The fol l owin l e ure— the l ast F ather Mur h del i e ed— i f ' g ct p y v r srom his ' own manusc ipt re ised and c rected by himsel f for the T1101: e ssss r , v or ‘ j
FATHER MRPHY’ U S LECTURE
Grattan and the I rish V ol unteersof 1782
MHANI ’ HAL L MNT E L EC C S , O R A ,
MEv Nv. 22 I 87 . n a a o 5 o d y . ,
L A' ES AN' ENTL EMEN — s infa I ll i G , The poet Pope with who e bility I am gl ad to say I am not concerned this evening has “ announced th at the proper study of m ankind isman and the o of w s a at sm p et Browning , hom I hould like to spe k to you o e has a a other time , recorded th t on the e rth there is nothing worth
s a a an are s a a eeing but hum n soul . The nouncements ubst nti lly the
a and are . A a man is a of all s me, they both true gre t the gre test a t and a r a man is a of all e r hly productions, to see g e t the gre test
in ur a can a merely e arthly bl esss gs. O better brother he it is th t m ke
' ’ a a — e is a can f us good . Godhood in hum n sh pe H it th t li t us to
heaven .
a Now a gre at man I h ve this evening to let you see . Not by merely telling you his history and repeating little anecdotes of his
f a a are n e and li e c n my object be ccomplished . They i t resting they are useful too ;but unless they have b een employed asso m any
i a h a of a for al l w ndows through which to c tc vein his n ked soul , the
os of s f fa . I n s high purp es in truction they will be ound to il , thi l at ofiice a a r ter only h ve I employed, in this l tte purpose will I to
asf r al l c night employ them . For this lecture o the le tures which I 5 a s to a a of a a e a f w ddre s the inh bit nts Montre l , I h v prep red mysel ith much labour and sore anxiety asone who knowshe 18 addressing a u a andg oe c a m be c ltiv ted enerous people, wh sultiv tion should see to 4 against the imbecility of pl atitude and whose generosity should a a th of A secure them g inst e imprudence deception . sI myself
’ h n ari whi h .: ee h an . i 1 throu h all t e v ed c s c d stor his, or nd g . light p y, y a ’ a a on Henr a a a a a for own biogr phy, h ve shed y Gr tt n , h ve m n ged my
him a a s of a bettering to get to see , so lso sh ll I to the be t my bility present him to you now . is o a a and m a of a It , sple se you , L dies Gentle en , not the ye r gr ce 1875 a of a 1782 an a , but the ye r gr ce ;not evening tow rds the close
f a ri orouS I an a of a a o g November, but evening tow rds the close geni l a M Ma and are a a of y , we , so ple se you , not in ontre l on the b nks the a far a a ' n the a of St . L wrence, but cross the se s in ubli on b nks the
' m af a a n a a n at an L ifi e . a d y I , ter m ny w nderi gs, g i home, there, ten a a d a a o n . n a and miles w y , my w mount ins, strong stern , g unt grim , gather up their he arts to ponder as they pondered in the d ays of Fia k Mu h MacMorr u h and c acH and m Art o g g , out beyond the stretch those Wexford fields w here l arge limbed m en are toiling
m th a f and quiet , ho ely, but wi dre d ul purpose in their mouths eyes . But on this evening of more th an mnety years agoit is the city itself
are ra a th at I come to see . ; Its streets lite lly p cked with noisy
a o and ma e wha t wa a m sses f. excited people , no tt r in y we w lk, we find
one set a the m asses f all converging in ; direction nd the centre to
all a a a o n of a art which be r is th t m gnificent repr ductio Greci n ,
e t a the P arliame nt House on Coll ge Green . Bu it is not the v st num bers of hurrying men nor yet this extraordin ary enthusi asm th at
a a is : a al l makes ' ublin this evening so rem rk ble . It this the l nd is at a hasa al l a of war o pe ce , but the city bout it the insigni ;her rdin ar a n not a h u a d and and y g rriso is bove three t o s n , yet in her streets within her w alls this evening are at least four times twenty thousand tr00ps trained and prepared for b attle ;she is the c apital of a British prov ince and the do not m arch under the English flag ;her
a n o and f f a people h te the E glish s ldiery , yet they ondly r ternize with the new troops ;her w alls so used to the echoes of English m arti al
a a tow for h music, no longer fling b ck th t de row whic the British
a a sk are r and gren diers h ve been distinguished , but her very ies olling
n f r s olunteers o I i hV . resounding with the strong, ster melody the These f a o a a . Irish soldiers , r cy the soil , keep e sy order in the v st crowds Bound about the Parliament House the crush is dre adful ;but the civilians love the soldiers and the p assage to the House requires no
u r f a s a a a af bayonet p shing nor ho se or y to keep it cle r . C rri ge ter
a a a t a a ls and e c rri ge, e ch wi h its legisl tive occup nt rol by; che r suc 5
s for on of a ceed cheer asmember follows member , this evening gl d ’ f ness Irish generosity makesno distinction between ancient riends
’ a i n a is ? A a and and nc e t foes . But h ark wh t this shout rises loud joyous and mighty asif all the oppressed of earth had found one voice to welcome their Deliverer even the Volunteers forget the f system atic silence of their soldier tr aining ;and the whole heart o l h z r ah entire n ation and the whole strength of anatidii sarmy thunders f a of a a w orth the n me GRATTAN . In comes the c rri ge ith the man r d e of chosen , slowly , p ou ly , sol mnly it moves between lines the
a c a o Volunteers . Its solit ry oc up nt worn with illness, white with t il, bows awkw ardly and abruptly to either side ;the sm all sh arp eyes of him are struggling not to soften the curved strong mouth of him . ' locks teeth and lips in a stern effort to see unmoved ;b ut asthe
a a and a a w his a s c rri ge stops the solit ry occup nt, s inging long rm ,
u a a str ggles hurriedly up the gr nite steps, on through the gr nite cor
e and at a can a is rid rs, the ushers the men rms see th t instinct more
fu a and a f a fa of power l th n will , th t those eyes which never e red the ce man r a a e a e a . ' a now stre ming with overpow ring te rs Ah de r, de r
Ga a f — o al l . r tt n , kindly Irish the Irish our own Inside the House of Commons the scene is even for that brilli ant
d a a a a and perio , p rticul rly m gnificent. Every member in his pl ce
a of a of P a the represent tive roy lty , the courtly cunning Duke ortl nd
a a a of s is on the throne . Round bout the v st Rotund the Common
a e are a and fa of a a Room , the g lleri s thronged with the r nk shion g y and s and ctan of plendid metropolis ; yet, so hushed in expe cy some
a all a a a a a asan t gre t event , , is th t v st ssembl ge th t, eye wi ness ’ describes it— one can he ar the nervous fi dgetsof Portl and s fi ngers and the impatien t shufling of the shoes of H arry Flood . The mo me fa of a m a nt is indeed one big with the te Irel nd . It is now ore th n
a smce a a u d s a two ye rs the Irish P rli ment, n er the intelligible in pir
