approbation of your constitutional and truly patriotic support of the motion for the amendment and limitation of the mutiny Bill. Accept then Gentlemen the grateful and voluntary thanks of a number of freeholders and electors enlisted in the service of their country, for your behaviour in the day of trial on this important occasion, at the same time they wish to express the high veneration they have for the abilities and spirit with which this attempt for liberty and independence was conducted and supported, and live in hopes that your virtuous efforts in the same cause, as they are always sure of the applause of your country, will on some future occasion be crowned with that success, which, in their opinion, every honest Irishman should most ardently wish for, and we do bind ourselves by the most solemn ties not to vote for, or in any manner support at the ensuing General Election, one or any of these who intentionally absented themselves or opposed you in your glorious, though unsuccessful efforts that night in the service of your constituents, and of the body of your countrymen. Lisburn, November 27th, 1781. Signed by Order, JAMES READ, S. T. FIRST NEWRY REGIMENT. AT Meetings between the 4th and 13th instant of the Volunteer corps composing the first Newry Regiment, or Newry Legion: RESOLVED by each corps for itself unanimously, that the following resolution be published, and that the address underneath be presented to the gentlemen particularly named, and published with their answers, the resolution and address being signed by the field Officers and Captains of the Regiment: Address. TÓ HENRY GRATTAN, Esq. who, on the 10th of November last, moved for an amendment or repeal of the perpetual mutiny law; The Right honourable HENRY FLOOD, who, on the 29th of the same month, moved for heads of a bill intended for the same purpose, and to the Gentlemen of the House of Commons who supported these motions. GENTLEMEN, CONFIRMED and strengthened in the opinions we have so often expressed, we cannot avoid returning you our warmest acknowledgments for your late strenuous though unsuccessful endeavours to restore to this kingdom her rightful constitution. You have not misrepresented, you have done but justice to the sense of the people, we shall cherish this opinion, and we entreat you, Gentlemen, to persevere in acting upon it, until at least there is produced a body of men who will declare that they prefer a perpetual to a limited mutiny law, or a single member of the House of Commons, possessing character to lose, who will declare that had he his choice, he would do so. When the British constitution is altered, a reason we conceive should be given for the innovation, we have heard of none that has been here attempted save one, which if well founded, betrays the principles of the British minister, and whether well founded or not, is an insult to this nation. The minister it seems should be spared the mortification of acknowledging every Session the independence of our legislature, if this acknowledgment be a sore place with the British minister, we conceive it is your duty, Gentlemen, as Irishmen and Irish senators, to touch it until it can bear the touch; nor can we admit the old prejudices of the minister, if such prejudices he has, to be entitled to tenderness, until the independence of this kingdom be once for all and in direct terms, acknowledged by a declaratory act, or until the British statutes pretending to bind this kingdom, are repealed. Signed. SAMUEL BARBER, Captain of the Rathfriland Volunteers and now Colonel of the Regiment. ANDREW THOMPSON, Captain of the Troop of Newry Rangers, and now a Major of the Regiment. JOSEPH POLLOCK, Captain of the first Newry Volun teers. GEORGE GORDON, Captain of the Donoughmore Vo lunteers. WILLIAM GORDON, Captain of the Sheep Bridge Volunteers. DAVID BELL, Captain of the Newry Fencibles. GENTLEMEN, Mr. Grattan's Answer. I HAVE ever contemplated with the utmost abhorrence, the perpetual mutiny bill. I met it at first with astonishment and indignation, and have encountered it in every stage with the most cordial detestation. I conceived it an affront to our nation, a stab to her liberty, and a mockery of her public spirit. Confirmed in this opinion by the arguments advanced in support of the measure; I shall persist to encounter its malignity with renovated determination, and in the sincere hope, that a law cannot remain unexplained and unamended which stands convicted by every principle of every free nation in the world. I enter most entirely into those virtuous, and I will add, moderate and humble, wishes, which go to the establishment of your parliamentary independence. I am so fully possessed of your ancient and invaluable title to British privileges, that I conceive any thing short of the British constitution is short of your rights, and an insolent distinction between two kingdoms whose subjects are equal by nature, equal by franchise, certain to be involved in the same calamities, and therefore entitled to be consoled by the same privileges; in this creed and confidence I shall not cease to hope that the time is at hand when a total renunciation of supremacy or assertion of parliamentary independency shall be obtained. The crisis, the interest of England, the moderated exertions of Ireland, and the connection of both, promise and demand it ; in my humble province I shall not be wanting, And am, With the most sincere respect, Your most obedient humble Servant, 15th December, 1781. DUNGANNON MEETING. ULSTER VOLUNTEERS Ar a Meeting of the representatives of 143 corps of Volunteers, of the province of Ulster, held at Dungannon, on Friday the 15th of February, 1782. Colonel WILLIAM IRVINE in the chair. WHEREAS, it has been asserted that Volunteers, as such, cannot with propriety debate, or publish their opinions, on political subjects, or on the conduct of parliament or public men. Resolved, unanimously, That a citizen by learning the use of arms does not abandon any of his civil rights. Resolved, unanimously, That a claim of any body of men, other than the King, Lords and Commons of Ireland, to make laws to bind this kingdom, is unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance. Resolved, (with one dissenting voice only,) That the powers exercised by the Privy Councils of both kingdoms, under, or under colour, or pretence of, the law of Poyning's, are unconstitutional, and a grievance. Resolved, unanimously, That the ports of this country are by right open to all foreign countries not at war with the King, and that any burden thereupon, or obstruction thereto, save only by the parliament of Ireland, are unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance. Resolved, (with one dissenting voice only,) That a Mutiny Bill, not limited in point of duration, from session to session, is unconstitutional, and a grievance. Resolved, unanimously, That the independence of Judges is equally essential to the impartial administration of justice in Ireland as in England, and that the refusal or delay of this right to Ireland, makes a distinction where there should be no distinction, may excite jealousy where perfect union should prevail, and is in itself unconstitutional, and a grievance. Resolved, (with eleven dissenting voices only,) That it is our decided and unalterable determination to seek a redress of these grievances, and we pledge ourselves to each other and to our country, as freeholders, fellow-citizens, and men of honour, that we will, at every ensuing election, support those only who have supported and will support us therein, and that we will use all constitutional means to make such our pursuit of redress speedy and effectual. Resolved, (with one dissenting voice only,) That the Right Hon. and Hon. the Minority in Parliament, who have supported these our constitutional rights, are entitled to our most grateful thanks, and that the annexed Address be signed by the Chairman, and published with these Resolutions. Resolved, unanimously, That four members from each county of the province of Ulster, eleven to be a quorum, be and are hereby appointed a committee, till the next general meeting, to act for the volunteer corps here represented, and, as occasion shall require, to call general meetings of the province, viz. The Lord Viscount Enniskillen, Major Charles Duffen, Resolved, unanimously, That said committee do appoint nine of their members to be a committee in Dublin, in order to communicate with such other volunteer associations in the other provinces as may think proper to come to similar resolutions, and to deliberate with them on the most constitutional means of carrying them into effect. In consequence of the above resolution, the committee have appointed the following gentlemen for said committee, three to be a quorum, viz. Colonel Mervyn Archdall, Captain Francis Evans, Resolved, unanimously, That the Committee be, and are hereby instructed to call a general meeting of the province within twelve months from this day, or in fourteen days after the dissolution of the present Parliament, should such an event sooner take place. Resolved, unanimously, That the Court of Portugal have acted towards this kingdom, being a part of the British empire, in such a manner, as to call upon us to declare and pledge ourselves to each other, that we will not consume any Wine of the growth of Portugal, and that we will, to the extent of our influence, prevent the use of said Wine, save and except the Wine at present in this kingdom, until such time as our exports shall be received in the kingdom of Portugal, as the manufactures of part of the British Empire. Resolved, (with two dissenting voices only, to this and the following resolution,) That we hold the right of private judgment, in matters of religion, to be equally sacred in others as ourselves. Resolved, therefore, That, as men and as Irishmen, as Christians and as Protestants, we rejoice in the relaxation of the penal law against our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects, and that we conceive the measure to be fraught with the happiest consequences to the union and prosperity of the inhabitants of Ireland. Resolved, unanimously, That the Dundalk Independent Troop of Light Dragoons, commanded by Captain Thomas Read, having joined a regiment of this province, the 1st Newry regiment or Newry Legion, and petitioning to be received as part of this body, and under its protection, is accordingly hereby received. Whereas a letter has been received by the Chairman of this meeting from the united corps of the county of Cavan, Colonel ENERY in the Chair, declaring their readiness to co-operate with their brother volunteers, in every constitutional support of their rights. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the said united corps of said county of Cavan, for their spirited resolution, and that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be inclosed by the chairman to Colonel Enery, to be by him communicated to the said united corps, and that they shall have a right, if they choose, to be associated with the corps represented at this meeting, to nominate four members to act with those already appointed as a committee by the delegates at this meeting. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to Captain Richardson and the Dungannon Light Company, for their politeness in mounting guard this day. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the Southern Battalion of the 1st Ulster Regiment, commanded by the Earl of Charlemont, for that patriotic zeal, which, we are convinced, induced them to call this meeting. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to Colonel William Irvine, for his particular propriety and politeness of conduct in the chair. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to Captain James Dawson, for his readiness in undertaking the office of Secretary to this meeting, and for his particular attention and ability in the laborious duty thereof. To the Right Hon. and Hon. the Minority in both Houses of MY LORDS ANd Gentlemen, WE thank you for your noble and spirited, though hitherto ineffectual efforts, in defence of the great constitutional and commercial rights of your country. Go on. The almost unanimous voice of the people is with you; and in a free country the voice of |