ty's consent, though before they had acknowledged
his goodness in recommending this application. The ministry in England
were highly offended at this purposed omission, which they construed
into a wilful encroachment on the prerogative; and the bill was sent
back with an alteration in the preamble, signifying his majesty's
consent as well as recommendation. The Irish house of commons being
at that time deeply engaged in a minute inquiry into the conduct of
a gentleman, a servant of the crown, and a member of their own house,
accused of having misapplied a large sum of money, with which he had
been intrusted for rebuilding or repairing the barracks, were now
unwilling to embroil themselves farther with the government, until this
affair should be discussed. They therefore passed the bill with the
alteration, and proceeded with their inquiry. The person was convicted
of having misapplied the public money, and ordered to make the barracks
fit for the reception and accommodation of the troops at his own
expense. They did not, however, neglect to assert what they thought
their rights and privileges, when the next opportunity occurred. The
duke of Dor-get, when he opened the session of this year, repeated the
expression of his majesty's gracious consent, in mentioning the surplus
of the public money. They again omitted that word in their address; and
resolved, in their bill of application, not only to sink this odious
term, but likewise to abate in their complaisance to the crown, by
leaving out that expression of grateful acknowledgment, which had met
with such a cold reception above. By this time the contest had kindled
up two violent factions, and diffused a general spirit of resentment
through the whole Irish nation. The committee who prepared the bill,
instead of inserting the usual compliments in the preamble, mentioned
nothing but a recital of facts, and sent it over in a very plain dress,
quite destitute of all embroidery. The ministry, intent upon vindicating
the prerogative from such an unmannerly attack, filled up the omissions
of the committee, and sent it back with this alteration: "And your
majesty, ever attentive to the ease and happiness of your faithful
subjects, has been graciously pleased to signify that you would consent,
and to recommend it to us, that so much of the money remaining in your
majesty's treasury as should be necessary to be applied to the discharge
of the national debt, or such part thereof as