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.

In England the altered proposals passed, though not without considerable opposition. In August, when they came before the Irish House of Commons, there was little need for Grattan to exert his eloquence to ensure their rejection. Permission to introduce the Bill which embodied them was granted, after a debate of seventeen hours, by a majority of only nineteen. Since almost half the members were thus shown to be unwilling even to hear the matter discussed, there could be no doubt of the reception which awaited the proposals themselves if they came under consideration. Orde could only accept the situation, and, acting for the Government, drop the Bill. Both sides were indignant. The Irish Parliament regarded itself as the victim of a dishonourable trick. Pitt, on the other hand, considered that he had run considerable risks to secure solid benefits for an ungrateful people, who now scornfully rejected his bounty. Whereas, up to this time, he appears to have been genuinely anxious to bring about a reformation of the Irish Parliament, so as to render beneficial to the country the increased powers which it had acquired, he seems henceforth to have rejoiced at the corruption which would facilitate the plan which he now conceived for its destruction by a legislative union of Ireland with England.