and a of has a a a tion stern le dership the Volunteers , decl red th t Irel nd was ma a and a a a never de to be province, th t province she sh ll never
a the a a for a a b be ;th t cl im to legisl te her dv nced , y the British
' Parli ament is asillegal as it is impudent ;and th at for her no
a can a a a a e power on e rth m ke l ws to bind her but her own P rli m nt, and own k a a a has her ing . Th t decl r tion been transmitted to the folk at Westminster ;along with it the secret lovers of Westminster have transmitted very al arming reports of these stern men who had ma f u a and a a rched rom D ng nnon ; even now, when the nswer to th t a a n a n J a s decl r tio is bout to be pronou ced by the English Viceroy , me 6
Na er a has a a c a pp T ndy, cert in c nnon with ert in inscriptions about their necksso planted th at if these two or three thousand English
a a for the t of a h an gren diers who yet rem in pro ection Irel nd, ex ibit y
sa ol a e desire to show their c rlet on C lege Green , they sh ll be reli ved
l a 1n - of a l milit ry burthen the shortest military time andpromptig ' of a at a a tude . The Duke Portl nd l st rises . His mess ge is very f brie . In the very first sentence he announces that the Irish have a and a ' o and of rea won the g me, th t the ing , L rds Commons G t : Britain h ave acceded without reserve to the declarationofthe Irish , a a and a a ffi a of P rli ment, h ve cknowledged o ci lly the Independence ’ a Grattan s an Irel nd . And now it is turn . He is now just six d
a of a e b ut a a a a thirty ye rs g ; he looks older by t le st dozen ye rs .
Hisfa isnot an a a a fa a a ce l by y me ns h ndsome ce ;not m de ccording ' an a a a a to y model th t p inters or young l dies h ve ever loved . But it is essenti ally a face of power and of powe r th at looks as if it had a a war a a a and e decl red everl sting g inst kn very injustice . Ther a e l is terribl strength n the intense mouth , terrible pride in the
e dai in the and a intense eyes, terribl g in knotted gr p ling brows, p H and e a e 18 a awf f- for etful nesS ov r the whole vis g e th re th t ul sel g
f n o the a which only comes rom lo g p ndering in d rkness , or long
a a man — and he e w tching with the st rs . As the rises ris s with a painful effort which seems spasmodic — the body of him looks
a and hu w ar and to be sm ll s r nken ;belo the middle height, sp e
and as f n f out hisu f d bony , , li ti g himsel erect, he stretches pli te ’ a fi a and as an a a h nd , the ngers seem sp re knotted e gle s cl w . s a an on c can For the fir t two or three minutes , s ys lo ker , you
a f a a a the u h h rdly keep rom l ughing, so wkw rd is fig re , so uncout ’ is a a a the gesture, but gr du lly the m n s voice is left alone with soul ;and you are smitten hrain with such a strength of speech asnever sin f a a a rom Mir be u , or been he rd n the es. The out through s as a a aft a a wa and trong Sp rt n sh s , th t l ys hit , when they hit destroy a t a 1n m and at At l s he sits down , sh ken terribly every li b , once
f all a a a of a there ar1ses rom th t vast audience such r pture pp a l l l] af and a a ste ls even the crowds Gr ton street , longthe qu ys,
a a had and ea at la 13 f f m Gr tt n triumphed Ir l n st ree . And so ro I to of ' n ci t on n of 1782 men one end the other ubli y, this ight ,
a a w a e a a sh ke h nds ith one noth r , l ugh , weep, fling their c ps on high , 7 and thunderous shout after thunderousshout proclaims the praises ra a nd s of Henry G tt n a the Irish Volunteer .
man at - a e na And who is this young , old thirty six whom whol
' tio n thus singles out asthe fit object of its most enthusi astic love om a at is Fr his birth to th t high point which we see him , his story
s . b of a a a oon told Born in Du lin City , p rents who r nked mong
ar a and d from A n lo— a the istocr cy , who drew their bloo g Norm n
‘ had a e and earl manhood h sources, he p ss d his boyhood his y wit a ca s o and a was m ny indi tion b th in school college , th t he destined as ss a a a A for a . w gre t things He in truth , e enti lly not ble . great
of a a of fi l sand m a lover books, but still gre ter lover the e d ount ins; there wasin him a str ange admixture of the scholar who lives to
a andof o fe . a a a fi tful le rn , the p et who lives to el R sh , wild, w yw rd , , : a i of a - a and a a with sp ce the d re devil in his ctions , in his m nner f l a of few f a a and u l fl vor eccentricity , he sought riendships, m de m ny,
f n s a he a a of s those rie d he m de , gr ppled to his he rt with hooks teel .
al l m n was a u and all Like e worth knowing he mbitio s , like men f a worth knowing he m ade no secret o his mbition . But he could not
for a at a a aim. time decide, wh t his mbition should precisely Poetry
as a and was w the first thing which he seriously ttempted , poetry the thing for which some of hisbiographers think he wasmost specially a F h are . or fi of all fitted . But t ese writers sc rcely serious , rst , his
t a of a us a few m are poe ic l productions which rem in to speci ens ,
' and J ua below mediocrity , secondly , while ohn St rt Mill s opinion
a as a a a a an rem ins true , prob bly it will ever rem in , th t, n mely ,
a for o and a h for f a a a or tor thinks thers poet t inks himsel , poet Gr tt n
a a f could never be . This Gr tt n himsel very soon discovered . And so find a a a da - a we 'uickly him b ndoning his mel ncholy , his y dre ming, h f of v ersifi cation f o a a of of is oolish fits , his o lish pl gi ry the style Pope and al l the thousand and one peculiarities Which have ever
a a of a a s and been ch r cteristic modern toilers up P rn ssu , he is seeing
c a e a f a - t mumbling spee hes long the str ets, st nding be ore some g te pos
at a as . ak and c n l ai a th he ddresses Mr Spe er, pronoun i g his orm l dies and a and a a gentlemen to the strong o ks, the slim beeches , bout R th
a and a a a has a of fa rnh m R thg r . L ter on he some ide becoming a
a a and a a of a al Protest nt clergym n , ' Protest nt the Protest nts he a swas a a a a of w y ', but m king cqu int nce with the speeches the elder Pitt and k nowing th at in his own country l aw was the fit appren ticeshi for a t at re p legisl tion , we discover him s udying London to p a f for Bar ar r p re himsel the . But the B isfo him only a training 8
‘ a e for a and a ' pl c his selected c lling , his selected c lling is to be an a de i at ‘ or tor . Did he sire distinct on the expense of patriotism he
“ ' w a one as the a a and the a ould h ve g , went gre t Sherid n gre ter Burke, to give his genius to an alien people and ' to raise his voice in ‘alien
a . a a was a of an h lls But Gr tt n m de sterner d homelier stuff. And
' so in 1776 we fi nd him in a position where he can prove his patriot
‘ ism and for ? test his power, member the Borough of Charlemont in the of Irish House Commons in College Green .
