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v 'YIerr' with t=-rance and the t=o-rmation of the Voluntee-rsIn the middle of March, 1778, the Brrtish Government was officially informed by the French ambassador in London of the Franco-American treaties of friendship and commerce. This meant war with France. The British Parliament was informed of this positio·n on March 17, and both Houses immediately passed addresses of loyalty to the king. The Whigs proposed amendments calling for the dismissal of Lord North's ministry on grounds of incompetence , but without success.' The Irish Parliament greeted the news with an outburst of loyalty and showed little of the discontent voiced by the English Whigs. Even before the legislature received official notification, the Commons passed a vote of loyalty to the king which was proposed by a leading Patriot, Denis Daly. When the addresses that corresponded to the English addresses of March 17 were introduced, ·they were 68 v Weli' with t=i'elnce elnd the t=oi'meltion of the Volunteei'S' In the middle of March, 1778, the BrItish Government was officially informed by the French ambassador in London of the Franco-American treaties of friendship and commerce. This meant war with France. The British Parliament was informed of this position on March 17, and both Houses immediately passed addresses of loyalty to the king. The Whigs proposed amendments calling for the dismissal of Lord North's ministry on grounds of incompetence , but without success.! The Irish Parliament greeted the news with an outburst of loyalty and showed little of the discontent voiced by the English Whigs. Even before the legislature received official notification, the Commons passed a vote of loyalty to the king which was proposed by a leading Patriot, Denis Daly. When the addresses that corresponded to the English addresses of March 17 were introduced, they were 68 WAR WITH FRANCE FORMATION OF THE VOLUNTEERS 69 voted for with the same enthusiasm. Grattan and the Duke of Leinster tried to provide a Whig opposition similar to what had been done in the British Parliament, but they were unsuccessful." The Patriots for the most part stood four-square behind the Administration now that France was the enemy. The Protestant Parliament had no intention of toying with disloyalty now that there existed the possibility of a (Catholic) French invasion. Similar protests of loyalty poured in from counties and principal towns." Sir Edward Newenham, a leading Patriot and opponent of the Government, did everything possible to encourage addresses of loyalty, even to the extent of opposing Grattan's attempt to interfere with the Commons ' address.' Nearly all these resolutions were simple declarations of zeal for the Government in the present emergency, references to France and the Bourbons being frequent. In two places-Carrickfergus and King's County -a discordant note was struck by a reference to the restrictions on Irish trade. At the Dublin county meeting an amusingly impudent but ineffective attempt was made, probably by the picturesque radical, Napper Tandy, to pass censure on Lord North's ministry." Owing to the delicacy of their position with respect to the possibility of a French invasion (in the Commons Hussey Burgh and John Scott, the Attorney-General, had expressed confidence in Catholic loyalty), 6 the Catholics were on their mettle. Consequently, they were quick to present an address to the Lo·rd-Lieutenant signed by three hundred of their number, including the six peers-Fingall , Gormanston, Trimblestown, Dillon, Cahir, and Kenmare -and Anthony Dermott, the Secretary of the Catholic Committee. It was a simple statement of loyalty, making no explicit reference to either America or France. 7 The only hostile reference to America in any of the adWAR WITH FRANCE FORMATION OF THE VOLUNTEERS 6g voted for with the same enthusiasm. Grattan and the Duke of Leinster tried to provide a Whig opposition similar to what had been done in the British Parliament, but they were unsuccessful.2 The Patriots for the most part stood four-square behind the Administration now that France was the enemy. The Protestant Parliament had no intention of toying with disloyalty now that there existed the possibility of a (Catholic) French invasion. Similar protests of loyalty poured in from counties and principal towns.3 Sir Edward Newenham, a leading Patriot and opponent of the Government, did everything possible to encourage addresses of loyalty, even to the extent of opposing Grattan's attempt to interfere with the Commons ' address.4 Nearly all these resolutions were simple declarations of zeal for the...

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