- 290

first articles of the plan-Messrs. O'Hara, O'Donnel, Tighe,

Lord Corry, W. Brab. Ponsonby, and J. C. Beresford declare

against the terms as well as the principle-Mr. Saurin calls

the attention of the committee to the modes made use of to

gain a parliamentary majority, and concludes by disclaiming

any responsibility in the calamitous consequences

The attorney general, Messrs. Monk Mason, Ormsby and Ser-

jeant Stanley approve of the measure and praise ministers for

planning it-The first day of the following January is fixed

upon for the commencement of the Union of the two king-

doms-The article for the settlement of the crown votes by

the committee-4 March, Mr. George Ponsonby proposes an

address to the king, stating petitions from twenty-six counties

and various cities and towns were presented to parliament

conformable to the constitutional rights of the people against

a legislative union-Lord Castlereagh opposes the motion as

encouraging a popular interference in questions of such mo-

ment and in such critical times

291

292

After a long debate the question is disposed of by a motion for

adjournment, ayes 155, noes 107-10th March, the subject of

parliamentary representation settled-Upon the question

moved to fix the compensation for the annihilated boroughs,

Messrs. Plunket and Goold speak severally and vehemently

against such corruption-Sir John Freke presents a petition

with 1800 signatures from Cork, against an union-General

Hutchinson asserts, that the real sense of the people was not

conveyed through said petition-Sir John Parnell moves an

address to the king to convoke a new parliament-Mr. Alex-

ander opposes the motion

Mr. Saurin maintains the necessity of appealing to their con-

stituents-The solicitor general reprobates Mr. Saurin's doc-

trine-Mr. Grattan vindicates the barrister-On a division,

for the address 104, against it 150-The article concerning

the identity of churches, parliaments, &c. of the two king-

doms-passed-The sixth article passed the 19th March

Upon the house resuming for receiving the report, Mr. O'Hara

objects to the ratio of contribution for Ireland as being too

high-Mr. Grattan expatiates anew upon the impolicy of an

union-Mr. Foster, Messrs. George Ponsonby and Sau-

rin oppose the report of the resolutions-The report carried

by the usual majority-Sir Lawrence Parsons expresses still

a hope that gentlemen would stand forward in defence of the

country

293

The resolutions are sanctioned-The articles at length, No.

CXIX. Appendix-A message informing the lords that the

commons had agreed to the articles of the union-The peers

294

295

announce to the House of Commons their approbation with

the reserve of a few amendments-Lord Castlereagh moves

for an address, &c.-In the Irish peers Lord Farnham opposes

the 4th article, alleging, that the Irish peerage was not repre-

sented, &c-Lord Chief Baron Yelverton supports the con-

trary opinion, arguing from the arrangement in 1782

Two amendments proposed by the Earl of Clare respecting the

extinction and creations of Irish peerages-All the articles

agreed to and the report confirmed-The Earl of Bellamont

renews his opposition to the general measure-A motion for

delay-Negatived by 47 against 18

The original motion of a message carried, 72 against 22-The

articles of union pass as dictated by the British minister-The

Duke of Portland on the 2d of April communicates a message

to the British House of Lords from the king-The message,

Note

In the British peers Lord Grenville moves the address-Lord

Holland opposes-A motion for a committee-Lord Grenville

replies

Upon a division the address carried with only three dissentient

peers, viz. Earl Derby, Lords Holland and King-Mr. Pitt

moves in the British House of Commons, the order of the

day to consider the King's message-Mr. Jones opposes

296

297

298

299

300

302

Refers to the speech of Mr. Foster, Note

The motion for the committee agreed to

Mr. Pitt discusses the mode of carrying the union into effect;

goes over the same grounds and same arguments as made

use of in the Irish parliament, and concludes by submitting

the manner of accomplishing it to the wisdom of the commit-

tee-Mr. Grey against the measure of Union

Mr. Grey enters into a narrative of the union with Scotland, and

concludes his speech by moving for an address to his majesty,

praying to suspend for some time the zeal of his ministers

Mr. Johnstone in a maiden speech, Messrs. Gregory Page,

Turner, and General Loftus approve of the measure-Dr.

Lawrence opposes it as unjust and impolitic-Mr. Sheridan

opposes it upon a conviction, that it was not relished by the

Irish people, &c.