’ But the Irish Parli ament of which Grattan became a member had
a sn a h 3 a a na an ce sed long i ce to be nyt ing but P rli ment in me . By ’ act a of and u p ssed in the reign Henry VII . sually called Poyning s
l aw d a Act , no coul origin te in the Irish Lords or the Irish Com
and a . act a f mons ; by nother p ssed in the reign o George I . power wasgiven to the British Parliament to legisl ate for Irel and by Bri
a . a a a l a tish St tutes Then Engl nd pl yed her usu al g me . Every w wasso framed asto ruin her Irish colony and to enrich her English f and a of a Y e a was sum sel , the compl ints orkshir vill ge considered
for cient excuse killing restrictions on Irish tr ade . The result to ’ s a a wa . a a au her Irel nd utter begg ry Irel nd s people bec me p pers,
a s of a and - fish and ports bec me the posse sion se weed shell , in her city
and r a men and a streets, on her count y highw ys , women were w lking ’ for s of f and with no secret the olution li e s problem , but to lie down die.
a s and a m all Now, l die gentlemen , m rk well who this directly a e f h had a ffected . Ever since the tw l t century there been in Irel nd
a and t had two r ces , ever since the six eenth century there been in
a ma a a a a Irel nd two religions . We y c ll them bro dly the n tive C tholics
d a a of E a a t o an the coloni l Protest nts . The policy ngl nd tow rds these w
a had a a a a and a de p rties lw ys been sh ped with the s me design , th t sign wasto plunder Irel and aseffectually and asp ermanen tly as a a a of possible . The C tholic n tives being the origin l proprietors the
a and as n as a soil , were the immedi te prey , lo g the Protest nt Colo h v ff a ists ser ed to e ect their plunder , the Protest nt Colonists were by
a fa of m and the Imperi l rulers highly vored . But in course ti e by a are and a f e soc processes th t known not e sily orgott n , , two result fi l a a a a and curred . In the rst p ce , the n tive C tholics were soci lly
a a as a f a if a politic lly extinguished , so th t , De n Swi t s id , you w nted to find the n ative Irish gentry you would have to seek them ln the n sl uin s f cell ars of the Co al ' uays a d the b o the Liberties . In the
a a 1ncreasin and at second pl ce the Protest nt Colonists g in number, 9
f a to o of al l a taining by force or r ud the pr prietorship the l nd , they
as n as a a E l a became a power which lo g it rem ined loy l to ng nd,
a C s c if could keep the C tholic elt in subjection , but whi h it desired ’ to relinquish the beauty of Engl and s embraces might m ake the
a e a n was English footing in I rel nd very ins cure . But Engl nd the
’ the Engl and of all history Then and always w asavarice her pre
a and for a ain resent. she dominent p ssion , some miser ble g in the/ p f wasready to rel ifiq uish her best riendships fi the future . Her
‘ c s s American Colonies whi h might still be her mo t splendid province ,
l and a and of she higg ed with che ted , robbed , till these stern children hers in New Engl and, finding out at last th at her love of them
a a fr m and me ant love of their inherit nce , flung her ngrily o their home
u a a R f raised p th t Gre t epublic which , though imper ect it be, still
l a s a a and a . The sa m lives for a l tyr nnie , w rning doom very e policy
an E a a nd a of selfishness wasfollowed in Irel d . ngl nd robbed che ted
as and a s in her Irish Colonists , she robbed che ted her coloni ts New
a l a was a ra a a was Engl nd . And n both c ses there this gg v tion th t it her own children who had followed her own te achings and worked
t a t of her own work that she urned to plunder . The C tholic Cel s
a had o a t Irel and h d long since nothing to l se , but the Protest n Eng lish who colonized Ireland had much of which they wished to retain
and a a as of affi ni of re possession ; these l tter, reg rdless ever ties i ion and afli nities of a E a now . l g r ce , ngl n d turned to destroy But ’ a so a a asin Americ in Irel nd , Engl nd s policy met with opposition . In
a a a of r e the Irish P rli ment , bout the close the eighteenth centu y , th re
a fa as was ir minority who did not intend , English Colonists they
a . n r were , being robbed without resist nce And to this mi o ity which
ma a - a a an we y c ll the Anglo Irish p rty , Henry Gr tt entering upon
f a al l and all public li e , g ve his eloquence his soul .
a and a L dies gentlemen I wish to h ve it distinctly understood, th at the party with which Grattan became thus conn ected wasnot
an of a a at all in y true sense the terms, Irish or N tion l . T hus did
a a asa o ul ati t f the c se stand . In Irel nd there w p po on a th at time o a f O f ea a n . bout our millions . these n rly millio were English Colon
a ists a . i h , more th n three millions were Irish Celts The Engl s Col onists al l a in n m were Protest nts, the Irish Celts, three millions u ber a a a man Were C tholics lmost to . But these three million Celtic
a al l Pa a C tholics were in senses outside the le . They were soci lly and a and politic lly religiously proscribed , they were robbed, S tarved and murdered by the most infamous of laws and 10 not a hand did the Gr att an p arty of nearly one million strong lift u p to hel p them until — mark this — until th at p arty beg i n itsel f to be pl unde red and un1il the Imperi al robber from beyon d the channel from plundering its sl aves turned to plunder it d ha a h se r a f s e . t o chil r n As we s ll see , mong t e P otes nts English
tr tion a ex ac w who formed wh at I call the Anglo Irish p 1ty Grattan
‘ a a fa ma a a Ws gr i nd exec tw o. But the ct re in s cert in th t not
a sm se reserv atmn a amst b r the p trioti but a g rob e y, evoked Revo l ution of 1 82 a En a a ed h d 7 . H d a gl nd only restr ined her gre , she not st retched her h ands to plunder those whom she herself had sent ' nd r t the ena l a ha e o n t to plu e o hers , p l ws would ve nj yed impu i y , the three million C atholic Cel ts would be still presc ribed and the world would h ave w anted that immort al Irish eloq uence which c areless
a a i h w as m cr of a m peo ple c ll p triotic , but wh c si ply the y illion
is m n had un rel a d and Engl h e who pl dered I n , who desired the plunder which they had i mmor ally acqui red they should be per ’ mitted a f n o I f f ha cr a h pe ce ully to e j y , rom t t y the C t ol e Celt eyentu all a benefi t ma a P r b u t a y derived , he y th nk ovidence, t king l ’ the m in bulk he need not th ank the men of 82.
