IRELAND. No. XV. 13 THE SPEECH OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN, EARL OF CLARE, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, IN The House of Lords of Ireland, ON A MOTION MADE BY HIM ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 1800. PUBLISHED BY THE IRISH LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC UNION. DUBLIN: HODGES, FIGGIS, & CO., GRAFTON-STREET. 66 THAT, in order to promote and secure the essential interests of Great "Britain and Ireland, and to consolidate the strength, power, and resources "of the British Empire, it will be advisable to concur in such measures as may "best tend to unite the two kingdoms, in such manner, and on such terms and 66 'conditions, as may be established by Acts of the respective Parliaments] of "Great Britain and Ireland." LORD CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS OF IRELAND, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1800. THE ORDER OF THE DAY being read for taking HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE into consideration, relative to the proposed LEGISLATIVE UNION between Great Britain and Ireland, and the Articles for that Purpose, MY LORDS, I RISE to call your Lordships' attention to a subject, certainly the most momentous which has ever been submitted for decision to the Parliament of this country; a subject embracing the vital interests of Ireland, and intimately affecting the strength and prosperity of the British Empire. In this grave assembly, I feel perfect confidence it will receive a calm, and patient, and dispassionate investigation. I am sensible, nevertheless, that it falls to my lot to address your Lordships under great disadvantages. The best talents, the most enlightened minds of which the British Empire has ever had to boast, have been roused to exertion in contemplating an incorporation of these kingdoms; and, after the brilliant and ample discussion which the subject has received in both countries, it cannot well be expected of me to throw new light upon it. But when I recollect the criminal and unexampled efforts which have been made, from the moment when this measure was first proposed for discussion, to bear it down by noise, and faction, and intrigue, if not by recommendations of open rebellion, I should condemn myself for a gross dereliction of my duty if I were to forbear to submit it to your lordships' most serious consideration, in all its various and important views and bearings; more especially, as I feel a strong conviction, indeed, that nothing but Union can save this kingdom from annihilation, and eventually uphold the stability of the British Empire. My opinions on this subject have not been recently or lightly formed; early professional habits had taught me to investigate the foundation of Irish titles, and of necessity to look back into Irish history it had been my fortune to be called into active and forward public service, perhaps during the most eventful period of it; and, from a critical and attentive observation of what has passed in Ireland for the last twenty years, I am satisfied in my judgment and conscience that the existence of her independent Parliament has gradually led to her recent complicated and bitter calamities, and that it has at length become desperate and impracticable. I did, more than once, when I sat in the House of Commons, state, without reserve, that the rapid growth of faction, and precipitate folly and passion of who, from time to time, were suffered to take a commanding lead in the councils of that assembly, would inevitably reduce us to the alternative of separation or union. I have, with as little reserve, stated the same opinion since I have had the honour of a seat in this House, and I make no scruple to avow, that in every communication which I have had with the King's ministers on Irish affairs for the last seven years, I have uniformly and distinctly pressed upon them the urgent necessity of Union, as the last resource to preserve this country to the British Crown. I pressed men, |