GRATTAN. 217 declaring, he did not wish to use personality, and no sooner has he opened his mouth, than forth issues a l l the venom that ingenuity and disappointed vanity, for two years brooding over corruption, has produced: but i t cannot taint my public character; four-and-twenty years employed i n your service has established that; and a s t o . my private, l e t that b e learned from my tenants, from my friends, from those under my own roof; t o those I appeal, and this appeal I boldly make, with utter con tempt o f insinnations, false a s they are illiberal. The whole force o f what has been said, rests upon this, that I once accepted office, and this i s called apostacy; but i s a man the less a patriot, for being a n honest servant o f the crown P . As t o me, I took a s great a part with the first office o f the state a t my back, a s ever the right ho- . nourable gentleman did with mendicancy behind him.” Mr. Flood proceeded t o defend his character, when, a t a pause, the Speaker took a n opportunity t o interfere, and with the utmost politeness, and i n the kindest manner, entreated him t o forbear, declaring, that h e had suffered inexpressible pain during this contest; and that nothing but the calls o f the House t o hear the two members, could have made him s o long s i t silent. He again besought Mr. Flood t o s i t down, and the House joining with the chair, that gentleman, after sundry efforts t o speak, was obliged t o desist, and soon after retired. Mr. Flood was sought for that night b y his kinsman, Sir Frederick Flood, but could not be found. On the lst o f November, 1785, h e came t o the House, and thus resumed the subject:— “Sir, I wish t o take the earliest opportunity o f speaking a few words t o you, and addressing a few t o the House, upon the situation i n which I left the House last Tuesday. You heard, Sir, and the public heard me, the subject, a s I think, o f a n unwarrantable attack. I rose t o defend myself, I am sure with temper. I am not lightly moved; and I think I should b e lightly moved, indeed, i f I could have been moved b y that. I was, however, interrupted,
