f Ireland up to the union presents a series of events
most curiously combined. Its early period, unhappy as it was, prepared
that party of Roman Catholics which, in the struggles terminated by the
English revolution, was opposed as an antagonist force to the Scottish
Presbyterians, and thus assisted in effecting the adjustment of the
English government. When this important function had been discharged,
Ireland had to prepare itself for entering with advantage into the
general incorporation of a united empire; the preceding period of its
history, however beneficial in assisting to adjust the balance of the
English constitution, having been inauspicious to the domestic interests
of the country. Of that preparation it was a necessary condition that
one of the two parties by which it was distracted should suffer a
temporary depression, so entire that the other should not be embarrassed
or obstructed in its efforts to obtain national independence. The
prosperity, however, thus acquired extended its influence even to the
party by whose depression it had been obtained; and the Roman Catholics,
participating in the advantages of Protestants, rose again to a
political importance, in which they were opposed to the ascendancy of
the prevailing party. A short struggle of rebellion, the natural
result of an ungoverned desire of independence among a portion of the
Protestants, aided by the ancient disaffection of the adverse party,
brought the country into a situation in which the minister was able to
consolidate the empire by the union of Ireland." It was hoped that this
great measure would have the effect of conciliating the Irish Catholics;
but experience has proved that they are still dissatisfied with the rule
of England. It is evident, in fact, that ages will elapse before
the Irish consider themselves to be "one and indivisible" with the
English--before they are satisfied with the sway of the house of
Brunswick.

{GEORGE III. 1798--1801}

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was prorogued on the 29th of July. His majesty's speech
expressed peculiar satisfaction at the effecting of an entire union
between England and Ireland, he being persuaded that it would tend to
their mutual interests. There were other less cheerful notes in the
royal speech; for the campaign of this year, which had been commenced
with success, had by a sudden reverse ended in defeat.

CAMPAIGN IN ITALY.

It has been seen that the Russia