They caused it to be industriously circulated through
the nation, that the distresses of Ireland were of a nature hard to be
traced to the true source, that they had been monstrously magnified, and
that, in particular, the official reports from Ireland had given the lie
(that was their phrase) to Lord Rockingham's representations: and
attributing the origin of the Irish proceedings wholly to us, they
asserted that everything done in Parliament upon the subject was with a
view of stirring up rebellion; "that neither the Irish legislature nor
their constituents had signified any dissatisfaction at the relief
obtained in the session preceding the last; that, to convince both of
the impropriety of their _peaceable_ conduct, opposition, by making
demands in the name of Ireland, pointed out what she might extort from
Great Britain; that the facility with which relief was (formerly)
granted, instead of satisfying opposition, was calculated to create new
demands; these demands, as they _interfered_ with the commerce of Great
Britain, were _certain_ of being opposed,--a circumstance which could
not fail to create that desirable confusion which suits the views of the
party; that they (the Irish) had long felt their own misery, _without
knowing well from whence it came_; our worthy patriots, by _pointing out
Great Britain_ as the _cause of Irish distress_, may have some chance of
rousing Irish resentment.
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