At the time when Gr a tt an joined the Angl o- Irish p arty there was I a a o f aff both at home and abro ad h pp y c njuncture o ai rs . The Americ an Colonies had just asserted their ind ependen ce ;had just ass erted it becau se of the very s ame grievances unde r which the
lo- r s a a e and had s h the t n of Ang I i h p rty l bour d , ju t t rough ut er rui
o n a a h de n n se u r . B u a had C r w llis m de t eir in pe de ce c e In Europe , l nd her a s n e t fu w as the ra u a r h nd i conv nien ly ll . Such d in pon her my for foreign service th at she co uld sc arc e ly S pare a m an for the de f n at m a m n of f e of I r . or e c her beloved rish p ovince ho e In ome t , Irel and p ro viden ti al blessi ng the rumou r arose that theFrench were a o a e a an s e a n of for b ut to tt mpt l ding on Iri h shor s ;in mome t ,
n l a fa imb ecilil the a the t sa o E g nd tuous y Irish , th t is Pro e t nt C lonists
r a d f rm a he d fe ms in I el n , were in o ed th t t y must e nd the elves . To the a m sa fs a h Celtic C tholics, the three illion t rving ser , Frenc inv asion could neithe r then nor at any ti me be particul a1l y al arming ; bht w as so t t a a it not wi h the English Pro est nts on Irish soil . Irel nd wast a and m heir leg lized plunder , their plunder, however they ight
e y the n and t d n it to proper ow ers , they would not ' here hey were
a a n n a d r ha right' h nd over to ewer a d perh ps worse plun ere t n they .
And all a sof a t a to arm so in p rt Irel nd the English Colonis s beg n ,
e an f n a b g to tr ain themselves or war . Without e tering into det ils 11 w me I ma sa ha thenew a of hich do not concern now, y y t t rmy n wasf ofiicered and a a ffi s A glo Irish ullyequipped , tr ined , th t its o cer ' we a of e a of f a a a s at re m ny them vet r ns oreign w rs , th t C tholic were
fi at al l a t f e a s, rst utterly, times lmost u terly excluded rom th ir r nk ro th at nevertheless a kindlyfeeling b agan to exist between the p s and a n and a the a 1779 cribed Celts the rmed A glo Irish , th t by ye r ' there wasin Ireland an Anglo - Irish army be aring the re all y erron ousbut still re ally ominous title of the Irish Volunteers . ’ was s a fe af a a 8 P ar Now , it ju t w months ter Gr tt n entry into liament a a as a , th t the volunteers beg n to enroll . To him , to m ny
h was at a a w a a a n a t h ot ers , it once pp rent h t, in b l nci g ccoun s wit a Enlahd a was . g , splendid weight here to fling into the Irish sc le ’ ’ ’ t Engl and s dlffi cul ty says O Connel l 1sIrel and s opportuni y . The principle in that s aying waswell k nown to Gr attan and to those h r w om by courtesy we c all the p atriots of his time . The Voluntee s
’ ’ a d m was all Grattan S were encour ge , their enroll ents urged with n a t was k and streii thene u equ lled energy, heir spirit quic ened g ’ w all a a a a E a a a ith Gr tt n s unequ lled ze l . The nglish P rli ment beg n
' to a a a m be a to throw s ac n the wa an a t ke l r , g n ob t les i y, beg to pl y f the favorite En glish g aine of sewing dissensions in the c amp o their fees But re ad a 11] the and the . the fi h t ken ;t aken dry wood not i n grt en ;and no power on eaxth could stop the conflagrat o . The Grattafi Volunteers were at l ength re ady for action and for use . l u m The s t wasto a of n m n sed the . fir t s ep rid the l nd E glish o opo
st and to remhv e the r t n n t a a was li s es tric io s o Irish r de . Th t quickly
80 000 e and and efor war one . When men train d equi pped resolut mar h a on w a m a o a f hearin ab t c ed l g , ith cert in et li or tors in ront g ou th ei r ne cks the text— F ree Tra de or else— some of our oratory ff e that 1sa kind of spe ech very easy to un de rstand and very e ectiv iii e t a fa ab e a was a . lici ing vor l reply . Free Tr de gr nted But
' the tt h the rohb er w a e at his a t ma 7 dis r e g ith revolv r bre s y gcg his u d r he i shot the s a b and w en the is pl n e , le s ro ber still , h revolver ag ain put by he may be disposed to betake himsel f to his old pur siiits. a of I t el and has l aw and The tr de been ruined by English , th s l aw s d f shad the a of ough Engli h , in ore i ficultie , removed c use
et n l aw the ffi t a a ' ruin , y E glish , di cul ies over , might repl ce the c us
Of the 1uiri m sh e sa n for a had e once ore. Engli l gi l tio Irel nd be n a tr t and E a a to Irel nd s des uc ion , while ngl nd ret ined the power
sa for a d t a e m h legi l te Irel n , h t pow r ig t commence its destructive
1k a a ha o miis e e wo . t g in T t p wer n xt go . And so the stern loquence 1~ 1 ? of the a wasa a and a was Volunteer c nnon g in employed, Engl nd offered a sel ection between such eloquence and the free admission of a c was a a Irish legisl tive independen e . It sore dilemm e a s a a af for our Imp ri l ister . Neither horn was a p rticul rly s e i a and and h s tu tion , neither horn did she desire to choose ; so wit an a i a a a . B ut imperi l humility , n her most unusu l , she sked del y shehad a man al who was a roviden now to de with , blessed with p a at all a s ti l imp ience . To deprecation on the p art of English st te
al l a a of his a f s men , to remonstr nce on the p rt own we ker riend , ’ rattan s was i n in G no t me no time. O sole reply , And so , this even g of 1782 him a af a when we first see , just two ye rs ter the gre t con vention at a has a a Dung nnon , it been dmitted by our Imperi l sister , tha sand ' ha ma t only the Irish Commons , Lord ing ve power to ke a for a and m a e the a l ws Irel nd ; the Irish , e ning th reby Protest nt
n of a a two a and a of Colo ists Irel nd, h ve in ye rs , by the stern ction
a a for r a and f t rmed men , chieved I el nd complete per ec a Legisl tive Independence .
