to the delegation of the
Commons of Ireland, each county or large town now returning two members
could send only one to Westminster, except Dublin and Cork, each of
which would return two members. Of the 108 small boroughs, one half
would return members for one Parliament, the other half for the next
Parliament. In the sphere of commerce Ireland would enjoy the same
advantages as Great Britain, the duties between the two islands being
equalized, the linen manufacturers retaining their special privileges.
The Exchequer and National Debt of each island were to continue
separate, the quota paid by Ireland into the Imperial Exchequer being
reserved for future consideration, it being understood that when the
Irish Revenue exceeded its expenses, the excess must be applied to local
purposes, the taxes producing the excess being duly modified.

Apart from the inevitable vagueness as to the proportion of Ireland's
quota, the Declaration was calculated to reassure Irishmen. The
borough-mongers lost only one half of their lucrative patronage. True,
the change bore hard upon the 180 Irish peers, of whom only one in six
would enter the House of Lords at Westminster. But commerce was certain
to thrive now that the British Empire unreservedly threw open its
markets to Irish products; and in the political sphere the Act of Union,
by shattering the Irish pocket-borough system, assigned an influence to
the larger towns such as those of Great Britain did not enjoy until the
time of the Reform Bill. Nothing, it is true, was said to encourage the
Catholics; but in Cooke's semi-official pamphlet they had been led to
hope for justice in the United Parliament.

The following letter of Cooke to Castlereagh (6th January) is
interesting:

We shall have difficult work; but there is no need to despair. I
do not hear of anything formidable from the country. Armagh is
stirred by Lord Charlemont; Louth, I suppose, by the Speaker;
Lord Enniskillen will move Fermanagh; Queen's County will be
against [us]. I hear Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick is [_sic_]
with us. Sir Edward O'Brien in Clare is against and is stirring.
Derry will be quiet, if not favourable. The North is so in
general at present. The sketch of terms thrown out is much
relished. I cannot tell you how our numbers will stand on the
22nd. The Catholics will wait upon the question, and will not
declare till they think they can act with effect.