lion left the two
religious parties at deadly feud; the protestants feared catholic
vengeance, the catholics held the protestant ascendency in deeper hatred
since the rise of Orangeism and the barbarities of '98. The time seemed
ripe for the fulfilment of Pitt's long-cherished hope of union. He
desired to do the catholics justice and intended that the union should
provide for emancipation, a provision for their priesthood, to be
accompanied by an increase of the _regium donum_, the endowment granted
by William III. for the support of the Irish presbyterian ministers, and
the commutation of tithe; and this comprehensive scheme was warmly
approved by Cornwallis. But the principal men of the government party in
Ireland were strongly opposed to the admission of catholics into the
united parliament, and in October, 1798, Clare convinced Pitt that the
proposal would wreck the chances of union. Pitt therefore dissociated
emancipation from union, adopted a scheme of union on a protestant
basis, and left the settlement of the just claims of the catholics,
which was necessary to the successful working of a union, to be effected
later.

[Sidenote: _CATHOLIC SUPPORT._]

The intended union was announced and advocated in a pamphlet by Cooke,
the Irish under-secretary. The protestants generally were hostile to the
scheme, some from feelings of national pride, others from dislike to the
threatened overthrow of the political ascendency of their party.
Catholic support might be gained if there was reason to expect that
union would be followed by emancipation, a provision for the clergy,
which would entail a royal power of veto over episcopal appointments,
and the commutation of tithe. Dublin was strongly against a measure
which would injure its position as a capital; and the lawyers, who would
also lose by it, were formidable opponents. In preparation for the
coming struggle the government informed the catholic bishops that,
though emancipation could not be included in the measure, they were
anxious to make provision for their clergy; a few anti-unionist
officials resigned or were dismissed, and the demands of some of the
government party, who, as usual, clamoured to be rewarded beforehand,
appeared to have been satisfied. The king's speech at the opening of the
Irish parliament on January 22, 1799, though not mentioning union,
recommended some effectual means of strengthening the connexion. The
address was carried in the lords by 52 v