He is but half a lover of liberty who can rest satisfied with it upon sufferance. Uncertain, precarious, liberty is a degree of slavery. Sir, I have considered as well as I am able what has been urged by various Gentlemen against this measure; and I own, I have not a feeling in common with them. I do not know of what materials they are formed, or in what mold they are cast. To me their supineness and their fortitude seem equally unaccountable. For my part, Sir, I am free to declare, that I am the greatest coward for the publick. National danger, publick calamities, can never be too much apprehended; and that oversolicitude which for one's self would be a weakness, for the State is meritorious.Where does the argument against all that I have urged, terminate and bottom? Why, Sir, in the single word, EXPENCE; and a paltry economy is to overpower the strongest motives that can influence the minds of men. To say that you are at an exorbitant expence, is saying what is extremely true, and what no man can contradict; it is saying in other words, and with more circumlocution,-that you are at war. I do not, I never did contend, that your burthen is not heavy. I did and I do contend only, that it is comparatively light. If you think not, look above or look below you. Compare yourself with Great Britain, or with America, and see what you will gain by the comparison. Look at Great Britain, almost at her last gasp, performing with even the most punctilious delicacy her engagements to her allies. Look into America: there is not a province of yesterday, not a colony of outcasts in America, who have not stood.forward in the common cause. Whatever has been their conduct, they have not had even a part of your inducements. They have nothing that they inherited from their ancestors, nothing which they can transmit to their posterity. Their country is only a resort and an asylum of lawless, profligate, and desperate men.-Great occasions call for great efforts. Is it to be wondered at that under these circumstances you cannot pursue the common round, the beaten and trampled path of parliamentary transactions? Under these circumstances, not to press forward is a crime; and under these calamities, he virtually contributes to that distress, and is a tacit abetter of those miseries, which hang over us, who is inactive in our defence. In this situation, the Crown has done its duty by proposing this measure: we who have the honour to serve the Crown, have done our duty by recommending it. The House will adopt or reject it, as it thinks proper. But, Sir, whatever conduct may be pursued, there is not a gentleman who is for the measure or against it, who wishes more sincerely, there never was a person in my situation who had half so many reasons to wish,-that this country may be prosperous. May it never feel the scourge of war! Long may it be exempt from the calamities it brings with it! Long may it be happy, and long may it shew that it deserves that happiness, by being GRATEFUL *! * From some notices in the margin of this speech, (which appears to be a first rough draft,) it should seem that some parts of it were afterwards altered ; and it is probable, that when it was spoken, many additional topicks were introduced. RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF IRELAND, RESPECTING THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE LORD LIEUTENANT, FEBRUARY 26, 1762. RESOLVED, nemine contradicente, That an Address be presented to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, that he will represent to his Majesty the sense of this House, that the entertainments and appointments of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland are become inadequate to the dignity of that high office, and to the expence with which it is, and ought to be, supported; and that it is the humble desire of this House, that his Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant such |