that  a  free  choice  could  be  left  to  the  parliament  of
that  country.     He  alfo  contended,  that  Ireland  ought
to  confent  to  a  union,  becaufe  flie  was  incapable  of
defending  herfelf  againft  her  internal  and  external  ene-
mtti,  without  her  powerful  neighbour.     Mr.  Sheridan
infilted  that  the  inference  was  irrefiftiblc.     Was  it  ge-
nerous, he  faid«  to  hold  out  fuch  language  to  Ireland  ?
Would  it  be  proper  to  force  the  people  of  Ireland  to
aflc  why  they  have  not  had  thefe  advantages  yielded  to
them»  on  which,  according  to  the  opinion  of  the  firitifh
minifter^   their  profperity  depends?    With  refpedl  to
what  the  honourable  gen(;leman  had  faid  relative  to
Ireland  not  being  able  to  defend  herfelf,  it  was  well
known  that  her  volunteers  had  defended  Ireland  dur-
ing the  war;  but  he  contended,  that  it  was  a  mod
cruel  taunt,  uttered  in  the  face  of  the  whole  people  of
Ireland  to  fay,  that  while  we  have  40,000  Britiih  troops
in  the  heart  of  their  country,  we  will  awe  them  by
fuch  a  force,  and  reproach  them  with  weaknefs,  not-
withllahding  we  have  had  200,000  of  their  bed  inhabi-;
tants  tofupport  us  in  the  prefent  war;  whilft  100,000
fighting  men  of  their  nation  have  fallen  in  our  battles
in  the  Weft  Indies  and  elfewhere.     What  was  it  but  to
fay,  you  have  afSfted  us,  but  now  you  are  naked,  ig-
norant, and  uncivilized,  if  you  do  not  accept  from  us '
the  benetics  we  offer,  we  will  proceed  to  confer  them
upon  you  by  force.     He  next  took  notice  of  an  argu-
ment which  the  right  honourable  gentleman  had  made
ule  of  in  favour  of  an  union,  viz.  the  profperity  which
Scotland  had  enjoyed  fince' it  had  been  united  with
England.     But,  faid  Mr.  Sheridan,  might  not  Scotland
have  obtained  the  increafe  of  wealth  and  profperity
merely  by   the  dint  of  her  own  induftry?    Beiides^
Scotland  could  not  well  be  compared  with  Ireland.     In
Scotland  the  gentlemen  of  property  were  fond  to  refide
and  encourage  trade,  8cc.  but  in  Ireland  quite  the  re-
verfe.     It  was  alfo  urged,  that  two  independent  legifla-.
