Above : Painting Of Prime Minister Pitt
It had already been mentioned that, for several years previous to the1798 Insurrection, the project of a legislative union between England and Ireland had been present to the mind of Pitt, and that this was well known to the authorities at Dublin Castle, though carefully concealed from the country at large.
Above : Picture Of James Fitzgerald
From what has been said it will be clear that Ireland, so far from desiring a Union, was, on the whole, very decidedly opposed to it, and that, in order to carry the measure, Pitt would be obliged to make use of every means at his disposal, if not to alter the opinion of the country, at least to gain the votes of those who were supposed to represent it! Efforts were made to influence the public by means of the Press’ Merchants were assured that trade would increase, that English capital would flow into the country. To the Catholics it was suggested that since in a Union Parliament they would be always in a minority, the one great objection to their emancipation would vanish of itself • while Protestants ware reminded that England was their only defence against the Catholic majority, and that, therefore, it would be advisable for them to bind Ireland as closely to her as possible.
Above : Illustrating Picture Of Castlereagh Giving Speech
In January, 1799, the Irish Parliament met The King’s speech asked for a discussion of the question of a Legislative Union. In the Commons there was a long debate, at the end of which the Government motion was carried only by a majority of two. Such a course was, it need entirely opposed to the spirit of the English Constitution, and would never have been tolerated at Westminster.