overed, then many who had voted against government changed their
sentiments, and again supported it. The very men who had voted for the
introduction of the popular bills proposed by Grattan, on the committal
of them gave their votes against them, and they were rejected. Hitherto
the professed principles of the Marquess of Buckingham's government had
been strict economy, but when this struggle terminated every source of
influence was thrown open in order to prevent future opposition to its
measures. This system of corrupt influence was continued after the Earl
of Westmoreland was appointed lord-lieutenant, in 1730, notwithstanding
strenuous opposition had been made to it by the patriotic party. In order
to render their opposition more systematic and strong, this party formed
themselves into a Whig club, similar to that in London, and at their
meeting arranged plans of parliamentary tactics, assigning to each
member his particular post. The declared objects for which this
association was pledged were bills for the limitations of places and
pensions; for excluding certain descriptions of placemen, &c, from
parliament; to disqualify revenue-officers from voting; to repeal the
Dublin Police Bill; and to secure the responsibility of public officers
in regard to payments from the treasury. But the efforts of the
patriotic party were vain. When they banded together for these purposes
they were unable to oppose government effectually, and when a new
election took place in 1791, they rather lost strength than otherwise.
Such was the state of affairs in Ireland when the French revolution took
place. This event was looked upon by the mass of the Irish with strong
sensations of joy. Ever disposed to revolt, they looked upon it as the
harbinger of their own liberty. Meetings were held to celebrate
its anniversary in different places, and also for the discussion of
politics. The chief topics at these meetings were parliamentary reform
and Catholic emancipation, in favour of which strong resolutions were
entered into with a view of intimidating government to concede them. In
Dublin a society was formed, under the title of "United Irishmen," and
which declared itself to be "a union of Irishmen of every religious
persuasion, in order to obtain a complete reform of the legislature,
founded on the principles of civil, political, and religious liberty."
Against this and similar associations government issued a proclamation,
interdicting all s