not mind his equipage, or his money, but fquanders the laft, fometimes in donations that would make even the bank of Edinburgh fhrink,—in a thousand pounds British to one red coat, half as much to another, only because he kend them to be ftout lads, that had none of their ain to purchase preferment. But hut awa, the wee fandy box is just run out, and I'll not trefpafs on the rules of the Society; for here, as in another place, while I have the honour to fit, I'll ftand or faw by their privileges."

A member without a fhirt, a large cudgel in his hand, and a long fword by his fide, rofe next, and spoke as follows:

"I HAVE listened to all that has been faid against the Lord Liftenant and government, with the greatest pleasure, because I niver was in company with either of them, and they that are not my acquaintance can't be my friends, and as I am part of the community, in my free debating capacity, they can't be the friends of all Dublin. There is niver, I'm fure, hardly a jentlem in Fleet-ftreet or Chequer-lane, or any of the contageous places, who does not think the prorogation was, and

H 4

is

Thefe, fir, I take it,

is the caufe of all our misfortunes, which we have been fuffering these ten years, for how will potatoes grow, where there is no parliament to encourage agriculture-or how will we get whiskey to keep up our fpirits, when they county of Clare's mimber can't make a motion about it. are serious confiderations, and worthy the attention of fuch a body of gentlemen as we are. But, fir, there is fomething more to be imputed upon the Lord Liftenant, and that is, fir, that he ftays here fpinding his money among us, when fix times lefs would be spent if we had our ould juftices. Sir, I think it is now pretty clear, that the Lord Liftenant and the prorogation, are two of the worst people that ever was in this country. I hope, therefore, we'll conclude with a vote, that they are both our enemies.'

This fpeech was received with great applaufe. The prefident then gave three diftinct knocks. with his hammer, commanded filence, and afked if any person chose to speak to the queftion. Lord Childermount then rofe up, and faid.

"Mr.

"Mr. Prefident,

HOUGH I have long fat in the firft af

TH

fembly of this nation, abforbed in filence, yet-yet-among you, gentlemen, I will attempt to articulate on the prefent deplorable ftate of affairs. First, I would have you to know, that all governments are alike-all tyrannies and corruption. I never could fee any palpable difference between this or that government. A Bafhaw of Turkey, or a Lord Lieutenant, is all alike to me. I always oppose, and will oppofe, because government is a reftraint on free people; therefore it is wrong. Now, seeing it is wrong, I must be right in opposing it-[a loud clap.]—Sir, when I revolve in my mind the revolution—the revolution of empires, "For corn now grows where Troy town ftood."-You may be surprised, gentlemen, I aver it upon my credit, I have been on the spot.-I call on my noble friend the Marquifs of Bolus-rule, who has trod in. thofe claffic regions."

Marquifs of Bolus-rule..

"CALLED upon by my honourable friend,

in the presence of such a respectable body, of my conftituents, whom I used to speak to

I

in the gallery of the parliament-houfe-I will confefs, ingeniously, that I always thought Troy had big walls about it, like Leinster-house; for at fchool, I remember a game I used to play, called, The Walls of Troy. However, I could not travel to that part of Afiatic Africa, as I was fo bufy writing letters, at Turin, to the worthy corporations of this city, who elected me a parliament-man. It has been reported, that all those letters were written in Dublin, by one M'Dermot, a breeches-maker; therefore take this opportunity of clearing up my character, and affuring you all, that it is a malicious ftory: neither the Prince my father, nor myself, are at all acquainted with this McDermot, who obliged us fo much; and you know that's impoffible if he had done it. Now, I hope, Mr. Prefident, you are thoroughly convinced by my Lord Childermount's fpeech and mine, that all the diftrefs of the kingdom is owing to the prorogation.”

Here the prefident exclaimed-Well spokeexcellently spoken, gentlemen-will any flave dare to speak in favour of the Lord Lieutenant, against fuch convincing arguments of a couple of fuch fweet illuftrious noblemen ?On this, Mr. Bg, a merchant, rofe and addressed himself to the president:

"SIR,

HAVE' you, fir, the vanity or folly to fup

pofe, that government would condescend› to take any notice of an affemblage of citizens, who are only met to talk about what they do not understand, and put money in your pocket. Sir, is it the privilege of freemen to prove themselves fools whenever they pleafe, either by their speeches here, or by their writings in the Freeman's Journal ?-For my part, I have no objection. By this means, the noxious. humours of the body politic are difperfed was it for this purpose only, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the prefs, fhould be preferved inviolate. If a jury should prefent you as a nuisance, they would pay you a compliment, and beftow fome importance on you. No judge ever defigned to animadvert on your proceedings. I defy you to prove any fingle point of what you have afferted.

If reafon and truth might influence your refolutions, I could easily convince you, that your complaints are groundless. To To afk whether the national calamities are occafioned by our prefent Chief Governor and his party, is in effect to afk, whether the late bad harvests are to be ascribed to the prorogation. Sir, the H 6 kingdom