_peaceable_ conduct, opposition, by making
demands in the name of Ireland, pointed out what she might extort from
Great Britain; that the facility with which relief was (formerly)
granted, instead of satisfying opposition, was calculated to create new
demands; these demands, as they _interfered_ with the commerce of Great
Britain, were _certain_ of being opposed,--a circumstance which could
not fail to create that desirable confusion which suits the views of the
party; that they (the Irish) had long felt their own misery, _without
knowing well from whence it came_; our worthy patriots, by _pointing out
Great Britain_ as the _cause of Irish distress_, may have some chance of
rousing Irish resentment." This I quote from a pamphlet as perfectly
contemptible in point of writing as it is false in its facts and wicked
in its design: but as it is written under the authority of ministers, by
one of their principal literary pensioners, and was circulated with
great diligence, and, as I am credibly informed, at a considerable
expense to the public, I use the words of that book to let you see in
what manner the friends and patrons of Ireland, the heroes of your
Parliament, represented all efforts for your relief here, what means
they took to dispose the minds of the people towards that great object,
and what encouragement they gave to all who should choose to exert
themselves in your favor. Their unwearied endeavors were not wholly
without success, and the unthinking people in many places became
ill-affected towards us on this account. For the ministers proceeded in
your affairs just as they did with regard to those of America. They
always represented you as a parcel of blockheads, without sense, or even
feeling; that all your words were only the echo of faction here; and (as
you have seen above) that you had not understanding enough to know that
your trade was cramped by restrictive acts of the British Parliament,
unless we had, for factious purposes, given you the information. They
were so far from giving the least intimation of the measures which have
since taken place, that those who were supposed the best to know their
intentions declared them impossible in the actual state of the two
kingdoms, and spoke of nothing but an act of union, as the only way that
could be found of giving freedom of trade to Ireland, consistently with
the interests of this kingdom. Even when the session opened, Lord North
declared that he did not know