A PAGE OF IRISH HISTORY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 16 May 1907, Page 11

A PAGE OF IRISH HISTORY

HOW THE UNION WAS CARRIED

A cable message received last week stated that a measure, called, an Administrative Council Bill for Ireland, bald beam introduced by the Government in the House of Commons. In connection with the proposal to restore a portion at least of that which was filched fiom Ireland over 100 years aigo by bribery of the most glaring kiind, the following extracts from a record of the Irish Parliament of 1775, issued by Messrs. Longman®, Green, and Co., will be of interest, as it throws a striking side-light -on the general" corruption which prevailed in that Assembly. The details are furnished by a secret official document, probably compiled by Sir John Blaqpiere, the Chief Secretary of the period, aridmow in possession of Mr. Vincent Scully, This document has Ween edited by Dr. William Hunt, president of the Royal Historical Society, who has also written an introduction which gives so - much of ■ the history of I"ish politics of the eighteenth qentury as will enable the reader to understand the full significance of Blacjuiere's recocd. The work is rendered complete biy an appendix, mainly foumided on and presenting corresponidence preserved in the Public Record Office, which carries the narrative to the end of 1775, and relates to the troops drawn from Ireland for the war with the American Colonies- and the corrupt means adopted To Secure a Majority at the General Election of 1776. Blaquiere's record itself gives a list of the members of the two Houses, and the Chief Secretary's opinion of them, with no-

tiqes of the favors 1 which, so many mem«bersi 'had received from the Government as inducements to support the Castle by their votes, and of their conduct in Parliament. The House of Commons consisted of 300 members, of wham 155 were reckoned 1 as for the Government, 95 against, and 31 doubtful, with 13 absentees, and six seats viaoant.; The House of Lords consisted of all those peers wiho came to Ireland— B6 in number— but the record states that tihjere were many who seldom or ever atten!d<e|d Parliament. Of the number mentioned 58 were supporters of the Government, nine against, five doubtful, and 14 absentees. It will, therefore, be seen that the Government of Lord Harcourt, who had succeeded the Marquess Townshend as Vicenoy in 1772, bad a substantial majority in both branches of the Legislature, ib'ut, as is shown, it was .by general and systematic corruption that this majority was "secured and' maintained. The House of Commons represented only the Protestant population, for in 11[27, Catholics Had Been Deprived of the Franchise, as in 16(91 they had been excluded from seats in either House. Four-fifths of the people, Dr. Hunt points out, were thus deprived of any representation, nor were the Commons really representative cf the Protestant minority, for, of the 300 members, only 66 sat for counties, and 200 were returned for 100 small to roughs, Some with a mere handful of inhabitants, su.h as the Borough of Tulsk, Oounty Roscommon. Twenty-four owners of boroughs, both peers and commoners, returned 110 members to the House of Commons between them, and in addition thiere were members returned for- boroughs held by the Castle. The following are some interesting sample extracts from the record. Some Curious Transactions. Agar, James, County of Kilkenny, Commissioner of the Customs, a tcustee of the Linen Board, his brother a Bishop, has two boroughs, sold three seats. Ought not to sell, now that he is provided for. Mr. George Dunbar, who is in for his fourth seat, has a pension of £300, obtained fcv Lord Townshend. He is a nephew of Mr. Ellis, has had m a ny small favors from Lord Harcoiurt, particularly two boatmen, three tidewaiters, three supernumerary gaugers, four hearth-money collectors, two distributors of stamps, a supervisor of hearth-money. Allan, Thomas, Borough of Killy'bogs. Purchased his seat, was 1 a Commissioner of the Customs, before reuniting the boards, he was removed and pensioned at £600, formerly taster of wines, for which he received from Mr. Beresford £800. He had several favors from Lord Townshend. My Lord Lieutenant has given to his recommendation two tidewaiters' and one coast officer's employment. Balfour, B. Tqwnly, Borough of Carlingford,. Lord Townshend gave his friend a deanery worth £200. During his Lordship's administration, independent, and with the Government when he wanted a point, and when he had nothing to ask, with Lord Tyrone. To Lord Harcoairt's Administration he had been uniformly steady. His Excellency gave to his nomination the surveyorship of "Queensborough, worth £150, to Mr. Moore, and distributor of stamps for County Louth.j Barry, Barry,- County Cavan, brother to Lord Farnham, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for life, and Lord Farnhami had leave to sell his office of Birmingham Tower, £,7000 in his pocket. This gentleman, on being refused have his son's life included in the Prothonotary 's patent, constantly opposed. Beresford, John, County Walerford, brother to Lord Tyrone, Privy Council Commissioner to the Revenue, £1000 ; taster of wines, to bring his son £1000 more; a living of £700 to his brother, a nd many employments mi the revenue to his friends during Lord Townshendi'S' Administration. He is a man of business • has ibeen very steady in his support. Blakfeney, John, Borough of Attienry.— Lord Townshend obtained leave for him to sell his company which' he had not purchased, and gave him a pension of £200 He now wants an addition of £200 more. Brabiazon, William, County Wicklow, Mr Ponsonbv's connection, brother to Lord Meath. His father lost his pension. Always against. * Croker, John, Borough ~cf Fethard.— Lord Townshend gave has son an ensigncy. He is much connected with Sir Henry Cavendish ; very unsteady in his support • never to be depended on. Howard^ Railph, County WicMow— Priw Councillor — Recommended by Lord Townshend for a peerage Steady to Government ; has a large property. He.and his brother support very handsomely. Kmiox, John, Borough o f Dun^anmon.— Obli«red to support from his employment as Collector of Dublin Excise, worth £700 ; without it not to be trusted He