306

307

Mr. Grey's motion is negatived by 236 against 30—The three

first articles voted-The majorities upon the other articles

in the like proportion-Lord Hawkesbury's speech upon

the general nature of representation in parliament

Difference between the Scotch and Irish peers as stated by Lord
Grenville-Lord Mulgrave objects to the Irish peers eligi-
bility for sitting in the commons-The chancellor of the ex-
chequer supports the original clause-Lord Mulgrave's mo-

308

309

tion negatived by 50 against 7-Lord Holland moves,
that some pledge be given to the Catholics, promising relief
from the disabilities under which that respectable body la-
boured
Lord Borrington opposes the motion as unseasonable-The
Marquis of Lansdowne is convinced of the wisdom of the
measure at large and not inimical to the motion

Lord Fitzwilliam thought the motion conciliatory and expedient

-Lord Hobart and the Earl of Liverpool moved the previous

question-The Earl of Moira wished the previous question

might be withdrawn-Lord Grenville thought that the ques-

tion of Catholic emancipation would be best treated by an

united parliament-The previous question superseded the

motion-Several petitions from the woollen manufacturers of

Great Britain presented to the House of Commons against

the free exportation of raw materials, &c.-Witnesses ex-

amined at the bar-The commercial article passed the 1st

May, 1800

310

Mr. Bankes in the course of the debates was of opinion, that
the scheme was hazardous from the discontent of the Catho-
lics-Sir William Young declares the union very much ap
proved of by the Catholics, from the report of Lord Kenmare
-The second reading of the resolutions ordered,-For the
second reading, 208, against it, 26-On the 5th May the
commercial article with its clauses, agreed to

311

312

Various motions in the House of Commons by Dr. Lawrence,

Mr. Grey, Sir William Dolben, and Mr. Tierney-All

negatived—An address voted, importing, that the House of

Commons observed with satisfaction, that the articles trans-

mitted from Ireland were conformable to those voted in that

house last session-The address communicated to the peers

-On the 7th permission granted to Irish peers to represent

British counties or boroughs

Upon the peers being moved to join in the address, Lord Bolton

speaks in favour of union, recurring to the commercial pro-

positions, 1785; on the house dividing, after a long and ani-

mated debate, on the merits and demerits of the union, and

the lords joining in the address, the motion for the address is

carried by 54 against 7-Lord Castlereagh moves in the Irish

House of Commons for a bill to regulate the election of

members for the Imperial parliament-He states the leading

principles, and nominates the towns or cities most entitled

from wealth and population to be represented in the imperial

parliament

313

The motion opposed as premature, but carried by a majority of

55-The bill passes the house the 20th May, 1800-This bill

comprised the mode of electing the commons and peers,

315

spiritual and temporal, for the Imperial parliament, as well

then, as hereafter-The resolutions sent back from England

referred by the Irish commons to a private committee 314

Sir Lawrence Parsons moves for a consideration in a general

committee-The motion lost-The resolutions formed into

a bill and leave to introduce it-A bill for the Union of Great

Britain and Ireland, carried by 160 against 100-Mr. Grat-

tan moves to put off the bill till the 1st of August, branding

it with constitutional murder carried through by force of mar-

tial law and corruption-Lord Castlereagh defends the bill,

and censures Mr. Grattan's language as inflammatory-Sir

John Parnell repels any traitorous disposition in the Anti-

unionists-A violent debate

Mr. Grattan's motion lost by 124 against 87-Lord Corry moves

a long address to the king against the bill-Seconded by

Messrs. Saurin, Goold, Egan, and J. C. Beresford-Opposed

by the attorney general. The address negatived by 135

against 77-Address comprising the arguments of the Anti-

unionists in the appendix, No. CXX-Many Anti-unionists

retire from the house--The bill carried up to the peers-On

its second reading the Earls Farnham and Bellamont offer

some clauses, which are negatived-The bill passes the com-

mittee without amendment, and read a third time 13th of

June-A protest entered by the Duke of Leinster and the

other dissenting peers

The minister's plan of indemnity for the extinction of boroughs

at the rate of 15,000l. each borough exposes a necessary de-

mand by way of grant upon the public, of 1,260,000/.—Mr.

Saurin, C. Beresford, and Mr. Dawson maintain, that they

had no right to indemnity-Mr. Prendergast maintains the

justice of the plan, which was adopted-The same plan pre-

sented to the lords and only opposed by the Earl of Farnham

-The Anti-unionists give up the question for lost-A list of

the members who voted for and against this great question,

and the parliamentary arrangements preparatory therefor,

appendix, No. CXXII. After the bill passed the Irish par

liament, Mr. Pitt introduces a similar bill in the British Com-

mons-Sent on the 24th June to the British Peers-The

British Bill receives the royal assent, 2d July, 1800-The

British parliament prorogued-His majesty's speech to both

-

316

317

houses

The royal assent given in Ireland to the Union bill on the anni-

versary of the accession of the House of Brunswick to the

thrones of Great Britain and Ireland, 1st August, 1800-The

act at length in the Appendix, No. CXXIII.-The lord

lieutenant's speech to both houses of the Irish parliament

318

The example of the Scotch Union followed upon the elections

of members for the united parliament-Not one of the peers

who voted against the union are to be found in the number of

the elected, Note

319

A list of the members drawn by ballot for the imperial parliament

320

His majesty enters the House of Lords 31 Dec. 1800-The

Commons commanded to attend-The speaker of the House

of Commons addresses his majesty-His majesty's speech

from the throne to both houses of parliament

321

The Lord Chancellor signifies his majesty's commands, that the

proclamation be read, &c.-The proclamation at length 322

Other proclamations read, declaring what ensigns and colours

should be borne by sea

324