kingdom, so long cherished by the patriots of 1782, as the proud triumph of their struggles, and the peaceful achievement of their volunteer army, was in fact but a mere airy delusion, a perfect anomaly in the imperial government of two distinct islands conjoined under the same crown, and containing in its own womb the embryo of perpetual conflict and ultimate separation, as was clearly proved by the result of the regency question some few years before, when the parliament of Ireland were totally at variance upon a vital question with that of England; and might on the recurrence of a similar occasion, assert its independent right of differing in the choice of the person, as well as the power to be given, to a regent representative of the crown.
The debate was arduous, and continued till ten next morning; but, upon the division which took place, the numbers were so nearly equal that the proposition was carried only by the majority of a single vote. The debate was renewed on the report of the address the next evening, and the minister was left in a minority,—one hundred and six to one hundred. Upon the first debate in the house of lords, forty-six voted for entertaining the measure, and only nineteen against it. The country triumphed in this defeat as a complete and final victory; but the triumph was but temporary. Before the next session the treasury wrought miracles, and the measure was carried.
But, as to the accomplishment of those splendid predictions of national happiness and prosperity so speciously held out as the certain consequences of the union, the experience of the first twenty years has proved it commensurate to the popularity of the noble viscount, who had the proud honour of proposing the measure, and conducting it to success. The people of Ireland have to contemplate a strange coincidence in their national fortunes under the auspicious influence of the Stewarts. For their loyalty to the last British monarch of that name, three-fourths of them suffered near a century of confiscation,