wants to sell or to have a place of less responsibility and trouble ; will not be brought in by his brother at the genjeral election. Lord Harcourt has given to his recommendation one tidewaiter, one supernumerary gauger, one coast officer. Ma thews, Joseph, Borough of Innisteoge ; returned by William Fownes ; Collector of Kilkenny, "worth £200 a year ; must support from situation ; a shuffling gentleman ; affects ill-health upon critical questions. Steele, Sir Richard, Borough of Mullingar.— A BarO" net and trustee of the Linen Board, by Lord Townshend. The very reverse of Mr. Scott ; ungrateful and unfaithful ; wants a pension of £150 for his soo. House of Lords. Wandiesford— Wanted lo be of the "Privy Council, and out of humor with Lord Townshend, 'because he refused to recommend it, he has since opposed. Louth— Turned out of the Privy Council by Lord Townshend ; wanted to be constable of Birmingham Tower, and upon refusal went into strong opposition^, in whichi he has continued ever since. Morning^on.— Wanted a living for his tutor, and opposed Lord Townshend because he did not give it, Lord Harcourt has gratified him, and be supported last session. He has a borough, for which he returns Mr. T. Fortescue and General Pqmeroy. His Excellency gave to his first servant Ihe inner porter stamp office, £40. Courtown.— Wants preferment in the Church for his brother ; seldom attends ; has no earthly influence in Parliament, and indecently enough-, through some connections hie 1 has in Eiipland, got himself named of the council here without making" any application to Lord Harcourt. Bectivc— His lordship and his friends have hitherto opposed, but as he is now asking favors of the Crown, it is imagined that he means in the next session to support. Bishop of Clogher— Lord Townshend, at his request, offered him the Archbishopric of Dublin, bu£ upon a previous assurance that he would not accept it ; for some years he has had very bad health, a nd attended seldom. Bishop of Limerick— Translated by Lord Townshend fi-om Elphin ; brother-in-law to Mr. Clements ; attends constantly in expectation of a better See. Bishop of Cloyne— Made by Lord Townshend ; a constant attender and a good speaker ; his Excellency has given him for his services last session an expectation! of the See of Cashel. ..