TO THE MOST NOBLE CHARLES, MARQUIS CORNWALLIS, K. G. &c. &c. &c. MY LORD, IN conformity to your permiffion, I have the ho nour to addrefs this Hiftorical Differtation to your Lordship; defirous of ufhering it into public notice, under the protection of an invaluable cha racter. To whom, indeed, with fo much propriety, could any work relative to Ireland be addreffed, as to the defcendant, and reprefentative in one line, of the most confummate and most popular statesman which that kingdom has produced. Were I difpofed, my Lord, to trefpafs upon that merit which fhuns oftentation, or to extend this dedication; an exact parallel might easily be drawn between the conduct of the first Duke of Ormond, in the government of Ireland, and the adminif tration of the late Governor General of the Eaft Indies. Both, animated by the fame benevolent ambition, both, guided by fimilar principles of wife precaution, and fagacious fuperintendance: but the Viceroy was fatally traverfed by envy, and croffed by court intrigue; while his latter days were embittered by neglect: and he did not fee the fair fruits of his judicious conduct, in the prosperity of Ireland. Neither was he happy, in leaving that country; like the eastern empire, in its present state; generally tranquil, and progreffively profperous: nor was he poffeffed, at one and the fame time, of the just confidence and merited favour of his Sovereign; combined with the general fuffrage of his country, I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's moft obedient Humble fervant, MOUNTMORRES. London, August 1795. CON CONTENTS. Of the Furifdiction of the Irish Parliament---Hiftorical Deduction of the Origin, Progrefs, Sufpenfion, and The Reprefentation of the House of Lords in 1719, to King George the Firft---The Earl of Egmont's Account of that Tranfaction---And his Lordship's Opinion of the Reflections upon the Earl of Egmont's Account of this General Remarks---Of protesting by Proxy, and of the Claims of Vice-roys, to proteft in Ireland---Poynings' Law---Former, and present State of Legislation in Ireland---Numbers of the Peerage in 1717; and its Increafe fince the Peerage Bill, in both Kingdoms---Remarks on that defigned Limitation---And the remarkable Cafe of Mr. Wharton, in 1714, declining a Peerage, after his Title was inferted in the London GaP. 95 zette. CHAP. III. Conclufion---Of the Precedency and Privileges of Peers, in both Kingdoms---The first Examples of Irish, and Scotch Peers, fitting in the House of Commons---Cafe of a British Peer a Commoner of Ireland---Upon the 71ft Order, and the Origin of excluding Catholics from Parliament---Trials of Peers, and of High Treafon in Ireland---Comments upon Mr. Paine's Differtation upon the firft Principles of Government. CHAP. IV. 99 Pedigree of the Marquis Cornwallis, traced from King INTRO |