CHAPTER THE SIXTY-FIFTH. 1789. Proceedings in Ireland.-Death of the Duke of Rutlandsucceeded as Lord Lieutenant by the Marquis of Buckingham.-Exertion of parties-opening of the session of Parliament.-Debate on the Address.-Mr. Parsons Mr. Grattan-Mr. Brown-the Attorney-general.-Mr. Grattan attacks the Lord Lieutenant.- Amendment of the Address-Mr. Curran-carried.-Committee voted-supplies postponed. State of Government--objections to forming a Committee.-Mr. Parsons.-Intentions of Government as to Regency-reprobated by Mr. G. Ponsonby-plan proposed by Mr. Grattan-resolutions moved.-Resolution for an address to the Prince of Wales-debated-Attorney-general.-Violence of the mob.-Proceedings in England communicated.-Address voted-sent to the Lords-carried to the Lord Lieutenant-who refuses to transmit it.-Mr. Grattan's motion-delegates appointed. -Debate. - Mr. Brown.- Motions by Mr. Grattan.-The King's recovery. British Parliament opened by a speech in the King's name. --Address moved in the Lords-observations of Lord Stanhope. In the Commons-Mr. Fox.-Estimates.-Navyarmy, ordnance.-Extraordinary supplies-new taxes.— Mr. Sheridan's motion for a committee on the revenue.Mr. Pitt moves resolutions for excise on tobacco- strenuous Opposition-Mr. Beaufoy Mr. Fox-Mr. Grenville and Mr. Dundas —bill passed.-Exertions respecting the slavetrade.-Petitions to Parliament-report from the Privy Council. Speech of Mr. Wilberforce-Mr. Burke —Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox.-Further debate-Alderman Sawbridge -decision postponed.-Sir W. Dolben's bill renewed state of the dispute.-Mr. Beaufoy's motion on corporation CHAP. 1789. Proceedings in Rutland dies. Succeeded as tenant by the Marquis of Buckingham. acts-negatived.-Lord Stanhope's motion on general freedom in religion-bill rejected-a second threatened-produced and rejected--observations of Lord Abingdon.Bill for commemorating the Revolution-passes the Commons-lost in the Lords.--Mr. Grenville Secretary of State. -Mr. Addington chosen Speaker.-Prorogation-observations on the Session.-The King.-Procession to St. Paul's. -The Prince of Wales.-Duel between the Duke of York and Colonel Lenox.-Reception of the delegates from Ireland.—The ministry—the opposition.-Lord Thurlow. Supposed influence of ladies at Carlton House.Mr. Sheridan-General state of the country. In the Parliament of Ireland the question of the Regency occasioned no less discussion than in that of Great Britain. In consequence of the decease of the Duke of Rutland*, the Marquis of Buckingham had The Duke of been appointed Lord Lieutenant; but the popularity of his predecessor did not devolve on him; his chief secretary was Aleyne Fitzherbert, Esq. afterward Lord St. Helens. Such, it is asserted, was the prevailing discontent, that on the first intelligence of the King's malady, the flattering expectation was formed of a speedy end to the administration, which was considered systematically inimical to the welfare of the country. If a change of ministers took place, a dissolution of Parliament was expected; and a political test was prepared, to be tendered to all candidates as the condition on which they were to be supported; and many bound themselves by oaths not to vote for any one who would not conform. Exertions of parties. On the other hand, every effort was made to procure from Ireland a formal recognition of the Regent whom England should appoint, with all restrictions and limitations which might be imposed by the British Parliament†. * October 1787. In the Memoirs of Dr. Watson, Bishop of Landaff, is a laudatory speech, which the reverend Prelate delivered, on the decease of the Duke, in the House of Lords. * Plowden's Historical Review of the State of Ireland, vol. ii. p. 228. In opening the session, the Lord Lieutenant briefly informed the two Houses of his Majesty's indisposition, and promised a communication of all documents already received, or afterward to be transmitted. CHAP. 1789. Feb. 5. Opening of the Address. When the report of the address was brought up, session. Mr. Parsons expressed a doubt of the Lord Lieutenant's power to meet them; it was not given by his commis- Debate on the sion, nor by the law of the land; they were a conven- Mr. Parsons. tion, not a Parliament. These observations were neither answered nor supported; but Mr. Grattan occa- Mr. Grattan. sioned a debate of some length, and much heat, by a vituperative attack on the character and conduct of the Lord Lieutenant, who resisted less firmly, from a general expectation that his authority was not expected to be of long duration*. 