The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-07-23 00:00:00, page 3

" About the end of 1780, the British Parlia
ment having thought fit to set Ireland free of
some of the trammels which confined her in
duitry and commerce, this benefit was at firfl
accepted with every demonitration of lively gra
titude. The partial liberty given to her trade,
opened a valt train of fpeculation—of golden
dreams. It was supposed that opulence, whose
entrance had been barred, only waited the mo
ment when the new acts of the Britilh parlia-'
merit Ihould be palled, to enter and pour upon
the cities, towns and the Imallell hamlets, plen
ty out of a full horn ; but the heavenly maidens,
who are painted as ever failing, are not light of
foot; they are, on the contrary, remarkable for
a very flow pace. They were looked for, but
they came not. The Irilh did not take the pains
to enquire concerning their flpwnefs, by looking
into the'nature of things. The people every
where dislike to make deep and intricate investi
gations for causes. The Irifli found them, or
imagined they found them, nearer hand. The
people of Ireland thought they saw them in the
Britilh laws, whose modification, reltridtion or
amplification, was always within the power of
the law-makers. They considered what Eng
land had done for them, as only a momentary
condefeenfion. They lufpe&ed that the had
only suspended the exercise of a pretended right,
which being merely laid asleep, might awake
again another day. Whilst this uneasiness
wrought upon the minds of almost every one, a
commoner, whose integrity and talents give him
vast influence, proposed in the Irilh parliament,
a bill for declaring the rights of Ireland. The
Lord-Lieutenant, however, was able at that time
to elude the frroke, by purfuading the people,
that Great-Britain had changed her fyltem in
this refpe& and that die was ifrevokably deter
mined to renounce the exercise ofa right which
the Irilh disputed. In these circumstances, Lord
Carlille was named to the government of Ireland,
whether I had the honor to accompany him.
When we arrived there, the parliament had risen,
and ©economical arrangments employed us.
The unfortunate course of the war, had, by
this time, railed apprehensions of the enemy
landing during the summer. The corps of vo
lunteers, who throughout the kingdom, amus
ed THEMSELVES IN LEARNING MILITARY EX
ERCISE, and in parading and holding reviews,
ran together from all parts, and conducted
themselves with a loyalty of which it is nc t easy
to give an idea, and unanimously made eager of
fers of service, and a&ed on this occasion, so as
to deserve the gracious thanks of their foverign.
The session of 1781, then opened; nothing could
be more peaceable ; every one appeared to be
perfectly fatisfied of the good dispositions of
Great-Britain, and convinced of the uprightness
of her intentions. The oppetition did not at
tempt to pass the bounds which the wisdom of
the constitution has placed between the admini
stration and people. Nothing could he more
edifying than the unanimity with which many
salutary laws were pafled, which had the happi
est tendency, to promote the prosperity of the
kingdom. Unluckily, about the middle of the
fellion, it was discovered that the kingdom of Ire
land had been included in four ac^s of the Bri
tish parliament, posteriorly to the date of the
mutiny bill, out of which it had been expunged
by express agreement made with Lord Carlille,
when he set out for Dublin. To the clamours
which rose every where, it was to no purpose to
unfwer that these ads were of no importance, or
were for the good of Ireland. It was replied,
that they were to form precedents ; that essays of
this nature were artfully made in trifling mat
ters; that in ihort, it was plain that England
had not renounced either the pretended right or
the exercise of it, of making laws for Ireland.
A motion was inflantlv made to declare the
rights of the kingdom ; soon after the noted vo
lunteer meeting at Dungannon was holden,
(whose refolvcs have appeared in the prints) ad
d#s§ flowered upon us from all quarters, and
L©N D 5
HOUSE oi COfoNGNS, BSchluj, QU! 8,
1782.
COLONEL LU ILERELL having called
on the minilter of Ireland, to lay before
luc house the situation in which he left that
kingdom.
Mr. EDEN rose and began, by faying, that if
he had not been urged to do it, he Ihould have
thought it his duty to exhibit to the house, the
alarming picture of which the following is a
(ketch.
in less than a fortnight the flame became gene
ral. Motions for declaring the lights of Ireland,
rose in parliament in various forms one after
another; and though, by the help of a very con
siderable majority, we have delayed them, by
(hewing that the security of the forfeited lands,
held under Britilh adts, would be itruck at by
such a proceeding, it was but two evident that
though the majority were retrained by this con
sideration, yet these hit were 110 less ardent for
the independency of the Irilh legislature than
the oppolition. In the mean time these tempo
rizers, by the people at large, were considered
as having betrayed the interells of their country.
