6th, That in every meeting of such Committee, in the absence of the Grand Master, the senior Member who shall be present, shall act as Chairman of that Meeting; the Seniority to be determined by the Number of the Lodge, to which such Member may belong; and that seven shall be a Quorum.

7th, That the Secretary to the Grand Lodge shall be Secretary to this Committee.

8th, That as the Office of Secretary to the Grand Lodge is attended with great Expence; and requires constant Labour, and Attendance: therefore, it is expedient, that all the Expences incurred in the execution of that Office, shall be defrayed by the Grand Lodge; and that the person, filling it, shall be allowed an adequate Compensation for his Trouble, and Attendance, which shall be paid one Quarter in Advance.

Prayer for opening the Lodge.

Gracious and Almighty God, who in all ages hast shewn thy mighty power in protecting righteous Kings and States, we yield thee hearty Thanks for so miraculously bringing to light, and frustrating the secret and horrible designs of our Chemies, plotted and intended to have been executed against our Gracious King, our happy Constitution, and the true religion established by our Glorious Deliverer, William the Third Prince of Orange.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to continue unto us thine Almighty protection, grant to our pious King, long Life, Health and Prosperity; let thy Providence guard our happy Constitution, and enable us to transmit it to our latest Posterity, unimpaired, and improved by our Holy Religion. Bless, we beseech thee, every Member of the Orange Institution, with Charity, Brotherly Love, and Loyalty: make us truly respecta

ble

4

ble here on Earth, and eternally happy hereafter. These and all other blessings, we beg in the Name, and through the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

OR THIS:

Almighty God, and Heavenly Father, who in all ages has shewed thy Power and Mercy, in graciously and miraculously delivering thy Church, and in protecting righteous and religious Kings and States from the wicked Conspiracies, and malicious Practices of all the Enemies thereof; we yield thee hearty thanks for so wonderfully discovering and confounding the horrible and wicked designs of our Enemies, plotted and intended to have been executed against our most Gracious Sovereign Lord King George, and the whole estates of the realm, for the subversion of Government and established Religion. Be thou, O Lord, still our Mighty Protector, and scatter our Enemies that delight in blood; infatuate and defeat their Councils, abate their Pride, assuage their Malice, and confound their Devices. Strengthen the hands of our Gracious Sovereign, and all that are in authority under him, with judgment and justice, to suppress and punish all such workers of iniquity, as turn Religion into Rebellion, and Faith into Faction, that they may never prevail in the ruin of thy Church amongst us; but that our Gracious Sovereign, and his Realms being preserved in thy true Religion, and by thy merciful goodness, protected in the same, we may all duly serve thee with praise and thanksgiving. And we beseech thee to protect the King, Queen and Royal Family, from all Treasons and Conspiracies; preserve him in thy Faith, Fear, and Love; make his Reign long, prosperous and happy here on Earth, and crown him hereafter with everlasting Glory. Accept also, most Gracious God, our unfeigned Thanks, for filling our Hearts with joy and gladness, by sending thy Servant, the late King William, for the deliverance of these Nations from Tyranny and arbitrary Power.

Let

Let Truth and Justice, devotion and piety, concord and unity, brotherly kindness and charity, with other Christian Virtues, so flourish amongst us, that they may be the stability of our times, and make this our association a praise here on Earth. This we most humbly beg, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Form of Prayer to be used at Closing.

O Almighty God, who art a strong Tower of Defence unto thy Servants, against the face of their Enemies; we yield thee praise and thanks for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were encompassed; We acknowledge thy goodness, that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them, beseeching thee still to continue suck thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A

HISTORY OF IRELAND,

CHAPTER I.

Administration of MARQUIS CORNWALLIS.

1801.

Union Mr.

THIS period of the History of Ireland opens scenes, which let in broad day light upon those Legislative principles of the system, which with some tem- Pitt's mas porizing modifications, that country has been ter piece. governed for centuries. The incorporate union was now accomplished, upon the success of which Mr. Pitt had vauntingly rested his reputation with posterity. The sequel will bring to a fair test, the justness of that Minister's assertion, that

*

* Historical Review, 3 Vol. 888. This was Mr. Pitt's solemn opinion in the debate of the British House of Commons in January 1800 upon Mr. Sheridan's motion for addressing the crown, "not to listen to the counsel of those, who should " advise or promote the measure of Legislative Union at that " crisis, and under the then existing circumstances of the Empire." The severe experiment of 10 years has at length worked off the scales from the eyes of an easily blinded people. They now behold the baleful measure of union in its full deformity.

VOL. I.

1801.

Union proclaimed in

66

upon the accomplishment of that great work depend the internal tranquillity of Ireland, the "general interest of the British Empire, and perhaps, the happiness of a great part of the "habitable world."

The Ministerial victory was solemnly announced Ireland. on the 1st day of January 1801 by a display at

noon of the Imperial united standard on Bedford, Tower in the Castle at Dublin, and by the firing of the guns of the Royal salute battery in Phoenix Park. In like manner was it proclaimed in every fort and garrison throughout Ireland, that the Legislative Union became on that day the operative law of the land. The event was dignified by an extraordinary promotion in the army and a* numer

They also practically feel the force of Mr. Sheridan's reproof of Mr. Under Secretary Cooke's official pamphlet in favor of the union, in which he derided and insulted the Irish nation by assuring them, that they had nothing to hope for from an Irish Parliament: and that however revolting to their first feelings might be the proposal of extinguishing their national Legislature and independence, yet that disaffection would soon sink into acquiescence, and acquiescence soften into content.

It is useful to reflect on past circumstances, which connect the theory and practice of the statesman. On the 31st of Jan. 1800 after Mr. Pitt had delivered a brilliant speech in favor of a complete and entire union, and submitted to the consideration of the House of Commons eight resolutions embracing a general plan of the measure, Mr. Sheridan moved: "That no "measure can have a tendency to improve and perpetuate the

ties of amity and connection now existing between Great "Britain and Ireland, which have not for their basis the manifest, fair and free consent and approbation of the Parliament "of the two countries: and that whoever shall endeavour to

"obtain the appearance of such consent and approbation in

.1.107