The Legislation Of Grattan's Parliament

Above : Portrait Of George III, King At That Time

During the first years of the Independent Parliament many useful legislative reforms, some of which had been long desired in vain, were effected. The Irish judges were no longer to hold their offices merely during the King’s pleasure, as they had done since Henry VI’s Act (1495), but ” during good behaviour.” Like the English judges, they could now only be removed by a petition from both Houses of Parliament. The Perpetual Mutiny Bill was changed to one which required renewal every two years. During the last decade of the century two important Acts dealing with finance were passed. By one (1793) the Crown was interdicted from meddling with the Irish revenue, as it had done in 1753, and this was entrusted to the care of Commissioners. By the other, a fixed income or Civil List, amounting to £145,000 a year, was assigned to the King, instead of the various duties which he had hitherto received.

Above : Another Picture Of Henry Grattan

It was now pretty evident that the resolutions in their original form had no chance of passing, and that, if the Prime Minister offered them unaltered to the Parliament, nothing but defeat could result. For a defeat, to be followed by a dissolution, Pitt had no desire. He, therefore, to a considerable extent gave way, and the trade proposals which he laid before the Commons on May 12th (1785) were, in several important respects, different from which those to which, some months previously, the Irish House had agreed alteration, not only all the present navigation laws of England, but all those which should pass in the future. However keenly the disadvantages of the first two suggested amendments were felt in Ireland, the full force of the indignation of the Irish Parliament was reserved for the third which was, the members declared, an audacious attempt to deprive i them of a great part of their newly won independence.

Above : Statue Of William Pitt