" In the mean while, however, to obviate the
main inconvenience, which was objected to the
declaration of rights, a bill was contrived to ac
knowledge as, laws of Ireland, all laws of Eng
land which efleD the lands or trade of Ire
land. The preamble of this bill is indeed elo
quent: " We adopt," fay the Irilh " by this aft,
all laws which England has made for us in the
times of trouble and rebellion, but we give no
tice, that henceforth we mean to be our own
legislators." Accounts of these proceedings
were instantly given to rue ministry here, so as
to make them apprehend the importance and
inftantanious necessity of this bill. Circumstan
ces have not admited that an answer could be re
ceived before I arrived. They were informed,
that I should take the liberty oflaying before this
house, that the right to which England pretend
ed to make laws for Ireland, considered, per
haps, as acquired by prescription, whether just
ly or not, could no longer be exercised ; that
since the parliament of Britain had wifely set the
trade of Ireland free, it did not appear that this
claim could be of any use were it even justifiable ;
that it has always been remarked, that enlight
ened people cannot be better governed than by
laws of their own making ; that if the pride of
England only were hu r t on this occasion, we
mult admit also, that England has forfeited all
pretensions to pride. In Short, the bill, the
preamble of which I have recited, was brought
in by Mr. Yelverton, and wants only the func
tion of the crown inorder to make it law. I
hope, after this state of matters, no one will
throw in any delays. May Heaven preserve the
two kingdoms ! After this firft step (ball have
calmed the peoples minds, you mult expert to
fee Ireland fully emancipated, proceeding with
activity to perfect her legislature ; but it may
be expected, that her firft afl, the declaratory
a& of her rights, should be accompanied with
certain others, refpe&ing both kingdoms. In
deed, I think it is most suitable, and for the com
mon good, that these conventions should be made
between the legislative bodies of both ISlands.
I have nothing more to add now, except to move,
“ that leave be given to bring in a bill to repeal
" the act of 6th, George ift, entuted, &c. so
“ far as it declares that the King, Lords and
" Commons of Great-Britain, assembled in par
" liament, had, have and ought to have, full
" power to pass acts of fuflicient force to bind
" Ireland, &c."
LORD NEWHAVEN Seconded the motion,
observing that he could have wished that this
business had risen from the new administration,
'and that time had been given the new cabinet to
concert measures to Secure the affections of this
part, of what yet remained, of the vast domini
ons of England. He was sensible of the neces
sity of the motion, and the danger of the least
delay, &c. as Ireland had been very ill treated.
The secretary of state Mr. FOX, who had among other
business, the care of manageing the House of Commons,
answered Mr. Eden nearly as follows :
" The house may recoiled, that Col. Lutterell Rated
this fubjed for a debate, of which it is not yet tufeepti
ble, in alluding to some words which he dropped before
the caster holidays, relative to Ireland, and by requesting
Mr Eden to lay beforethe house, the situation of that king
dom. Upon this invitation, Mr. Eden, without any previ
ous confutation, without having Gid one syllable to the
raimiftry concerning the affairs of Ireland, after giving a
decisive narration of the fads known to all the world, has
finished his harangue, by a motion which tends to no less
than the repeal of the ad of 6?h, of George the firft ; a re
peal which would amount to an express renounciation on
the part of Britain, of her supremacy over Ireland, and to
a compleat disunion of both nations. The motion of she
honorable member is, in short, an unconditional submis
sion on the fideof Great Britain ; accompanied with a for
mal renounciation of her most valuable and dearest rights.
I have so lately come into office, that I look for no refped
to myfelf, but I am sure, that as to the rest of his Majeny's
ministers, it would have been but decent to consult them be
fore any step was taken in parliament. If Mr, Eden had
seen fit to do what the least attention to decency requried,
he would have learned, that noewithftanding rhe short space
which has elapsed since the present rriniftry have been cal
led W their offices, they had browed she weft Uriwas at
ceotiun to the arlarn.i&g circumstances of irtunt; and LdL «u
if on this d.y,whcn they ten t^cu^u ^ uv^c, an lucid
new charadeis, they bad no digeUed medium ^ pie,mt,
it was not because they were not perfectly and um^u.cuh/
disposed to do justice to Ireland : It was became that uaf
dtldained to ward in the Reps of their piedcctfle.s, vhv,
touching the helm, from day to day, on the paitiy ground
of expediency, bad nut Looked forward to CobUque ccs. 1c
was to shun inch an example, and to form, a plan equally
tatsfa&oiy to both kingdoms, thatthc King's lervanu noc
taken time to deliberate. Mr. Eden mig^ nave Ic.incd ac
the lame time, chat many days could nue have palled , a nd
now I fay, that many hours shall nhe pats, before means ©C
proposed co reconcile Britain co the aikdion utLciaid X
shall not fay further what I chink of the motion now under
debate. lam fully puituadcd, shat Ireland h 4 s been ngu
rioufly treated, and has a full tight to the ledgers 01 her grie
vances. That all his MajcltyS tenants are of this opini
on,! take upon me to declare. But they would be blunge
ministers indeed, if, on a ludden, without examinatran,
without reflexion, they should advilc his Mijchy to agree
to the mealure aimed at by the motion. It is voy extraor
dinary, that this fame Mr. Eden, just come post from Ire
land, to make this happy proposal, should Ipcak with con
fidence of his fortunate administration 1 I cannot lay, that
I ihould confides mine as very fortunate, if 1 should go out
of it through so mournful a door as he does. If parudox
has some share in this manner of (peeking, Mr. E. loves pa
rodox. He uses one,when fpcakir gos the Irish volunteers,
he fays, that in the summer of 1780, they amused themlelycs
with military exercise : A most delightful amusement in
deed, to which we are indebted tor the coming of Mr. E.
