The Life Of Charles Stewart Parnell Vol - I

10 CIIAELES STEWAET PAENELL
and vehemence. On February 17, 1800, we learn from Cornwallis that * Sir John Parnell rose at eleven and went into the details of the measure, on which he commented with severity/ On March 13 he moved that ' an address be presented to his Majesty, to request his Majesty to dissolve the present Parliament and call a new one before the measure of legislative Union should be concluded/
After a fierce debate the motion was defeated at three o'clock in the morning by a majority of 150 to 104.
On May 26 we find Parnell defending Grattan from the imputation of treason cast upon him by Lord Castlereagh. Grattan had said that the Union was a measure of slavery, but that liberty was immortal, and that the nation would yet rise to recover its rights. ' Bebellion, treason/ cried Castlereagh. 'No/ retorted Parnell, 'for we shall recover our rights by constitutional means. The Sovereign himself will yet appeal to the people to vindicate the freedom of which they have been robbed/ But there was no such appeal. The people were not consulted. The Parliament was destroyed by force and fraud. The nation was cheated by intrigue and falsehood. Immediately after the Union Parnell took his seat in the English House of Commons as member for the Queen's County. But he did not long survive the Irish Parliament, dying somewhat suddenly in Clifford Street, London, on December 5,1801. There were few members of the old Irish Parliament more universally esteemed than Sir John Parnell. Frank, upright, honourable, courageous, he won the confidence of friends and the admiration of foes. Moderate in dpinion, firm in resolve, he entered every struggle with deliberation and fought every issue without flinching..