XV. Resolved unanimously, That we are decided in opinion that the representatives of the people ought not in future to consent to any bill of supply for a longer terms than twelve months ; nor more than six months, until a complete redress of said grievances be obtained.

The following address of the first regiment of Irish Brigade to the chairman of this association, on the 15th of Feb. 1782, being read.:

'To Col. WILLIAM IRVINE, Chairman of the Ulster volunteer delegates assembled at Dungannon,

'SIR,

Feb. 15th, 1782.

I am directed by the first regiment of Irish Brigade to acquaint you, that on the 22d day of last month, at a full meeting of that corps, they unanimously adopted the resolutions of the Ulster delegates assembled at Dungannon, on Friday, 15th February last,

To that assembly, unprecedented in the annals of mankind, which is the glory of the present times, and must be the wonder of futurity, Ireland owes her emancipation.

Toleration, the offspring of benevolence and wisdom, was no sooner adopted by that illustrious body, than received and cherished through the whole nation, and the inhabitants of Ireland, from a divided became an UNITED people.

'You, sir, and the highly respectable body of which you are chairman, will hear with pleasure of every accession of strength to the volunteer army: I am happy, therefore, to acquaint you, that this regiment, though but four months embodied, is numerous and respectable; a circumstance sufficient to convince the world, that the public virtue of this kingdom daily increases, and that the glorious flame of Liberty blazes through the nation.

At this great crisis, when the western world, while laying the foundation of a rising empire, temptingly holds out a

system of equal liberty to mankind, and waits with open arms to receive the emigrants from surrounding nations; we think it a duty we owe to our country, to promote, as far as our example can reach, an affectionate coalition of the inhabitants of Ireland. Animated by this sentiment, and convinced that national unanimity is the basis of national strength, this regiment affords a striking instance how far the divine spirit of toleration can unite men of all religious descriptions in one great object, the support of a free constitution.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

with the highest respect,

your faithful and most

obedient servant,

JOHN SUTTON, PRESIDENT.

XVI. Resolved unanimously, That this association entertain the most grateful sense of the approbation of such liberal and patriotic men as compose that respectable body; that we rejoice in the accession of their abilities to the common cause, and that we will be happy to co-operate with them in effecting the complete liberty and happiness of the good people of this kingdom.

XVII. Resolved unanimously, That the following address to the volunteer armies of the provinces of Munster, Leinster and Connaught, be printed with these resolutions.

TO THE VOLUNTEER ARMIES OF THE PROVINCES OF MUNSTER, LEINSTER AND CONNAUGHT.

FELLOW-SUBJECTS,

THE transcendant events which our united efforts have produced, present an eminent instance of the protecting hand of Heaven ; whilst the progressive virtue and general union of the people, naturally prompt them to revive the spirit of an unrivalled constitution, and to vindicate the inherent rights of men.

The most important work yet remains; which, neglected, our past attainments are transitory, unsubstantial, insecure!an extension to thousands of our beloved fellow-citizens of a franchise, comprehending the very essence of liberty and drawing the line which precisely separates the freeman from the slave.

Suffer us, therefore, to conjure you by every endearing tie that connects man with man-with unceasing zeal to pursue one of the most glorious objects that ever agitated the human mind: a restoration of virtue to a senate long unaccustomed to speak the voice of the people; a renovation of the ancient balance of our government; and a firm establishment of the first gifts of nature, on the ruins of an avowed corruption, at once the bane of morals and of liberty.

From a Grand National Convention, distinguished by integrity, and inspired with the courageous spirit of the constitution, every blessing must result.

With one voice, then-the voice of united millions, let Ireland assert her claim to freedom.

Through her four provincial assemblies let her temperate declarations flow to one common center; and there, matured into an extensive plan of reform, be produced as the solemn act of THE VOLUNTEER ARMY OF IRELAND: as a demand of rights, robbed of which, the unanimated forms of a free government would be a curse; and existence itself, cease to be a blessing.

FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN,

The eyes of an enlightened world, are this instant upon us Munster has, in part, already led the way; and millions of our fellow-subjects of Britain, in whem the flame of liberty still burns with lustre, behold with delight our exertions in the common cause; and in our success, see the certain harbinger of their own.

Let the reflection that Greece, the seat of liberty and of science; that Rome, the mistress of the world; and that innumerable States, once flourishing and free, now lie prostrate by the hand of tyranny-teach Ireland wisdom. To our deliberative assemblies they convey awful warning to be spirited, unanimous, and firm; lest the present wretched condition of other countries be soon the fate of our own!

May the supreme ruler of the universe crown his other blessings, by being present with us,-by promoting union and the love of our country among all ranks of men; and by finally directing our exertions to virtue, liberty, and peace!

A specific plan of parliamentary reform, being produced and read by the committee of correspondence:

XVIII. Resolved unanimously, that said plan be referred to the consideration of the national convention, and that the thanks of this meeting be presented to lieut. colonel Sharman and the gentlemen of the committee of correspondence, for their great trouble in collecting information on a parliamentary reform, and for their abilities and zeal in digesting matter for the meeting of this day.

XIX. Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the lord bishop of Derry, for his attendance and assistance in the business of this day; for his warm attachment to the volunteer cause; and for proving himself the steady friend to the liberties of Ireland upon all occasions.

XX. Resolved unanimously, That the sincere thanks of this meeting be presented to the inhabitants of Dungannon, for their very polite conduct, and to the Dungannon battalion, for their vigilant conduct when on guard this day.

XXI. Resolved unanimously, That we lament that unavoidable business of consequence, prevented our late chairman, Col. William Irvine, from attending this meeting, and that the thanks of this meeting be transmitted by our secretary

to that gentleman for his uniform zeal and fidelity in the cause of his country.

THE cause of Reform had made a rapid progress in every part of the kingdom. The light which the glorious revolution of 1782 shed upon the nation, and the enthusiasm with which it animated the people to establish, on a broad and firm foundation, that liberty which they had wrung from a re luctant government, encouraged the most distinguished patriots of the day to prosecute the cause of Reform with redoubled ardor. The Volunteers had accomplished the freedom of Ireland, and the Irish Parliament but obeyed an impulse they could not presume to control. Mr. Grattan was the powerful organ through which the new-born liberty of his country communicated its wishes: but Flood, anxious to out-run his great rival in the glorious race, put himself forward as the man who could best complete what Grattan so well begun. The eyes of the nation were anxiously turned upon the military convention that was to meet at Dungannon on the 8th September, 1788; but unfortunately for the cause of Reform, the great majority of the people, the Catholics of Ireland, sat with folded arms, like the spectators in a theatre, contemplating struggles, in the result of which they were doomed to have no interest whatever. The cry of Freedom was confined to the small circle of the Protestant population. The old prejudices which characterised the Irish Protestant colony, lived with equal force and equal acrimony in the bosoms of the most distinguished leaders among the Reformers: even the great Flood could not look at the emancipation of his Catholic countrymen without alarm; and Lord Charle mont, to whom all the Reformers looked up with veneration and affection, was one of the last to surrender his hereditary

t.