Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/441

430 CAULFIELD. at Dublin, on the 10th of November following; to conaist of five persons from each county, to be chosen by ballot, to digest a plan of parliamentary reform, and adopt such measures as appeared most likely to effect it. An address to the volunteers of Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, accompanied this resolution. Other resolutions were adopted; and particularly one for extending the elective franchise to the Roman catholics The convention at Dublin at length took place. The government was by no means at ease; but many of the delegates chosen were of a character and description which greatly soothed their fears; and, amongst others, Lord Charlemont and Mr. Brownley, who were chosen for Ar- magh; Mr. Stewart, for Tyrone; and many noblemen and gentlemen of large property and known moderation, chosen by other counties, whose hatred to anarchy had been al- ways manifest. This convention elected Lord Charlemont to their presi- dent's chair; an honour which his lordship accepted, as he had done the delegation for Armagh, solely with a view to co-operate with many other delegates, the friends of order and moderation, to prevent violence. And another motive was to hinder the Bishop of Derry from being called to the chair, for which that prelate, a very eccentric and violent man, was extremely solicitous, and to which he would have been chosen, had Lord Charlemont declined. The delegates adjourned their sittings, for more room, to the rotunda in Rutland square. Their noble president led the way, escorted by a squadron of volunteer cavalry. The assembly was extremely numerous, and in general highly respectable; but, in consequence of a mixtore of some characters too ardent in natural temper and political feelings to be easily controlled by the friends of mode- ration, debates ran high, from day to day; and innume- rable projects of reform poured in upon the committees appointed to receive them, and prepare a specifie plan to be reported to the convention. At length, upon the mo- tion of the Bishop of Derry, Mr. Flood was chosen a