post-baste, and quite but of breath from Dublin, in older tv
make the amusing motion before us. The conduct of the
minister of Ireland, in other refpeds is quite as extraordi
nary as his fpcech. He was fens over, expre fly, with the
resignation of Lord Carlisle, and to explain to the rriniftry
the real state of Ireland. On reaching London, and finding
a charge of the King's servants, he writes to Lord Shel
burne, chat he will neither give him, nor any of hrs col
leagues the least information concerning Ireland ; he threa
tens them with his going into parliament this day, to open
what we have just beard. I dare fay, his accounts of fads
is very near the truth, and that public affairs in Ireland aia
in the greatest confufion ; but who is to blame for this 1
certainly, a fortnight since when I fufpe&ed and accufcd the
late ministers of the most culpable negligence in every ref
ped, I was very far from thinking affairs were so bad as
they appear to be. Yes, lam forty co fay, chat ali is worse,
infinitely worse, than could have been imagined, after this
is said, it is the indifpenfible duty of the prefers adminiftrt
cion to make proper enquires.
''As to the course I shall take with this metion of tha
honorable member, I flatter myfelf, that ! shall not be re
pretented to Ireland, as indisposed co do her just ce. I know
that she has rights, that her grtvicnecs are but too real,
and call for immediate redrols. Irtpeat it, chat all his
Majesty's ministers are cordially and fr ceiely detcin med
to tacitly the Irish nation, and thacin a few hours, they will
lay before the house some prop fitiuns relative thereto.
It is not, therefore, because the notion is improper, that I
oppnfe it, for I lock upon tc, as the most fui r ab<cthat can
or ought to be made ; Ido not therefore rejed ir ; bur I
elude the opening of it now, by calling for the puvicus
question. freight call for the order of the day, but I prefer
the firft, that we may take up Mr. Crew's motioi cc dis
qualify custom-house officers from voting attheeh&< rs of
members of parliament. It isof great importance that the
present ministry should convince the people bv the Ibongeft
proofs that the promises which they made before they Were
in office, were sincere ; that they would rcfoim all abuses,
and alofe every avenue of corruption.''
Mr. Bui kc, took this opportunity to declare, that he on his
part, was ready to offer bis economical bill, rejected lash
year.
The cenverfation lasted some time longer, when Mr.
Eden, yielding tothe advice of divers of the members, with
drew his motion ; after which Mr. Crew closed the business
of the d^y, with tire proposition mentioned above.
TW BE SOL D,
At PUBLIC VENDUE,
On Thursday the firft day of August next, at two o'clock af
ternoon, in Chatham, at the place usually called Kno #les's
Landing.
A SLOOP of about do tons burthen, with her tackle, at
parrel, &c. Also, a quantity of white Pine Beards,
and two inch Plank, about ;eco Shingles.-— Six months ^
creditwill be given for the Sloop on good security, and the
lumber will be fold chiefly for cash in hand.
Chatham, July 23, 1782.
Now lying at Lail-Haddam, and bound imme
diately on a short cruise,
The fail failing Privateer Brigantine,
MARSHAL,
MOUNTING fourteen fix pound Cannon, and every way
compeatly fitted; commanded by Capt. Charles
kulkley, vw leave this place on Wednesday the 24th, and
for the coo.nienoe of taking in a far hands, will beat
New-Loncon on Friday 26th inftanu
Ealt-Haddam, July 16, 1782.
LOST by the fubferiber, on the road between Worthing,
ton and Middletown, a black Leather POCKET BOOK,
without a clasp, fattened with a Urap, containing one note
of hand, executed by David Hills of Farmington, payable
to Elijah Hubbard or Middletown, dated od or about the
14th day of inst. July, one yard white striped Elk gauze,
wrapped in% brown paper, and several other notes and pa
pers of consequence to the owner. Whoever shall find laid
Book, and its contents, and return the fame to the fubferi
ber living in New-Britain, or to said Hubbard in Middle
town, shall have a generous reward, and the thanks of thtic
humble servant, GIDEON PORTER.
Middletown, July 17. tygl.
WRITING PAPER, Selling Books, Primers, and sun
dry other articles to be exchanged for clean Linfg
and €@w}o, by P& j@, W'^i^G