66 Mr. Grattan admitted that the Report of the examination of his Majesty's physicians was evidence sufficient to satisfy the House; but were they to wait for his Excellency's report of these transactions, it would appear as if their measures must be governed by those of another assembly. "Ireland," he said, "waits not for a lesson from Britain, nor for a model whereby to frame her proceedings:" and he therefore objected to the paragraph in the address which thanked the Lord Lieutenant for the promise of further communication. These opinions were supported by Mr. Griffiths and Mr. Brownt; who said, he Mr. Brown. came into the House, extremely well disposed to dilacerate the public character of the Viceroy; but it was now left in a condition so miserable and mangled, that it would be ungenerous and unmanly to attack the small fragment that remained. Notwithstanding this preamble, the residue of his speech consisted of nothing but a severe dilaceration of the Lord Lieutenant's conduct and character. The Attorney-general The Attorneymade a short answer, framed on the supposition of what the last speaker might have said, but for his determined forbearance; he denied that, by any twist of imagination, the paragraph could appear to be con general. CHAP. 1789. Mr. Grattan attacks the Lord Lieutenant. Committee voted. Supplies postponed. 7th. State of government. 11th. Objections to forming a commmittee. Mr. Parsons. trived for the purpose of delay; and the address passed unanimously. Against the paragraph, which expressed approbation of the Viceroy's general conduct, Mr. Grattan vehemently protested. He condemned his expenses, accompanied as they were with professions of economy and censures on his predecessor, the Duke of Rutland, whose pensions he nevertheless continued; while others were improperly and improvidently granted; and he censured the extravagance of the Park establishment*. After hearing Mr. Curran, and several other members, an amendment was agreed to, giving his Excellency credit for wishing and being anxious to promote the welfare and prosperity of the country. A resolution, moved by the Secretary of State, that the House should resolve itself into a committee on the sixteenth, was amended on the motion of Mr. Grattan, substituting the eleventht; and when the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the supplies, Mr. Grattan carried an amendment, postponing the consideration until the day appointed for the committee. The majority on these occasions alarmed and paralyzed the government. Hopes of immediate accession to power animated the opposition, while the Court could only obstruct their triumph by such delays as could be gained without exposing themselves to the mortifying results of further divisions. On the appointed day, before the Speaker left the chair, objections were made against the precipitation which was desired on a subject so delicate and important. If a triumphant majority, Mr. Parsons said, would shake the crown, and cast away the sceptre of Ireland, he could only lament their folly, and despise their temerity; they would not deserve even the degraded name of followers of a faction, but must be considered as conspirators against the constitution. On the arguments in favour of delay being pressed, the opposition required to know how it was intended to supply the defect in the executive government; and Mr. Fitzherbert, having answered that it was intended to CHAP. LXV. 1789. government confer on his Royal Highnes the Prince of Wales, in the most respectful manner, the powers of the third estate, with all necessary rights and prerogatives, Mr. George Ponsonby said, he was certain that the plan of Intentions of the government, in every step they had taken, was only as to a regency. to follow implicitly the conduct of another parliament by Mr. Ponin another country; he would therefore oppose that sonby. and the mode of proceeding by bill altogether, as utterly unconstitutional. Plan pro Grattan. The committee being formed, Mr. Grattan said, posed by Mr. the course which he and his friends meant to pursue was to move an address to the Prince of Wales, inviting him to accept, during the King's illness, the government of Ireland as regent. But, he observed, as the addresses of Parliament, although competent, in a case like the present, to create an efficient third estate, could not confer the form of a law and the stamp of legislation, it would be adviseable, after the regency had been accepted, to pass a bill reciting the circumstances, and declaring and enacting that the Prince of Wales was and should be Regent of Ireland, during his Majesty's indisposition, and conferring on him the personal exercise of the regal authority. The reason for this plenitude of power was to be found in the nature of the prerogative, which was given, not for the sake of the King, but of the people, for whose use kings and regents, and prerogatives, were conceived. There was no political reason why these prerogatives should be destroyed, nor any personal reason why they should be suspended. The first resolution, which merely asserted the in- Resolutions terruption in the exercise of royal authority by the moved. King's indisposition, passed without much observation. The second was, that an address be presented to the Prince of Wales, humbly requesting him to take upon himself the government of this realm, during his Ma- Resolution jesty's indisposition, under the style and title of Prince to the Prince Regent of Ireland, exercising and administering, in his of Wales. Majesty's name, all regal powers, jurisdiction, and prerogatives. for an address This resolution, so entirely repugnant to the pro- Debated, |