ing
proposed the election of five delegates from each county, city, and
considerable town, to meet in Dublin on the 25th of October, in national
congress. Resolutions similar to those passed by this meeting were
agreed to at a general meeting of the freeholders of the county of
Dublin, which was held on the 9th of August; and a petition was also
voted by these freeholders, praying a dissolution of parliament. These
measures met with decided opposition from the government of Ireland. The
20th of September having been fixed upon as the day for electing five
delegates to represent the city of Dublin in national congress; before
that day arrived, Mr. Fitzgibbon, the attorney-general, wrote a letter
to the sheriffs, threatening them with a prosecution if they should
take any part in the election. This menace alarmed the sheriffs, and
prevented their interference; but the delegates were chosen, and a
resolution was passed, declaring the conduct of the attorney-general to
be a violation of Magna Charta. The attorney-general filed informations
against the high-sheriffs of various counties for convening and
presiding at similar meetings; but the national congress met, and passed
several resolutions, importing that the appointment of that assembly,
and the steps that had been taken, were in conformity with the
constitution of Ireland; after which this congress adjourned to the
25th of January. On the same day that the Irish congress met, the second
session of the parliament of Ireland commenced, when Mr. Orde, secretary
to the lord-lieutenant, laid before the house a series of commercial
regulations, which had been digested during the recess into a regular
system. Two plans were formed; one of which was a system of mutual
prohibition, and the other a system of mutual admission. Mr. Orde moved
eleven propositions in conformity to the latter, which were all ratified
by a decisive majority, after much violent discussion.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1785}

Parliament reassembled on the 25th of January. In his speech, the king
alluded to the success which had attended the financial measures of
the last session, as an encouragement for parliament to renew the
consideration of such salutary objects; and he recommended the two
houses to apply their utmost attention to the adjustment of such points
in the commercial intercourse between this country and Ireland, as were
not yet finally arranged. In both houses the addresses wer