a and m are a d Now, l dies gentle en , we rrived on groun where,
for and a a n e a . both you me , c utious w lki g is extremely nec ss ry The fa a of a a and of constitu ct is this , the ch nge P rli ment the existing tion waseffected in Irel and by a body of armed men men acing h a ti and a t a l a of p ysic l revolu on , the re l , hough not the nomin l , e der ' ha a wasH nr a a ut of a fa s t t rmed body e y Gr tt n . O th t ct two que
n a . And t u if s a tio s rise hese q estions, we wi h to underst nd ’ Grattan s mu a a and a . position , we st ex mine c utiously in some det il
ti h a The first ques on is one w ich , in our times , is r rely considered , ’ ttan s a : the but which in Gra time wasw armly deb ted . It is this Volunteers had permission to enrol only for the defence of Ireland against the enemies of the English Crown ;it waswith th at express stipul ation th at their enrolment wasallo wed to proceed ;it w aswith the express understandi n g th at only ag ainst foreign invasion would the Volunteers be employed th at their organization by Gr att an was at all a a an t e s nctioned . But no sooner were they re dy th hey wer used against Engl and herself ; were used to force from Engl and a a not v and the man s m wh t Engl nd did wish to gi e , who so u ed the was a a A was a a Henry Gr tt n . question then is, not Gr tt n then guilty of political trickery and n ation al deception ? At first bush ' m the sole answer possible would seem to be an answer in the afiir
— — a . a for a tive And yet m rk this, it is very import nt every Irish man who hasever written or spoken about it hasgiven a negative 13
Gra an was not of a and a has reply . tt guilty politic l trickery, th t f l l a and of al l of and been the answer of men o a cl sses creeds, priests
of a of a and of of who politici ns, b rristers bishops , judges knew the l aw and of k , religious ministers who ought to now the Prophets a a a are o ut a a an a al l . a B still g inst such nswer ppe r nces str ng Wh t ,
f a a h s a a a a a ? and al l there ore , is s id to cle r t e e ppe r nces w y By one Grattan is defended on the cle ar ground th at what he enrolled the Volunteers to t ake wasonly wh at wasthe clear right of Ireland ;
a a e ce a d was th t insisting upon her legisl tive independ n , Irel n simply
a a a c as insisting upon her own . Th t nswer I must c ept being the
a 1 a nswer of better men and better C atholics th n I . It 3 the answer
of no less a man th an Father Burke . a for accbm lishment f B ut observe th at answer . It is th t the p o ’ her Legislative Indepe ndence in 82Ireland had a right to use force
of a But a a was n 1782 1875 rms . th t wh t right i , is wrong in , is not
f- f a n of ff th sel evident . There is o course poi t di erence between e U has c a and a an periods . The nion sin e been p ssed p ssed by Irish
a a th of U has a e P rli ment . But e Act nion been by the bl st E nglish
not bindin and a of u legists pronounced g, the re soning Lord Pl nkett, th at the Irish Parliament had no power to vote away a Constit ution
a a a a a over which the people g ve th t P rli ment no bsolute control , will to f h a a . f t e and most men ppe r conclusive There ore, ollowing highest m s a t t a the m of ost re pected u hority , we find h t Volunteer move ent ’ f a 82w asnot a crimin al movement . The in erence ls pp arently na
a and f a a a a m tur l , is o ten m de , th t simil r move ent would not be a m 18 5 crimin l 7 .
a and a a n a . o l a Now, l dies gentlemen , th t l st conclusi , n mely, the w
f of a h a u n a no t. an ulness p ysic l revol tion i Irel nd now , pries d no
man a d a can a n a who underst n s C tholic theology m i t in . F ather
a of all has a a a a of f n Burke, le st , m de no ppe r nce de e ding it . He has011 a a and a the contr ry given it his cle rest strongest dis pproval .
f a ou There must , there ore , be some principle which neutr lizes r pre y iousreasoni ng and which proves th at a man m ay hold the lawful ’ f of m in 82 and a ulness the Volunteer ovement , yet hold th t a s a m m in a fu u imil r ove ent our times would not be l w l . S ch a pri nci
can he f n . f of G a a am ple , I think, ou d And it , in de ence r tt n , I con
e hisown fa was c rned to supply here . To ce he once c alled an nu
eac d a and a a in a imp he tr itor, m ny still spe k his pr ise , who yet hold
r a u a e m a him a a t p inciples th t sho ld m k the c ll tr i or still . I am bound to show that treason wasnot a crime that co uld be written ’ a a s Grattan s am . s w it h swa g in t n e And I ho in t i y. l 4
of all . a a a a of First , when Gr tt n bec me member the Irish Parli a
n an l a ob of al l i h . had e me t , Irel d yr bed her r g ts Her property b en and sohad a e . v w stolen , her legisl tive independ nce There ne er asa man more surely despoiled by ' ick Turpi n or
a . had Irel nd been by the sister isle More, things of which she h ad been plundered
ad r a he r . r ne a ly de Mo e, to reg in lost
a for her au was af a rea w cli of l a . single y, pl derer s e bove the w Like ’ he Wexfcrd of 98 had fi for f a t o and people she to ght sel preserv ti n , Father Burke hasdeclared that not only were those Wexford men
l a if a k guiltless n their course, but th t he , F ther Bur e , were in the as a e a a of sam e condition F ther Murphy , the gr t pre cher the Dorrit
icans a a a of S helmaliers would h ve become the gre t pikem n the .
