ess was voted to the king,
on the motion of Mr. Flood, in the name of the delegates of all the
volunteers of Ireland, expressive of their loyalty and duty; claiming
the merits of their past exertions, and imploring his majesty,
that their humble wish to have certain manifest perversions of
the parliamentary representation of that kingdom remedied by the
legislature, in some reasonable degree, might not be attributed to any
spirit of innovation, but to a sober and laudable desire to uphold the
constitution, to confirm the satisfaction of their fellow-subjects, and
to perpetuate the union of both kingdoms. On the 13th of March, in the
following year, Mr. Flood renewed his motion for parliamentary reform,
which was again rejected; and then the object was relinquished in
despair.

The people of Ireland, however, were not yet quiet. They had many
grievances which required redress; and it can form no matter of wonder
that they lifted up the voice of complaint. Their next call was for
protecting duties, to foster the infant manufactures of that country,
and to compel the inhabitants to consume the produce of native ingenuity
and industry. This subject was brought before the Irish house of commons
on the 31st of March, by Mr. Gardiner, who implored the house to copy
the conduct of England, France, and other countries in this respect; and
moved for a high duty on woollens imported into the kingdom. This motion
was rejected by a large majority; and the disappointment of the people
was now kindled into rage. So critical was the state of Dublin at this
period, that it was deemed necessary to countermand the embarkation
of several regiments destined for the East Indies, and to furnish the
garrison in that city with an extraordinary supply of powder and ball.
Before the session was closed, the people were somewhat appeased by
an address which was voted to the king, and which represented the
distressed state of the kingdom, and prayed for the establishment of a
more advantageous system of commerce between Ireland and Great Britain;
but there were still restless spirits in that unhappy country, and these
sought again to disturb the public mind. On the 7th of June, a meeting
of the aggregate body of the citizens of Dublin was convened by the
sheriffs, and in which resolutions were passed declaratory of the
right of the people of Ireland to a frequent election and an equal
representation. In an address to the people of Ireland, this meet