then risen, when
there were no other objects in view than those that were then before the
House. In order not to lose him, we were obliged to abandon, bit by bit,
the most considerable part of the original agreement.

In several parts, however, he continued fair and firm. For my own part,
I acted, as I trust I commonly do, with decision. I saw very well that
the things we had got were of no great consideration; but they were,
even in their defects, somewhat leading. I was in hopes that we might
obtain gradually and by parts what we might attempt at once and in the
whole without success,--that one concession would lead to another,--and
that the people of England discovering by a progressive experience that
none of the concessions actually made were followed by the consequences
they had dreaded, their fears from what they were yet to yield would
considerably diminish. But that to which I attached myself the most
particularly was, to fix _the principle_ of a free trade in all the
ports of these islands, as founded in justice, and beneficial to the
whole, but principally to this, the seat of the supreme power. And this
I labored to the utmost of my might, upon general principles,
illustrated by all the commercial detail with which my little inquiries
in life were able to furnish me. I ought to forget such trifling things
as those, with all concerning myself; and possibly I might have
forgotten them, if the Lord Advocate of Scotland had not, in a very
flattering manner, revived them in my memory, in a full House in this
session. He told me that my arguments, such as they were, had made him,
at the period I allude to, change the opinion with which he had come
into the House strongly impressed. I am sure that at the time at least
twenty more told me the same thing. I certainly ought not to take their
style of compliment as a testimony to fact; neither do I. But all this
showed sufficiently, not what they thought of my ability, but what they
saw of my zeal. I could say more in proof of the effects of that zeal,
and of the unceasing industry with which I then acted, both in my
endeavors which were apparent and those that were not so visible. Let it
be remembered that I showed those dispositions while the Parliament of
England was in a capacity to deliberate and in a situation to refuse,
when there was something to be risked here by being suspected of a
partiality to Ireland, when there was an honorable danger attending the
profe