"gives great satisfaction here, and probably if there had been any chance of soothing this country into moderation, would have done infinite mischief. It is curious enough, that while he is recommending us to support the authority of England more than we either can, or, I think, ought to do, he should be declaring in the House of Lords that the claims of Ireland must be acceded to."[1] Portland wrote to Shelburne himself in a similar strain. "Your Lordship's speech," he said, "as reported by the newspaper writers, was received with the utmost exultation and joy. For it was considered here as an unequivocal proof not only of the inclinations of the King's Ministers, but of the Parliament on your side, and particularly of the House of Lords, and the conclusion drawn from it amounted almost to a conviction in the minds of people here that you coincide in all their wishes, that you allow them to be founded in justice, and that they must be granted of necessity."[2]
On the 16th the Irish House of Commons met, and Grattan carried an amendment to the address to the effect that Ireland "was a distinct kingdom with a separate Parliament, and that this Parliament alone had a right to pass laws for her." The amended address then went on to recapitulate the various points which England was summoned to yield. The Cabinet were now above all things anxious to obtain some delay, in order to consider the various knotty points of constitutional law which at so short notice they were called upon to determine. "It would give me a bad opinion," Shelburne wrote to Fitzpatrick on the 19th of April, "of Mr. Grattan's head, who am inclined to have a very good one both of his head and heart, if he objects to the adjournment. The only thing I fear of you, is giving way too easily. It is incredible how much is got by arguing and persevering. Tell them that peace may be made in a moment, and it behoves them to make the most of the instant,
