Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/439

 428 CAULFIELD. the volunteers of Dublin co-operating with their venerated commander, escorted Earl Temple to the water-side on his return to England, as a testimonial of their gratitude and respect. Lord Northington, who was appointed under the influence of Mr. Fox, paid the same respect and con- fidence to Lord Charlemont, his predecessors had done; and by him his lordship was called to the privy council; an honour which he accepted on the condition that his friend Mr. Grattan should be called to a seat in the same assembly; an arrangement which shortly afterwards took place. The friends of conciliation and tranquillity were now con- gratulating each other upon the happy termination of all political disputes between the sister countries, when a new and unforeseen theme of contention arose, which, i progress, more seriously threatened the public tranquillity than any topic which had heretofore heated the public mind;-it was the question of parliamentary reform. The fatal issue of the American war had completely chagrined the advocates of that measure; and the galling weight of taxation incurred by that contest, exasperated the people of England quite weary of so hopeless a pursuit, in which the great majority of them had been so ardent in the out- et. The corrupt state of parliamentary representation was now considered as the source of all their calamities and Mr. Pitt, then just of age, and first advancing into public notice, became the avowed champion of parliamen- tary reform in England. The people of Ireland had at least as much reason as those of England to complain of the state of their representation; and the voice of reform in England was immediately re-echoed in Ireland; not simply by assemblies of the people, but by the volunteer army,-issuing indeed from the people, but still a military body, numerous and formidable; and however well inten- tioned that army in general was, there was much reason to apprehend that amongst them some of great popular influence were desirous of carrying matters much beyond the line of modification and improvement. The whole