LUCAS. 385 cool, considerate, and firm conduct in investigating and peaceably following up their rights and interests, was truly to be dreaded by those, who were attempting to invade and thwart them. The failure of this attempt did not abate the patriotic efforts of Dr. Lucas. He presented heads of a bill for securing the freedom of parliament, by ascertaining the qualifications for knights, citizens, and burgesses of par liament; and also of another bill, for better securing the freedom of parliament, by vacating the seats of such members of the House of Commons, as should accept of any lucrative office or employment from the crown, or any person on the establishment of Great Britain or Ireland; neither of which succeeded. In the year 1765, the heads of a bill having been transmitted to England, were returned from thence with the interpolation of a clause, granting a dispensing power to the king in the British council, which was violently, though unsuccessfully, opposed by the few remaining patriots in the Irish House of Commons. On this occasion, Dr. Lucas published an address to his con stituents, in which he gave a succinct history of the progress of the bill. From the frequent defections of the patriots and the consequent reduction of their numbers, it became the policy of the castle, at this time, to throw all possible disrepute on the few who still earnestly espoused that cause. Upon this subject, Dr. Lucas explained him self very pointedly in another address to his constituents: but it would be uncandid to leave the reader in the vulgar prepossession, that, because this eminent and true patriot stood firm to the last hour of his life in the honourable cause of his suffering country, therefore he was unac ceptable either to his sovereign or his vice-regents. The Earl of Hertford had particularly noticed Dr. Lucas when he was in England, and was esteemed by him in return: he boasted also of his kind treatment from the Lords Chesterfield and Harrington, Halifax and Northumber land. He bore affection as well as loyalty to his majesty:- “You know,” said he, “I am no flatterer: you know WOL. 11 . CC
