lord chancellor, or judge in either of the three
courts of record or admiralty, or keeper of the privy-seal, secretary
of state, lieutenant or _custos rotulorum_ of counties, or
privy-counsellor, or master in chancery, or a general on the staff, or
sheriff of any county, &c. This bill passed with few dissentient voices,
and though it fell short of complete emancipation, it was supposed to
contain all that the executive government, could, at this time, without
too violent an exertion, effect; upon which account it was received with
gratitude. As a further concession to Ireland, a libel bill, similar to
that of England, was passed; the power of the crown to grant pensions on
the Irish establishment was limited to the sum of L80,000; and certain
descriptions of placemen and pensioners were excluded from the privilege
of sitting in the house of commons. His majesty also declared his
acceptance of a limited sum, fixed at L225,000 for the expenses of his
civil list, in lieu of the hereditary revenues of the crown. Having thus
conciliated opposition, government carried several bills for the safety
of the country. Among these were the alien and traitorous correspondence
bills, analogous to those of England; a bill to prevent arms and
ammunition from being imported, or kept without license; and another
"to prevent the election or appointment of assemblies," purporting to
represent the people or any number of the people, under pretence of
preparing or presenting petitions, &c, to the king or either house of
parliament, for alteration of matters established by law, or redress of
alleged grievances in church or state. As a further measure for securing
the safety of the country, a bill was passed for raising a body of
militia by ballot, to serve the period of four years. This measure,
how-over, gave rise to discontent and outrage. As each person, on whom
the lot fell, was obliged to serve unless he could procure a substitute
or pay a large fine, it was considered a heavy grievance. To alleviate
the burden, subscriptions for raising recruits were adopted, and
insurance offices established to indemnify individuals on the payment
of a stated sum. It was not, however, without great difficulty that
recruits could be raised; the peasantry imagining, that, as was the case
in the American war, if they joined the militia, they should be sent out
of the kingdom. This caused discontents and riots, which cost the lives
of many persons. But apart