Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/39

Rh But although Moira did not excel as a parliamentary chief, and had possibly no capacity for the business, yet he took considerable interest in certain matters of supreme national importance, and formed strong opinions upon them which he urged with characteristic vigour and self-reliance. The state of Ireland at the end of the last century was a source of endless embarrassment to English statesmanship, and the difficulties of the situation, far from diminishing, became intensified day by day. Government, under the able administration of Pitt, had a distinct policy, but Moira was in independent opposition and felt that this was the moment for him to intervene. He had been trained in the depressing school of the American revolution, and, while as a soldier he did his duty, he could not but observe and meditate over the fatal consequences which followed the ungenerous and weak conduct of those ministers who contributed so much to bring about the disaster.

The state of Ireland seemed to him to be analogous to that of the late colonies which he knew so well, and having a seat in the Irish House of Lords as well as at Westminster, he frequently called attention to the affairs of that country. He urged that grievances