Above: The Dawn

So far the popular party in Ireland had been successful all along; and their ideas grew with their success. They had obtained some relief for trade: they now resolved that their parliament, which was bound down by Poynings’ law and by the Sixth of George I, should also be free.

On the 19th of April, 1780, in a magnificent speech, Grattan moved his memorable resolutions:- That the king with the lords and commons of Ireland are the only power on earth competent to enact laws to bind Ireland. That Great Britain and Ireland are inseparably united under one sovereign. The question, however, was not put directly to a division : Flood was in favour of postponement, the parliament adjourned, and consequently the resolution was not entered on the Journals. It was obvious, how- ever, that the sense of the house was on tlie side of Grattan.

The next conflict was on the Mutiny bill. In England the Mutiny bill-the bill to maintain and legislate the army-is not permanent: it is passed from year to year, lest the army might be used by the king or government as an instrument of oppression, the Mutiny bill for Ireland was passed by the Irish parlia- ment; but having been transmitted to England it was returned changed to a perpetual bill. When this was proposed by the government in the Irish parliament, it was most resolutely opposed, and created fearful irritation and excitement all over the country. But the court party carried it in spite of all expostulation.

Meantime the excitement and enthusiasm for home government went on; and the opposition, led by Grattan, gained strength and confidence by the great increase of the volunteers, who, much against the wish of the government, continued to be enrolled in the four provinces, and at last numbered 100,000 men.