a a u a a Wh t justified F ther M rphy justified Henry Gr tt n . In a a has a and to e f civilized l nd, which its l ws its executive n orce them ,
a man a at x of a must ordin rily , though the e pense much imp tience , ‘ recover his stolen property by legal means ;but when there 18 no
a and are a t a a l w no executive , men thrown b ck into h t simpler st te where accounts are settled by processes readier and more intelligible th an any known to political legislation ;what there is no l aw to
c an for m a I S l a ensure them they ensure the selves , wh t there no w to
m can a a of a o restore to the they t ke with those first gents restor ti n , ’ r a a a tan st as s . Gr t w ,their own t ong rms But th t, in ime , precisely a a had was a . her the c se with Irel nd Engl nd robbed , robbing ,
d a was a f da - da a ha . r Engl nd st rved , st rving her, rom y to y The e a of law a w a and if wasno ch nce th t ould prevent eventu l murder, there were a ch ance Ireland wastoo nigh to de ath to be able to afford a as t a for . w a . ow it legisl tion Her proper course , her only course , pl in f a a It w asthe course ollo wed hy Henry Gratt n . And it w sto gather
a and sa in a of her children round bout her to y, not the n me the God
f a a of of J o b ttles, but in the n me the God ustice, up with the
Volunteers. and all a is L adies Gentlemen , I hope you know by this time wh t
ou all that I my reading of I rish History . I hope y kn ow succumb to a w a a no man in love for Irel nd. But I hope you kno th t stronger th n
a 18 m v for . n 1872 a e Irel nd ylo e truth Now, si ce the st t
hasvastly changed . The c auses which j ustified the a ra a r a ri V ol unteers exist in any gg v ting state no more . I el nd is ot
a a hm are a has st rved nor st rving, Iris en not proscribed ;Engl nd ' fllm when it 18 a f m shown herself pot unw g to give redress pplied or 15
fa and a and m of all a kn ir leg l guise ; ost Irishmen in Irel nd , who ow
' he affa s han New York are t ir own ir much better Irishmen in , willing
' to a a accounts b a of a f a b l nce y the pl in processes pe ce ul legisl tion . ' a a a t a a Circumst nces h ve ch nged . Wi h them h ve ch nged the obliga
a a a a tions of Irel nd . Revolution by physic l me ns would be in Irel nd
at da o ha al l a f it the present y, not nly w t we know to be , olly, but a f of a f would be olly which on no principle mor lity could be de ended.
1s of n men of a It the doctrine only very you g , or men whose gr y a f a hairs hide perenni al youth . It is doctrine which is in itsel ttrae
and a hasa n to and t ive which every Irishm n tende cy hold, which
f r a every I rishm an must be only gently chided o holding . As priest
the o n of can sa asan who k nows d ctri es his Church , I y no less; ’ ’ Irishm an who understandshis country s history and his country s
a sa sa . t ch racter I will y no more . And I y so much only to bring op ’ f c of a a Grattan s f a some ration al de en e Henry Gr tt n . de ence is th t
a had a and a in his day Irel nd to select between de th rmed revol ution.
a a f as for the Englishmen will find it h rd to discover _ de ence good ‘ of 9 revolution of 1642or the revolution 168 . But there is yet another principle upon which Grattan may be ’ f a a of 82 de ended, it is principle extremely pl in . The movement was a a f a e h u a f a by the P rli ment itsel decl r d , t o gh t citly , per ectly leg l f fa a as and per ectl y ir . The Volunteers were not tre ted rebels ; they were treated asmen w ho did wh at they had a perfect right to
. h a a a s and r do T eir dem nds were nswered by cle r concession , thei
a of a a was far f a a m nner m king these dem nds so rom being bl med , th t
a To the Volunteers themselves were not even sked to disenroll . say that thereby Engl and herself gave a legal precedent to physical sa a is a ha can a l revolution would be ying wh t d ngerous, but w t sc rce y
be proved to be untrue . With that I have no concern . But the
fa 18 a and fa am a a t ct cert in , with this ct only I eng ged , th t the Bri ish
ar a f a a na f a a of P li ment orm lly s nctioned , y, orm lly endorsed the ction ’ G a a and t a an a a r r tt n the Irish Volun eers . And so on Gr tt sch r cte a there rests no st in .
a d an m a a . a a at L dies Gentle en , I h ve t ken Henry Gr tt n his best ,
at a at f af f or le st , his most success ul period . In his entire ter li e ra he never got beyond the g ndeur of our selected evening of 1782. a a a a . f a fi s ss d e He never g in c me ne r it A ter th t rst ucce indee , h
e a a e at al l . n f l n ver g in succ eded . Well igh orty yearsmore were a alotted and al l t f a had n s to him , in hese orty ye rs he sick e s, sorrow, struggle enough to break a hundred souls, but success and the 16
a of had m I a the r apturous ple sures success he no ore . n his c se of was od usual course Providence reversed . The men whom G destines for high pos ition h ave usually to accept a contract which
a m a a a and s of to hum nity ust ppe r h rd . The best brighte t their
a a f and a and o ye rs they must give up to p in ul plodding l bour , nly
a and are dim and al l the f when their h ir is grey their eyes , resh
’ thu siam of a d w at thirt mi ht en youth is over , do the rew r s hich y g
at s a e a t w . ex l , but hich ixty only s dden , b gin to come The crown f oak of a s f t o or the crown l urel , erves most requen ly only to hide
a a a ' their b ldness . But Henry Gr tt n his triumph wasdecreed him w had and f s of and fa was hen he youth ulne s vigor to enjoy it , ilure postponed to these wiser and we arier years when even success is
fa and a a e a only ilure , when no dis ppointment is seriously he vy, b c use ’ h . Grattan s f 1782 1820 no ope is seriously strong history rom to ,
is of al l to a . , histories, me, the s ddest But it must be, though , a m ha briefly told . And it must be told bec use it much ore t n the history of his triumph isinstru c tive to every man whq in wh atever
f r a w ay hasto work o Irel nd . and of w as t al L adies gentlemen , the Act Independence , it mus ’ e m e an f n a f a O f w ays h reme b red , Act won rom E gl nd s e rs . this the English statesmen of the time did not even attempt con ce al was f an f a of ment . It , there ore, Act, in the r ming which English
d a a and a of st atesmen woul be n tur lly insidious, every cl use which the Irish p atriots should have fenced round with all the cle arness
' a a n . and all the fin lity requisite to shut out subsequent c villi g This ,
a a a . was a it must be s id , Gr tt n did not do He deficient in two qu l ’ ities which O Connell possessed in the highest perfection — practical
a of and a of shrewdness in the det ils business, perpetu l distrust men
was . for a whose interest it to outwit him I , one , c nnot think the less of Grattan th at he had both the large carelessnessof genius and ’ f a and its lofty generosity ;but genius is o ten d ngerous, with more
- s a a a a af a s a . common pl ace q ualiti e Gr tt n would h ve been s er st te m n The Act of Independence w asno sooner p assed th an it was dis
fa a flaw a sa a covered to be de ced by serious . I c nnot y th t they who proclaimed the discovery did so on purely patriotic ground of m s u it nor doesthe conduct Flood , who o t strongly insisted pon
a a fa a show in a light ltogether lov ble . But the ct is th t Flood did of and a r aise an objection against the wording the Act, th t technic f swa : al ly the objection rests upon the best o grounds . In thi y the ’ ' a of s Act of I ndependence wasstrictly but the repe l . the two pecial
18
11.
o in the rain and more than needs I g , ' ' The tight rop e cutsmy wristsb ehind ; I thi k b esidesm f ehead bl eds n , , y or e , ’ F or th e fli at me w hoe er hasa mind y ng , , ’ S av esand so e for m ear smisdeeds t t n s y y .
