FLOOD. 147 the privy council of Ireland had assumed a power similar to that formerly exercised by the Lords of Articles in Scotland, and rendered the parliament of Ireland a mere cypher. In consequence, however, of the indefatigable efforts of Mr. Flood on this subject, the obnoxious part of that law was at a subsequent period repealed, though in a less unqualified manner than it would have been if the reformation of it had not been taken out of his hands. The next great measure which he undertook was, a bill for limiting the duration of parliament, which in Ireland had always subsisted for the life of the king. This mea sure, after having in vain attempted it in the administra tions of Lord Northumberland and Lord Hertford, he at length, by constant perseverance, effected in the adminis tration of Lord Townshend (1769), when the octennial bill was passed; a bill that first gave any thing like a consti tution to Ireland; and, as it greatly increased the conse quence of every man of property in that country, was in fact the origin and ground-work of that emancipation, and those additional privileges which they afterwards claimed from England and obtained. In 1775, he was ap pointed a privy counsellor in both kingdoms, and consti tuted one of the vice-treasurers of Ireland. Previous, however, to his acceptance of this office, he made a precise and explicit stipulation with government in favour of a l l the great principles which h e had before maintained i n parliament, and from none o f which h e ever departed. This office h e held for six years, when h e voluntarily re signed i t i n 1781, and shortly afterwards his name was struck out o f the list o f the privy council. The parliament o f England having, i n 1782, repealed the act o f the 6th o f George I . chap. 5 , which declared, “that the kingdom o f Ireland ought t o b e subordinate to, and dependent upon, the imperial crown o f Great Britain, and that the parliament o f England hath power t o make laws t o bind the people o f Ireland;” Mr. Flood, i n two very eloquent and unanswerable speeches (June 11th and 14th,) main
