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1785.

Early as was the age at which Sheridan had CHAP. been transplanted from Ireland-never to set foot upon his native land again -the feeling of nationality remained with him warmly through life, and he was, to the last, both fond and proud of his country. The zeal with which he entered, at this period, into Irish politics, may be judged of from some letters, addressed to him by Mr. Isaac Corry, who was at that time a member of the Irish Opposition, and combated the Commercial Propositions as vigorously as he afterwards, when Chancellor of the Exchequer, defended their "consummate flower," the Union. A few extracts from these letters will give some idea of the interest attached to this question by the popular party in both countries.

The following, dated August 5. 1785, was written during the adjournment of ten days, that preceded Mr. Orde's introduction of the Propositions :

"Your most welcome letter, after hunting me some days through the country, has at length reached me. I wish you had sent some notes of your most excellent speech; but such as we have must be given to the public — admirable commentary upon Mr. Pitt's apology to the People of Ireland, which must also be published in the manner fitting it. The addresses were sent

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CHAP. round to all the towns in the kingdom, in order to give currency to the humbug. Being upon the spot, I have my troops in perfect order, and am ready at a moment's warning, for any manœuvre which may, when we meet in Dublin previous to the next sitting, be thought necessary to follow the petitions for postponing.

"We hear astonishing accounts of your greatness in particular. Paddy will, I suppose, some beau jour be voting you another 50,000*, if you go on as you have done.

"I send to-day down to my friend, O'Neil, who waits for a signal only, and we shall go up together. Brownlow is just beside me, and I shall ride over this morning to get him up to consultation in town. we must get our Whig friends in England to engraft a few slips of Whiggism here-till that is done, there will be neither Constitution for the people nor stability for the government.

the

"Charlemont and I were of opinion that we should not make the volunteers speak upon present business; so I left it out in the Resolutions at our late review. They are as tractable as we could desire, and we can manage them completely. We inculcate all moderationwere we to slacken in that, they would instantly step forward."

Alluding to the recent vote of that sum to Mr. Grattan.

IX.

The date of the following letter is August 10th CHAP. -two days before Mr. Orde brought forward the Propositions:

"We have got the Bill entire, sent about by Orde. The more it is read, the less it is liked. I made notable use of the clause you sent me before the whole arrived. We had a select meeting to day of the D. of Leinster, Charlemont, Conolly, Grattan, Forbes, and myself. We think of moving an address to postpone tomorrow till the 15th of January, and have also some Resolutions ready pro re natâ, as we don't yet know what shape they will put the business into; - Conolly to move. To-morrow morning we settle the Address and Resolutions, and after that, to-morrow, meet more at large at Leinster House. All our troops muster pretty well — Mountmorris is here, and to be with us to-morrow morning. We reckon on something like a hundred, and some are sanguine enough to add near a score above it that is too much. The report of to-night is that Orde is not yet ready for us, and will beg a respite of a few daysBeresford is not yet arrived, and that is said to be the cause. Mornington and Poole are come

their muster is as strict as ours. If we divide any thing like a hundred, they will not dare to

1785.

CHAP. take a victory over us. Adieu, yours most

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1785.

truly,

"I. C."

The motion for bringing in the bill was carried only by a majority of nineteen, which is thus announced to Mr. Sheridan by his correspondent:

"I congratulate with you on 108 minorityagainst 127. The business never can go on. They were astonished, and looked the sorriest devils you can imagine. Orde's exhibition was pitiful indeed—the support of his party weak and open to attack the debate on their part really poor. On ours, Conolly, O'Neill, and the other country gentlemen, strong and of great weight Grattan able and eloquent in an uncommon degree-every body in high spirits, and altogether a force that was irresistible. We divided at nine this morning, on leave to bring in a Bill for the settlement. The ground fought upon was the Fourth Resolution, and the principle of that in the others. The commercial detail did not belong accurately to the debate, though some went over it in a cursory way. Grattan, two hours and a half-Flood as much

the former brilliant, well attended to, and much admired the latter tedious from detail; of course, not so well heard, and answered by Foster in detail, to refutation.

.IX.

"The Attorney General defended the con- CHAP. stitutional safety under the Fourth-Resolution principle. Orde mentioned the Opposition in 1785–6. England twice in his opening speech, with imputations, or insinuations at least, not very favourable. You were not left undefended. Forbes exerted his warm attachment to you with great effect - Burgh, the flag-ship of the Leinster squadron, gave a well-supported fire pointed against Pitt, and covering you. Hardy (the Bishop of Down's friend) in a very elegant speech gave you due honour; and I had the satisfaction of a slight skirmish which called up the Attorney General, &c. . . . .”

On the 15th of August Mr. Orde withdrew his Bill, and Mr. Corry writes - "I wish you joy a thousand times of our complete victory. Orde has offered the Bill moved its being printed for his own justification to the country, and no more of it this session. We have the effects of a complete victory."

Another question of much less importance, but more calculated to call forth Sheridan's various powers, was the Plan of the Duke of Richmond for the fortification of dock-yards, which Mr. Pitt brought forward (it was said, with much reluctance,) in the session of 1786, and which Sheridan must have felt the greater pleasure in attacking,