With Gratt an it w aseven worse . His triumph wasscarcely three
a m a e months old when the popul ce , so very loving but so very ut bl , m s a a of hooted hi through the street . The s rc sms Flood were trans
at the a a of t he and a a the l ed by s v gery slums, Gr tt n
‘ a a of both En l an was ccused by the reeking r bble, selling g d and
’ a for a a Irel nd so m ny promises , or so m ny pounds . The mob, thank God wasnot a o an s was a mob of n , lt gether Iri h mob , it only E glish
‘ a too a men living in Irel nd ;even it, , considering the v st power of ’ was a was Flood s eloquence , not much to bl me ;but the evil aecom ’ l ished Grattan s a a and t as sea m p , soul bec me s lt bi ter the , his ind became w arped and sullen he wr apped himself round in a proud
a a and s a as p ssion te reserve , though he till loved Irel nd no other man had al l of a a s a al ever loved her, he lost th t surp s ing p tience , l ’ a f a a O Connel l ers th t glorious orbe r nce , with which worked his wond , m an can a s without which no perm nently serve the Iri h people , which is the m ain quality we look for in the gre at Irish Leader who hasyet to rise .
The point that severed Flood and Grattan was inde ed soon s and a of m ta . a ettled , except technic lly , no i por nce The Renunci tion Act on which Flood so strongly insisted wasp assed with ease ;Eng l and form ally admitted th at she did not possess and never had pos sessed the right to legislate for Ireland but the gre at Irish Leaders
a n f r and a of l were m de e emies oreve , where s the powers both shou d have bee n united to m ake the Act of I ndependenee certain and ,
of d a a a secure , the dissensions both serve to m ke the Act only me ns
f a a sof a . a a of riveting more e fectu lly the ch in Irel nd For, th t Irel nd should h ave an Independent Parl iament would be a blessing or a curse
far as a a at a m was nu precisely in so the P rli ment, th t ti e , worthy or
a am at a wasalmost as worthy . Now the P rli ent, th t time unworthy ‘ as . was a a few and of it could well be It so elected th t people, these
E e a as a . a a a nglish procliviti s , could p ck it they ple sed A p rli ment ry
f a and a was at a re orm , l rge se rching, just the one thing th could m ke
k of G a a and e a f . Had the wor r tt n his Volunteers , p rm nently use ul
r a s ref rm had e n as p , , I ish p triot only insisted , upon such ; they b e , 19
a fa in m in as e in ste d st . pro ot g Were English stat smen preventing it ' ' t a - - here need h ve been no Ninety eight nor Forty eight, nor any other unhappy blood shedding to sow more thickly the awful f a a d a seeds o h tred n revenge . But the Volunteers were disb nded and died aw ay ;the Irish leaders squ abbled and swore and fought ’ ’ duels in Bully s Acre while English st atesmen were quietly and
l a n a a of a l a coo y we vi g net round Irel nd ;Irish members , P r i ment were bought and bargained for day by day ;Grattan sulked and a a a a a a went into solitude Curr n , whose gre t he rt lw ys h ted
of an a the society littleness , shunned ssembly whose members ’ had alre ady in their pockets the price of their country s blood and Castlere agh might work his work in safety and
as w . a a a the union secure At the l st moment , indeed , Gr tt n
' made a gig antic eflort ;appe ared suddenly in that old house on College Green ;thundered forth these iron words th at thrilled like the clash of spe ars b ut the good moment had been allowed to pass ; , ’ Grattan s v ha f of even eloquence , e en t t uni orm the Volunteers which
a was sn and in 1800 a he wore th t evening useles ow , Henry Gr tton ’ f f a and a of man of 82 stood, himsel rom p in sorrow but ghost the ’ s a a he stood over his country s corp e, to w il out bove her the long pent agonies now culmin ating in the de ath caoine of despair with only this thing to say but this a thing that rings in our hearts for ’ e r a at a had fa fu f e and ve , th t he le st been ith l to his country s re dom ’ Wl fa f i f ou d be ith ul even in h scountry s all . f a 1800 i a 1820 f of a an And rom th t t ll his de th in , the li e Gr tt ’ e a a f had a a a a a . b c me wh t his country s li e become lre dy, lmost bl nk
The a a had was Irish P rli ment , where he been so potent , no more, and in a a was f n a , the English P rli ment, though his voice o te he rd ,
as wa s his power w next to nothing. Still he strue to the old color
and a . O f a a a the old c use one thing especi lly C tholics c nnot , with
a a f out the gr vest ingr titude , ever become unmind ul . From the beginning to the end of his political career he wasnot only the fast f but a a a of a a a and riend the unwe ring dvoc te C tholic Em ncip tion , f never did his wondrous words strike more power ully , or cut more k a w a a s a a re eenly , th n hen he ss iled the e ignor nt bigots who with ligion of yesterd ay and a faith about which no two of them could
an a a a and a fa and come to greement, c lled idol try bl sphemy the ith the religion which had been ll ved for and died for by al l the best and i ea s and m sof br ghtest, the noblest h rt the most lu inous soul a n 1500. r i e . sseal of a e for a a , t y ng y ars Thi Gr tt n C tholic Em ncip tio , 26 wasnomere incidental impul se dictated by passing whim or passing
‘ interest : it wasa continued qu ality of ‘ his life from its commence
ad o en ment to its end . He h it too and gave it fearless expressi n wh
of a a e far e n . to be rid it, or to conce l it, would h v been more exp die t 1780 at a m of sa In , eeting the Volunteers , the me meeting which
ff for e of struck the first e ective blow Irish Ind pendence , one the two
a a o and a fi resolutions which Gr tt n prop sed , which his m gni cent elo
' uence a a fu wasa of a he q m de p ss success lly , resolution symp thy with t
f of a a a oppressed pro essors the C tholic religion . L ter on , when Irel nd had a a n a own a a her P rli me t, corrupt one , but still her , Gr tt n brough t before it the just c l aims of Catholics ;and though these claim s
u of a a of his a u s c ss were , by the st pid bigotry m jority colle g es, uc e f a was a a and fat en ully resisted , still cry r ised not e sy to quell , ed wh ’ O Connel l a at a a a . echoed by , to comm nd last C tholic Em ncip tion a W a of e a and Still l ter, hen merely member the English L gisl ture,
