stantiate his right. Of course, I could offer no
further opposition, and have now only to mention the
circumstance for your information. I have the honor to be,
dear sir, respectfully yours,

"E. Hackett."

"Curious enough, that, Dan!" muttered my father. MacNaghten assented
with a nod, and handed back the letter.

CHAPTER XI. POLITICS AND NEWSPAPERS

The venality and corruption which accomplished the Legislative Union
between England and Ireland admit of as little doubt as of palliation.
There was an epidemic of baseness over the land, and but few escaped the
contagion. To whatever section of party an Irishman may belong, he never
can cease to mourn over the degenerate temper of a time which exhibited
the sad spectacle of a Legislature declaring its own downfall. Nor does
the secret history of the measure offer much ground for consolation.

And yet what a position did the Irish Parliament hold, but eighteen
short years before that event! Never, perhaps, in the whole history of
constitutional government was the stand of a representative body more
boldly maintained, alike against the power and the secret influence of
the Crown; and England, in all the plenitude of her glory and influence,
was forced to declare the necessity of finally adjusting the differences
between the two countries.

The very admission of separate interests seemed a fatal confession,
and might--had a more cautious temper swayed the counsels of the Irish
party--have led to very momentous consequences; but in the enthusiasm
of victory all thought of the spoils was forgotten. It was a moment
of national triumph from which even the coldest could not withhold
his sympathies. The "Dungannon Declaration" became at once the adopted
sentiment of the national party, and it was agreed that Ireland was
bound by no laws save such as her own Lords and Commons enacted.

In the very crisis of this national enthusiasm was it that the Duke
of Portland arrived as Viceroy in Ireland. His secret instructions
counselled him to endeavor to prorogue the Parliament, and thus obtain a
short breathing-time for future action. This policy, in the then temper
of the people, was soon declared impossible. Mr. Grattan had already
announced his intention of proposing a final settlement of the national
differences by a "Bill of Rights," and the country would not brook any
delay as to their expectations.

But one other safe course remained, which was, by a seemin