a participation of civil rights and liberties, but acted upon as a new ground for burdening them with additional grievances.

The supporters of the Whig interest in Ireland differed from those who forwarded the revolution in England, in principle, in action, and in views.-The Irish Whigs of that day were the relics of the Cromwelian party, avowing no other principle but that of retaining the monopoly and the power of the few over the bulk of the nation; acting upon them with arbitrary severity, in order to rivet the whole power of the Country in disgraceful and everlasting subjection.

Hence, however glorious the exertions of England in the cause of Freedom were, yet the unbiassed mind will arraign their motives, when it contemplates the English Parliament opposing that very liberty in Ireland, which they so resolutely and so successfully supported in England.

The articles of Limerick had scarcely received the great seal of England, when they were attempted to be violated, in defiance of the faith of nations, and in disregard to all those principles by which society should be governed.

Though Ireland, as an independent kingdom, claimed, under William, the same right it had enjoyed under his predecessors, yet did the Parliament of England usurp the right of legislating for Ireland, in as free and uncontrolled a manner, as if Ireland had no Parliament of her own. Thus, in the year 1691, before William had convened an Irish Parliament, the English Par

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liament passed an act, to alter the laws of Ireland, regarding the most essential fundamental rights of the subject, by excluding the Roman Catholics, who composed the decided majority of Ireland, from a seat in either House of Parliament. And when a pure Protestant Parliament was convened, in the year 1692, so little satisfied with it was the Parliament of England, that they continued their legislative encroachments on Ireland, by enacting whatever laws they thought proper, for regulating and settling the legal, civil, nilitary, and ecclesiastical departments of Ireland, for checking their commerce, and disposing of their property.

Lord Sidney being created Lord Lieutenant, in 1692, immediately on his arrival in Ireland issued writs, and convened a new Parliament; the primary object of which was to raise supplies to discharge the debt contracted during the war. The Commons consented to a grant, not exceeding 70,000l. pleading the inability of the people, from the calamities of the late war, to increase the grant. There had been no Parliament in Ireland for the last twenty-six years; and although the Parliament of England had undertaken to legislate for Ireland, in the most important matters of State, it had not yet proceeded to the extent of raising money directly upon the people of Ireland. The Parliament which was now convened, after so long an interval, could not be insensible of the encroachment made on their independence; they felt their consequence, and manifested, by their

conduct, their just resentment of the usurpations of the English Legislature. They considered it to be their indispensable right to determine, in the first instance, the sum, and manner of raising every supply granted to the Crown-and when, in violation of this privilege, two Money Bills, which had not originated with them, were transmitted from England, and laid before them, they, with becoming dignity, resented this encroachment on their privileges, by rejecting one of them, and declaring, "that, from the extreme urgency of the case, they alone consented to pass the other." They, at the same time, entered some very pointed and spirited resolutions on their journals, in support of their rights.

His Excellency was highly enraged at these resolutions; and, in his speech, upon proroguing the Parliament, he severely reprimanded them for having, in opposition to the design of their meeting, undutifully and ungratefully invaded their Majesties' prerogative. And when the Commons requested permission to send Commissioners to England, in order to lay a full and impartial statement of their conduct before their Majesties, he contemptuously and insultingly told them, "That they might go to England to beg their Majesties' pardon, for their seditious and riotous as-semblies."

This unexpected and ungracious prorogation of the Parliament, created general discontent. Bills of importance, which had been prepared,

remained imperfected ;-and the several grievances complained of, remained unredressed.

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At a subsequent meeting of Parliament, bill, upon the principle of the English Bill of Rights, was introduced into the House of Lords. It proposed to enact, that the pretended power of dispensing with laws, or of executing laws, by regal authority, as assumed and exercised in the late reign, was illegal.—

That the election of members of Parliament ought to be free. That the freedom of speech in Parliament, can only be impeached or questioned in Parliament,That Parliament. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel nor unnatural punishments inflicted.

That jurors ought to be duly impannelled and returned; and that jurors in trials for high treason, should be freeholders. This bill was, with some addition, agreed to by the Commons, and transmitted; but, to the very great disgrace of Government, not returned.

As the Parliament continued to act on principles offensive to the Court, it was prorogued a second time, and then dissolved.

Lord Sidney having become an object of popular odium, was now recalled, and the Government vested in three Justices, Lord Capel, Sir Cecil Wyche, and Mr. Duncombe. Difference of principle, however, soon disunited the measures of their Government. Influenced by a strong desire of recommending himself to the favourable opinion of the English settlers,

Lord Capel attached himself to their interest, which he laboured to promote, even at the expense of equity. Sir Cecil and Mr. Duncombe interested themselves in behalf of the Irish. They protected them from oppression. Those who, from selfish views, attempted to infringe the articles of Limerick, they restrained by their authority.

Neither a desire of Court influence, nor a regard to the applause of the powerful, were the principles of their conduct;-they only wished to be distinguished by a wise and just administration. Seldom does Government approve and encourage in its servants such integrity of heart. The conduct of Lord Cecil was adapted to the prejudices of the powerful ;-his interest prevailed, to the removal of his two upright colleagues, and he was created sole Governor, under the title of Lord Deputy.

In a Parliament, convened by this Governor, the necessary supplies were granted ;-the proceedings in King James's Parliament were reversed; though in violation of their legislative privileges, a law to the same purpose had been passed in England. The Act of Settlement wast explained and confirmed;-the Articles of Limerick were also confirmed, but so modified, as to lessen the security to the persons concerned; and a few penal statutes were added, in addition to those which had been already enacted against Catholics.

It was, however, every day becoming more apparent that civil liberty could not make the