n a a a man f his no lo ger power in his own l nd , the gre t did not orget
ff and a f to su eringcountrymen ; his l st journey rom ' ublin London , the u t a w as be a wasa a all a jo rney h t to ended by his de th , g inst dvice of f and at a a a his and rams riends tend nts, undert ken to c st vote to
‘ m for os l a his voice once ore those wh e creed he cou d not embr ce, but
a whose religious liberty he held dearer th an his own exist nce . And all ~ thishe did in the face of prejudices which he could not help but ' f e and a a an a a a e to e l , g inst educ tion which it required gig ntic pow r
a b a a a and e ts struggle ;t ught to elieve th t C tholics were idol ters, C l
’ ‘ r a a a the we e predestined sl ves , the m n s instincts were stronger th n ’ man s beliefs ;his first n ature was stronger than his second ;and rising high above the thick ignorance and the thoughtlessteaching of his time he pr ocl aimed the principle that religious persecution is
a and a a a a politic l crime , th t to sh ckle conscience is to sh me hum nity . And thus did he m ake himself the immortel model of al l those who h ave to live with people with whose religious belief they can
' ‘ a a a was f m as a ta h ve no symp thy . The Protest nt o ten te pted , Gr t n was f a a of 200 and of 1800 o ten tempted , to tre t religion millions
a as wasa a and as B a it ye rs though it l rge stupidity , though the y Witne s f a s were a lo tier uthority th an Thom as of Aquin orthe Eagle of Meaux or J ohn Henry Newman ;and because he thinks it stupid ’ to assume God s offi ce of visiting its stupidity with persecution ;but
' a a a me s nr the Protest nt , especi lly the Irish Protest nt, re mber He y
Grettan and z a t ' , he recogni es it is worthier thing obe on the side of
“ that mighty man than to be en the side of the mad and murderers 21
is a . rabbl e of Toronto . Nor the C tholic without his lesson Among s and a the many ch ange which time Providence h ve brought us , they a a n O are f n h ve brought us this, th t we who were o ce ppressed o te
and a a f the times in power , m ny time do we eel impulse coming f f of a a and v surely rom below , to ulfil the precept ret li tion , to isit the sorrows of our fathers upon the sons of the men who shed their blood
a . for a e of a a and mocked their te rs But were it only the s k Gr tt n ,
' w a wil ive wa a to such impulses e Irish C tholics never l g y, in gr titude
a all if - to th at one just we will p rdon the guilty . And to morrow our own go vernment were in our own h ands ;if to- mor row we
had a a a of n C atholics univers l sw y in Irel nd , not one spirit reve ge
Would we allow among us ;not one rack or pitch - cap or picket stake would we employ ;but remembering that the Protestant Grattan
f f al l a a once ought to ree us , we should to our sep r ted brethren give , as can a of f and s only Irish give , the right h nd ellowship , the Prote tant R ace and the Protestant Religion would be asfree among us as a had and l had though Eliz beth never plundered , Cromwel never b d and t a had f utchere , Pro est ntism never plotted to cut out rom the
’ ‘ the a a a world s records C tholic worship nd the Irish n me .
And as a zeal for f a a has by this p sion te religious reedom , Gr tt n i a usall f has an not only le t model to , but unto himsel he won m a a a a i mort l renown . It lone it is th t will perpetu te his memory .
E was and an of the fi loquent indeed he , with eloquence rst order ; but even eloquence of the first order is an unsafe passport to ’ ta and e asGrattan swas immor lity ; when it is mployed , employed , on s s n a a s ubject whose i terest is not perenni l but only p s ing, its music gradually dies away till only echoes of it remain among the ’ far off a and s a mount ins, these echoe only find some solit ry student s
a s a as and h a a n . w a h e r Br ve he , wit th t r re br very whic co quered
f a a a of a n de e t ;but such qu lity br very is no novelty with Irishme , and a man f it, too, like most other good things in , is o ten interred
of its s and a a a a f with the bones po sessor , lw ys slips silently w y rom
i s and of a i . was and the memor e the mouths hum n ty Wise he ,
and and and a good pure ;but wisdom goodness purity , though r re , in a are a f and asAnistites f re lity , in estim ti on plenti ul , is orgotten , ’ Grattan smoral greatness would be most unlikely to immortalize ’ Grattan s a a a a n me . Nor would his gre t rdent p triotism ensure him
e a for a a now p rpetu l renown p triots h ve come to be very common , and amid the vast armies of muscular p atriotic men that rise up eve a to so sa be e s and the as s ry ye r t ck the p ce tw en the pre ent p t, it i 22
’ t as a h a s of a no very e y to c tc glimp e the little m n of 82. But his a of f e the a s ch mpionship religious r edom , in circumst nce by which
was r him . a a i he su rounded , will not let die For such ch mpionsh p in such circumstances hasrarely been seen among the children of
a at a f a a men . It reve ls once lo ty nobleness th t belongs not to
a a of a and al . n tion or time , but to the sons He ven the Immort s ’ And therefore is it th at in Grattan sgrave I see a kind of pro ~ vid n a a a e of e ti l destiny . His dust lies not in Irel nd mong the p ople his love but in Engl and among the people whom his gre at generous a conl d a c as he rt never h te , but whom his fiery eloquence des ribed
of al l . it rich with the robberies the universe Even so ;, is O an al of all better so , nly imperi city , mightiest the world , like
of of a a and mighty London , is worthy the dust Henry Gr tt n only when the fleets of the Th ames become the fleets of the Liffey
of a a a - in And a should the dust Gr tt n be l id Irish soil . so st nding ’ a a of man of 82 in Westminster bove the shes the , I could shed no
a for a a for has a te rs ;not Gr tt n , even to his dust God given glory ;
a a a of for a for and u . none Irel nd , out mong th t ro r London , in thro gh
s di m ai of a a a a the e sles Westminster, I he rd voice procl iming th t Ireland would yet be worthy to give to Henry Grattan his last and fi e a tt st gr ve.