lords-commissioners.

DISPUTES IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

In the beginning of this year violent disputes arose between the
government and the house of commons in Ireland, on the almost forgotten
subjects of privilege and prerogative. The commons conceived they had an
undoubted right to apply the surplus of their revenue towards national
purposes, without the consent of their sovereign; and accordingly, in
the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, prepared a bill
with this preamble, "Whereas, on the twenty-fifth day of March last,
a considerable balance remained in the hands of the vice-treasurer
or receivers-general of the kingdom, or their deputy or deputies,
unapplied; and it will be for your majesty's service, and for the ease
of your faithful subjects in this kingdom, that so much thereof as can
be conveniently spared should be paid, agreeably to your majesty's most
gracious intentions, in discharge of part of the national debt." This
appropriation gave great offence to the advocates for prerogatives in
England, who affirmed that the commons had no right to apply any part
of the unappropriated revenue, nor even to take any such affair into
consideration, without the previous consent of the crown, expressed in
the most explicit terms. It was in consequence of this doctrine, that
the duke of Dorset, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, told them in the next
session of parliament, held in the year one thousand seven hundred
and fifty-one, he was commanded by the king to aquaint them, that his
majesty, ever attentive to the ease and happiness of his subjects, would
graciously consent and recommend it to them, that such a part of the
money then remaining in the treasury, as should be thought consistent
with the public service, be applied towards the further reduction of
the national debt. This declaration alarmed the commons, zealous as they
were for the preservation of their privileges; and in their address of
thanks, which, like that of the parliament of Great Britain, used
always to echo back the words of the speech, they made no mention of his
majesty's consent; but only acknowledged his gracious attention to
their ease and happiness, in recommending to them the application of
the surplus. They accordingly resolved to apply one hundred and twenty
thousand pounds of that overplus towards the discharge of the national
debt; and, in the preamble of the bill, framed for this purpose, made
no mention of his majes