Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/427

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416 CAULFIELD. orator and patriot, Henry Grattan, then a young barrister; but whose talents afterwards shed so much lustre upon his country. Towards the close of the session of parlia- ment in 1778, an address was moved by Mr. Dennis Daly, the object of which was, to open the trade of Ireland but it was negatived. That gentleman and his friends (of whom Lord Charlemont was a principal one) deter- mined to renew it in the next session: and an address was accordingly framed, and moved by Mr. Grattan in answer to the lord-lieutenant's speech from the throne. It stated the necessity and justice of the claims of Ireland; and Mr. Burgh, then prime-serjeant, on the suggestion f Mr. Flood, moved an amendment to the preamble, " that nothing but a free trade could save the country from ruin," and the amendment was carried unanimously. When the house went up with the address to the castle, the Dublin Volunteers, under the command of the Duke of Leinster, lined the streets through which they passed, in grateful approbation, and the house, immediately at the next meeting, voted their unanimous thanks to them. And shortly afterwards they passed a money bill for six months, and no longer. These proceedings excited the attention of the British ministry; and some commercial resolutions in favour of Ireland, were ably introduced by Lord North, in the Bri- tish house of commons. These resolutions re-opened the oollen trade of Ireland, and gave a freedom of commerce with the British colonies, which were received in Ireland with marked demonstrations of public joy and gratitude. Ir. Grattan, some short time afterwards, acting in concert with his noble friend, Lord Charlemont, moved in parliament avour of animated and splendid oration. It was, however, resisted by the court members, and failed. The popular indigna- tion roused by this circumstance, vented itself in angry but justiñableresolutions, and addresses." Parliament did not rise till September 1780, and Lord Buckinghamshire was recalled from the government the Christmas following.