204 GRATTAN. proper sway of the Irish privy council, were, he said, the terms on which alone he could be induced to support the government: the address to his majesty stating the griev ances of Ireland, and the declaration of right, were then proved by him in answer to the king's message. Notwith standing his indisposition, h i s exertions were s o great, that Lord Charlemont often declared, that i f ever spirit could b e said t o act independent o f body, i t was o n that occasion. The sense of the House i n favour of the address was s o unequivocally manifested, that a l l opposition (if any were intended) was relinquished. Colonel Fitzpatrick acted with his usual good sense, and suffered the address t o pass unanimously. I n fact, had government shewed itself any way hostile t o the address, i t must have been left i n a minority, a s several o f the old court had pledged themselves t o a support o f Mr. Grattan i n this instance; and many o f that body would have joined him, not from the slightest regard t o a declaration o f right, o r i t s movers, but from their antipathy t o a Whig ministry, which they would have most gladly embarrassed, and indeed over thrown, i f i n their power. The British minister acted with candour and magnanimity. Mr. Fox. moved the repeal o f the obnoxious statute o f George the First, i n the British House o f Commons, “and never (said Mr. Grattan) did a British minister support such honourable claims with such constitutional arguments.” The bill rendering the parliament o f Ireland independent o f that o f Great Britain, passed through both Houses, coupled with a resolution, “That i t was essentially necessary t o the mutual happiness o f the two countries, that a firm and solid connection should b e forthwith established by the consent o f both, and that his majesty should b e requested t o give the proper directions for promoting the same.” I f any thing could surpass the patriotic zeal, and tem perate firmness which marked the conduct o f the Irish parliament and people, i t was the unbounded joy and generous gratitude they manifested o n this first pledge o f political sincerity o n the part o f the British government
