Mr. Foster,

country in confusion and civil war. on the 29th of May, moved a clause of rather an insidious nature-namely, that the army should be regulated by such laws as the King has made, or may make, not extending to life or limb. This was carried by 117 to 80. Considerable time elapsed before the bill was returned from England, and on the 3rd of August Mr. Grattan complained of this delay, but Government gave no explanation. He stated that no army could exist in Ireland, subject to the law of another country; that neither the Commissioners of Revenue nor the magistrates would obey it; and if the Ministry of England were to keep back this bill, he would move a resolution, "that any magistrate who acted under an English Act of Parliament, was an enemy to his country."

Sir Edward Newenham moved a call of the House for the 8th, when it was expected the bill would be returned. In consequence of the exertions of the Government, the House was very thin; and it was manifest the Ministry were under great embarrassment-so much so, that Mr. Fitzgibbon declared that if the Mutiny Bill was altered, he would be one of the first to secede from Parliament;-he saw no other alternative than to let the army pay themselves. Such was the embarrassment, that a party of soldiers escorting the equipage of the regiments encamped near Thurles, on applying to the Mayor of Clonmel

for billets, were refused by the authorities, as they said there was no law to compel them to grant any. The party, however, was hospitably entertained and provided for, by the inhabitants of the town.

It was clear, therefore, that the people would not obey the English law. Yet such was the infatuation of the British Ministers, and their determination to stretch the royal prerogative to the utmost, that they not only altered the bill, but they introduced a clause rendering it perpetual; and on the 12th of August it was read a first time. This astounding measure depressed the party greatly; they were downcast at the violence with which the Ministry proceeded; and Mr. Burgh declared "that all was over, and that Ireland was borne down;" and "that it was not possible for her to resist the tyranny of Great Britain."

On the 16th the question came on. It was strongly opposed :-Mr. Grattan stated, "that the king had in Ireland an annual hereditary revenue of 650,000/., which would render an army independent of Parliament. At the beginning of the Session, the House spoke to the Minister in another tone; they denied the supplies, until they obtained their rights; but this bill was an instrument of humiliation-their glory was fled; the great power of Parliament was humbled in the dust; and this at a time when the volunteers were daily reviewing and parading. If they passed this

bill, the situation of Ireland would be that of abject slavery. But I prophesy (said he) that if such a bill is passed, it will draw down public vengeance on the head of the Minister."

Such, however, were the exertions of the Government, both in the House and out of the House, (as appears by the various letters of the Lord Lieutenant,) that they succeeded in getting a majority of 114 over 62.

Edmund Burke, in his celebrated speech at the Bristol Election, when he was turned out for the part he took in favour of the manufacturers of his country, after alluding to the concessions on the subject of trade, which he said were extorted from the fears of England, adds, "This scene of shame and of disgrace has, whilst I am speaking, ended by the perpetual establishment of a military power in the dominions of the crown, without consent of the British Legislature, contrary to the policy of the Constitution, contrary to the declaration of right, and by this your liberties are swept away along with your supreme authority. Two illegal armies were seen with banners displayed at the same time, and in the same country. No executive magistrate, no judicature in Ireland, would acknowledge the legality of the army, which bore the King's commission; and no law, or appearance of law, authorized the army commissioned by itself."

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CHAPTER V.

Increased ill treatment and discontent of Ireland.-Conduct of the Duke of Leinster.-Appointment of Lord Charlemont to the head of the volunteers. His reply on the nomination.-Character of Lord Charlemont.-Letter of Lord Charlemont from Egypt. His travels and adventures there.-His birth-day ode written by himself.— Poetical epistle of Lord Charlemont to Mr. Marlay.

THE total disregard manifested towards the wishes of the people, and to the advice of their leaders in the House of Commons, now began to be felt. Distrust and discontent seemed to have pervaded all classes of citizens. The sentiments of the British cabinet being known, the exertions of Lord Buckingham to oppose every constitutional effort," to employ his time to the best advantage for his Majesty's service"-(terms significant in themselves, and well understood by all parties,) -together with the King's commands to stop all popular measures at the outset, had roused the people to the highest state of indignation. Even the Duke of Leinster grew alarmed at the violence

of the Government, and took a decided part with the people; he strove to calm their passions, and regulate their ardour. His conduct will appear from the following letter:

SIR RICHARD HERON TO SIR STANIER PORTEN.

SIR,

Dublin Castle, June 10, 1780.

I enclose to you herewith, by command of my Lord Lieutenant, for Lord Hillsborough's information, a newspaper printed here this day, called the Public Register, or Freeman's Journal, containing an account of a meeting yesterday, at a tavern in this city, of certain persons styling themselves the Dublin Volunteers, and publishing certain resolutions, moved and entered into by them, relative to the constitution of this kingdom; and am to observe, upon the Duke of Leinster's appearing there in the chair, that it was a Quarterly Meeting; and that I find, upon inquiry, that so far from these Resolutions being formed upon any motion of his Grace, or at his instance, that they would have been much more violent, had it not been for his interposition.

I have the honour to be, &c.

RICHARD HERON.

At a numerous Quarterly Meeting of the Dublin Volunteers, held at the Eagle in Eustace Street, Friday, June 9, 1780, his Grace the Duke of Leinster in the chair, the following Resolutions were moved, and unanimously agreed to:

Resolved, That Great Britain and Ireland are, aud ought to be, inseparably connected, by being under the