XXI.

Irish counsels-an invisible minister, of more BOOK weight than all the ostensible ones-the spring and centre of the High Church, Tory, and Pre- 1795. rogative system in that kingdom. Notwithstanding this official intimation, no notice was taken, for many weeks, in any dispatches from England of the grand question of Catholic emancipation. But in this interval Mr. Beresford had repaired to London, and by his bold representations, not to the ministers only, but, as was confidently reported and believed, to the king himself, to whom he obtained easy access, he excited an extreme dislike and apprehension of the innovations projected by lord Fitzwilliam. At length, on the 14th of February, the lord-lieutenant received a letter from Mr. Pitt, remonstrating against the actual dismission of Mr. Beresford, and that in contemplation of Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Toler. The very same mail also brought a letter from the duke of Portland to the chief governor expressing, for the first time, the doubts and difficulties of the British cabinet respecting the question of emancipation, and strongly recommending the postponement of the discussion in parliament. But this was no longer in lord Fitzwilliam's power. For the session having commenced on the 22d of January, Mr. Grattan had, two days previous to the receipt of these letters, moved for and obtained

BOOK leave to bring in a bill for the further relief of XXI. his majesty's subjects professing the Roman1795 catholic religion. On the same evening that the lord lieutenant received the letters in question he replied to them very ably, representing at large "the imminent danger of Now retracting on the Catholic business," and with noble resolution refusing " to be the person to raise a flame which nothing but the force of arms could keep down." And his excellency at the same time transmitted to the duke of Portland ample documents justificatory of his sentiments and conduct. But the British cabinet scarcely deigned to give them the reading. On the 21st of February a council was held, at which the duke of Portland assisted; and his grace had by this time become so obsequious a courtier, that he hesitated not to accede to the vote for disgracing his friend; and submitted to be the efficient instrument for transmitting to him the letters of Appointment of lord recall-Lord Camden, son of the late illustrious Camden to nobleman of that name, the heir of his title, but by no means of his talents, being appointed his

the govern

ment of Ire

land.

successor.

The intelligence of this fatal dismission was as a politico-volcanic convulsion, which shook the island to its centre. A vote of the house of commons, expressing high approbation of the conduct of lord Fitzwilliam, passed, on the motion.

XXI.

1795.

of Mr. Conolly, with the single dissentient voice BOOK of Mr. Beresford. Addresses, containing sentiments of mingled gratitude and regret, were presented from all parts of the kingdom to the late viceroy, and scarcely could the people restrain the emotions of their indignation. After a short visit to his estates in the county of Wicklow, lord Fitzwilliam, on the 25th of March, 1795, took his departure for England. On that memorable day no business was transacted. The citizens appeared in deep mourning, vast crowds accompanying his lordship to the waterside; and, though strong apprehensions were entertained of popular commotion, a profound and melancholy silence prevailed, as if a præternatural foreboding of the horrible events which were to succeed, oppressed and overwhelmed the minds of all with an unutterable weight of sorrow.

Lord Camden arrived in Dublin on the 31st of March, and immediately assumed the reins of government. Some disturbances took place on the evening of that day, but they were soon quelled by the intervention of the military-a wretched omen of his disastrous administration. On the 13th of April the parliament met pursuant to adjournment, and on the 21st a motion was made by Mr. Grattan for an enquiry into the state of the nation, including the reasons for the recall of lord Fitzwilliam. "When Ireland,"

XXI.

BOOK said this admired orator, "came forward cordial and confident with the offering of her treasure 1795. and her blood, and resolute to stand or fall with the British nation, it was surely no proof of wisdom or generosity to select that moment to plant a dagger in her heart." But strange to relate, this motion was negatived by a large majority of that very parliament who almost unanimously, and with apparent enthusiasm, had supported ALL the measures of the preceding administration. Such was in this unhappy country the wonderful and pernicious extent of the influence of the crown over the deliberations, or rather the determinations of the legislative body.

Catholic

emancipa

jected.

On the 24th of April, Mr. Grattan presented tion bill re- his famous bill for the emancipation of the Catholics, the principal debate on which took place on the second reading, May 4, when it was finally rejected by a decisive majority, to the inexpressible chagrin, gradually kindling into resentment and rage, of the great mass of the Irish nation. Two of the most remarkable speeches delivered in the course of this memorable debate were those of Dr. Duigenan, a civilian, and Mr. Arthur O'Connor, a very young member of the house, representing the county of Kerry,-the first in opposition to, the latter in support of, the measure. From the

XXI.

speech of doctor Duigenan, it appeared that the BOOK Irish Catholics, despairing of success, from the period of the recall of lord Fitzwilliam, had al- 1795. ready ventured to adopt dangerous and unwarrantable combinations, in order to secure their eventual emancipation. A committee of nine, chosen by the Roman-catholics of Dublin, seemed to possess unlimited influence over the Catholic body throughout the kingdom. In consequence of their recommendation, petitions had been presented to parliament by the Catholic inhabitants of every county, city, and borough, in the four provinces. A meeting of the general assembly of Catholics had been held in the metropolis, April 9, at which, according to the report of doctor Duigenan, "several most traitorous and seditious speeches were publicly pronounced,openly declaring that the war we were engaged in against the French was, on our part, and the part of our allies, an impious crusade against liberty; that all victories obtained by his majesty's arms were public calamities to Ireland, for which her children ought to weep; that they would hereafter never make any application to a British ministry, nor have any connection with them; that they would support a radical reform in the house of commons; and that this nation could never be happy till its government was changed into a republic, independent of Great