IV. 1666. the fecond, That he would live for the re- CHAP. mainder of his days as good a fubject as any he had, but would never more engage in public employments, was most religiously kept, even after that Revolution, of which he himself had been a primary cause, by the negociation of the prince's match with Queen Mary; we must recognize that true genuine definition of a man of honour, which may be truly explained, by a fcrupulous attachment to profeffions and engagements. In a word, when we confider his probity, his disinterestedness, his contempt of wealth, the genuine beauty of his ftyle, which was as brilliant, as harmonious, and as pure as his life and manners; when we reflect upon the treasures which he has bequeathed by his example and by his works to his country, which no man ever loved better, or efteemed more; we cannot avoid confidering fir William Temple as one of the greatest characters which has appeared upon the political stage; and he may be justly claffed 174 CHAP. with the greatest names of antiquity, and IV. with the moft brilliant characters which 1666. adorn and illuftrate the Grecian or Roman annals. CHAP. V. Summary of the Work.-Periods of affembling the Irish Parliament.-Conferences.—Public Accounts.-Iuing of Writs.-Proxies. -Of the Orders of the House of Lords. -Comparison of the ancient and modern Seffions. V. UPON PON a review of the early transactions CHA P. of the Irish parliament, the irregularity of the periods of their meeting, and the frequent and long intervals in the convention of that affembly, are moft confpicuous. From the fecond to the eleventh, and from the thirteenth to the twenty-feventh and twenty-eighth years of the reign of Elizabeth, parliaments were not convened in Ireland. From thence, to the twelfth and thirteenth years of James the first, and from this last period till the year one thousand fix hundred and thirty-four-five, and from that date CHAP. date till one thousand fix hundred and V. forty, parliaments were not convened: feffions were held till near the king's death in one thoufand fix hundred and forty-eight; but in the interregnum a parliament for the three kingdoms was held during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, of which a lift shall be given in the Appendix. The Irish parliament met after the Reftoration, in one thousand fix hundred and fixty-one, and fat till one thousand fix hundred and fixty-three, with few intervals: they met afterwards in one thousand fix hundred and fixty-five, and were diffolved in the following year, on account of a dispute between the two houfes at a conference. From one thousand fix hundred and fixty-fix a parliament was not held in Ireland till one thousand fix hundred and ninetytwo; it was foon diffolved by lord Sydney, and did not re-affemble till one thousand fix hundred and ninety-five: from thence they V. they were convened twice before one thou- CHAP. fand fix hundred and ninety-eight; but they did not meet for five years till one thoufand seven hundred and three; from hence they have affembled biennially till one thou fand seven hundred and eighty-three, when, in confequence of a resolution of the house of lords *, and of the annual grants of the duties, they have been annually convened fince that period. The Irish parliament was ufually convened in the fummer months in former times; and the long intervals in the feffions must appear very inconvenient and unaccountable. Even fo late as one thousand seven hundred and feventy-nine-eighty they met in * Lords Journals, die Lunæ, 3d Nov. 1783.—— Refolved, That it is the opinion of this house, that in the prefent fituation of this kingdom, it will promote the general utility, and national welfare, contribute to amend, ftrengthen, and preserve the laws, and to give ample and speedy juftice to the subjects of this realm, in his majesty's high court of parliament, if a fefsion of parliament were held every year in this kingdom. VOL. II. October, N |