200 GRATTAN." gium on the sensibility of the king and the humanity of his minister. The debate took a new turn by several of the ministerial party declaring, that, for the sake of una nimity, they would not oppose the amendment. The Right Hon. Henry Flood declared for the amendment, and entered largely into a justification of his political conduct, which he said had unfortunately been mirepre sented; that the office he held was the unsolicited gift of his sovereign, which he had received with gratitude, and held with honour; that when a time came that he could no longer do i t , h e would gladly throw the bracelet into the common cauldron. Mr. Burgh (at that time prime-ser jeant) approved o f the amendment, but condemned the preamble, and suggested one short simple proposition. Mr. Flood whispered t o him across the benches, “state a free trade merely.” Burgh instantly adopted the words, and moved, “That nothing but a free trade could save the country from ruin.” Mr. Grattan a t first objected t o withdrawing the preamble, a s h e not only considered i t a s a necessary adjunct t o any motion that could b e made o n the subject; but was afraid b y dividing the proposition, h e should make room for some adroit and successful par liamentary manoeuvre, which would get rid o f the whole. However, when Mr. Connolly, the brother-in-law o f the lord-lieutenant, and who from that connection, a s well a s his rank and situation, might, i n the fluctuating state o f the House, have commanded a majority, not only expressed himself strongly i n favour o f a free trade, but against the preamble, Mr. Grattan withdrew i t , stating a t the same time, that h e did s o i n the full and entire expectation that the resolution a s t o a free trade would b e unequivocally supported. Mr. Burgh's amendment was then put and carried unanimously. The above i s a correct detail o f the manner i n which this inconceivable advantage was obtained. When the House o f Commons attended the lord-lieutenant with this resolution, the volunteers o f the Dublin district lined the streets through which they passed, a s a mark o f respect and grateful approbation.
