GRATTAN. 271 viceroy hoped to increase it by allowing an interval of some weeks to pass, before he sent to either house a copy of the resolutions of the parliament of Great Britain. On the 15th of February following, the question of the Union was again brought forward, which Mr. Grattan opposed with great energy, and concluded his speech with the following brilliant peroration:— “But if this monster of political innovation is to prove more than the chimera of a mad minister rioting in poli tical iniquity-away, with the Castle at your head, to the grave of a Charlemont, the father of the Irish volunteers, and rioting over that sacred dust, exult in your completed task, and enjoy a l l i t s consequent honours. Nor yet will the memory o f those who opposed you wholly die away— the gratitude o f the future men o f Ireland will point t o their tombs and say t o their children, “here lie the bones o f those honest men, who, when a venal and corrupt par liament attacked that constitution which they fought f o r and acquired, exerted every nerve t o maintain, t o defend, and t o secure it.” —This i s a n honour which the king can not confer upon his slaves—it i s a n honour which the crown never gave the king.” The general principles o f the Union having been am ply discussed i n both Houses, i t was moved o n the 14th o f February, i n the Commons, that a general committee should proceed t o the consideration o f the particular terms o f the Union, which night was fixed for the 17th, when a warm debate took place, i n the course o f which the chan cellor o f the exchequer, Mr. Corry, retraced his old ground o f argument, which h e interspersed with much personal acrimony and abuse, directed particularly t o Mr. Grattan, who vindicated himself i n strong language, and retorted upon his opponent the insinuations o f unconstitu tional and treasonable conduct. Mr. Corry replied with redoubled vehemence; and Mr. Grattan rejoined with increased power o f severity. “My guilt o r innocence have little t o d o with the
