Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/387

 LUCAS, $63 flattering, which would give him an opportunity of exert ing his abilities to the greatest advantage, in the service, not only of the city of Dublin, but of his country, he complied with their desire. The election was now no longer a contest between two rival candidates; it became a trial of strength, upon popular principles of civil liberty, between the patriots and government, and kept the Pro testants of Ireland in a flame of civil discord for several years. The press teemed with letters, answers, replies, addresses, appeals, counter appeals, and every engine, that could be employed, to add rancour, sting and fuel to the heats of the contending parties. The speeches of Dr. Lucas to the several corporations, which were bold, nervous, and animated, increased their attachment to him. But a number of addresses to his fellow-citizens, which he wrote and published, tended more effectually to increase his popularity. In these, among other subjects, he con sidered distinctly the several branches of the constitution; pointed out to the electors of Dublin, and to the nation, the privileges of Irishmen, and the various injuries they had sustained by the interference of the British legislature. The firmness and perspicuity of his manner, the popu larity of his subject, and the justice of his arguments, alarmed the Irish government, which had been little used to such opposition. They determined to crush him by the hand of power. For this purpose, certain passages, the most obnoxious to the state, were collected from his publications, and made the foundation of a charge, which was brought against him before parliament. The rights of the Commons, which with particular attention he had laboured to vindicate and ascertain, had been one of the subjects of his free discussion. Instead of protecting him in reward of this service, and of his exertions in behalf of Ireland, the majority of that House listened to the charge, voted him an enemy to his country, and addressed the lord-lieutenant to order him to be prosecuted by his majesty's attorney-general. The hand of power was too prevailing; the favour of the public was not sufficient to