Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/435

 424 CAULFIELD. this bill, wás ably and explicitly replied to, and the bill was not even suffered to lie on the table. Were the volun- teers of Ireland, therefore, upon every breath of rumour, to agitate their own minds, to forfeit the steadiness of their character, or to desist from proceeding in a measure, to which the nation was bound in honour, and so essentially necessary to the security of their country, as well as Eng- land, by manning the Channel fleet for common defence against the common enemy " This persuasive remon- strance had the desired effect, and all apprehension va- nished. A most respectable meeting was called in Dublin, and Lord Charlemont was requested to take the chair, and, pursuant to the desire of the meeting, wrote to every sheriff in Ireland, strongly recommending to their zealous support this important service; and from all quarters received the most satisfactory assurances of their com- pliance. The act for repealing the statute of George I. having received the royal assent, a correspondence fol- lowed between Lord Charlemont, and the Marquis of Rockingham, and Mr. Burke. The marquis, in, terms of the most cordial esteem, congratulated his lordship on the happy change of circumstances for his country, as did Mr. Burke; and both earnestly recommended the speediest possible completion of the generous and well-timed offer of Ireland, to raise the twenty thousand seamen: acquaint- ing him that Lord Keppel had sent one of the best and most alert ofticers in the navy, Captain M'Bride, to receive the men; which would enable him in three weeks to man fourteen additional ships of the line, for Lord Howe's command, which would enable the British fleet to cope with the enemy, though superior in number of their line of battle ships; and nothing but the friendly efforts of Ireland could rapidly furnish men for the purpose. To this letter Lord Charlemont answered, by expressing his confidence in the success of the measure, in spite of a discontented party, and promising bis own best efforts to promote it. The men were accordingly raised, Lord