On the 9th, Sir Lawrence Parsons enquired whether the principles professed by the members of the Government when out of power would be the ruling principles at present. Mr. Jephson said : * Burke's Works, vol. ix. |