America than
from any other cause. It was also said, that if the thunders of the
cabinet had not been hurled against Ireland; if Dublin had not been
treated like Boston, and if Cork and Waterford had not been reduced
to ashes like the towns of America, it was not through the enlightened
policy of ministers, but from fear of the consequences of adopting
stringent measures toward those refractory cities. These sentiments were
exceedingly unwise, for at this very time armed associations and
the non-importation agreements were in full force in Ireland, and a
rebellious spirit displayed itself in the Irish parliament-house and
throughout the whole length and breadth of the kingdom. In order
to compel the British government to concede a free trade the Irish
parliament had, indeed, according to the instructions received from
their constituents, voted a money-bill for six months only, instead of
two years, as usual; and the charges which opposition brought against
ministers were as fallacious as they were unwise and unjust. This was
fully proved by Lord North in his reply, who showed that the grievances
complained of originated ages anterior to the existence of his ministry,
and that the restrictions upon the trade and industry of the Irish
people arose from our general system of trade; which, though conceived
in ignorance and founded on prejudice, was so confirmed by habit that
it seemed to become part and parcel of our very constitution. Lord North
referred to the hostility which had been shown towards the attempts
which had been made in the two preceding sessions to obtain a moderate
relaxation of these restrictions, in proof of the truth of his
assertions. Those who had undertaken the task, he observed, had been
thwarted by their constituents, and by the people of England generally,
as well as by the majority of the house. Something had been done, but
more would have been done had it not been for the temper, prejudices,
and habits of the people and the parliament. In conclusion, he contended
that ministers had done more for Ireland than any other cabinet for the
last century. They had enlarged the trade of that country; had given
bounties to encourage the Irish Newfoundland fishery, and the growth of
hemp and tobacco; had permitted the exportation of woollen cloth, &c.;
and had conferred many other benefits on the people. The motion was
negatived by one hundred and seventy-three against one hundred.

LORD NORTH'S PROP