It proved, however, to be the parent of a really successful one.  In the same year a volunteer movement sprang into sudden existence.  Belfast had been left empty of troops, and was hourly in fear of a French descent, added to which it was harassed by the dread of a famous pirate of the period, called Paul Jones.  Under these circumstances its citizens resolved to enrol themselves for their own defence.  The idea, once started, flew through the country like wild-fire.  The old fighting spirit sprang to sudden life at the cry to arms.  After three-quarters of a century of torpor all was stir and animation.  In every direction the gentry were enrolling their tenants, the sons of the great houses officering the corps and drilling their own retainers.  Merchants, peers, members of Parliament all vied with one another, and in a few months’ time nearly 60,000 men had been enrolled.

Although a good deal alarmed at the rapidity of this movement, the Government could not very well refuse to let the country arm in its own defence, and 16,000 stand of arms, which had been brought over for the projected militia, were after a while distributed.  The greatest pride was felt in the completeness and perfection of the equipments.  Reviews were held, and, for once, national sentiment and loyalty seemed to have struck hands.

[Illustration:  JAMES CAULFIELD, EARL OF CHARLEMONT, COMMANDER OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS. (From an etching after a picture by Hogarth.)]

Hardly, too, were the volunteers enrolled before it began to be felt what a power was thus conferred upon that party which had so long pleaded in vain for the relief of Ireland from those commercial disabilities under which it still laboured.  Although the whole tone of the volunteers was loyal, and although their principal leader, Lord Charlemont, was a man of the utmost tact and moderation, it was none the less clear that an appeal backed by 60,000 men in arms acquired a weight and momentum which no previous Irish appeal had ever even approached.

In October of the same year Parliament met, and an amendment to the address was moved by Grattan, demanding a right of free export and import.  Then Flood rose in his place, still holding office, and proposed that the more comprehensive words Free Trade should be adopted.  It was at once agreed to and carried unanimously.  Next day the whole House of Commons went in a body to present the address to the Lord-Lieutenant, the volunteers lining the streets and presenting arms as they went by.

The Government were startled.  Lord Buckinghamshire, the Lord-Lieutenant, wrote to England to say that the trade restrictions must be repealed, or he would not answer for the consequences.  Lord North, the Prime Minister, yielded, and a Bill of repeal were brought in, allowing Ireland free export and import to foreign countries and to the English Colonies.  When the news reached Dublin, the utmost delight and excitement prevailed.  Bonfires were lit, houses in Dublin illuminated, the volunteers fired salvoes of rejoicing, and addresses of gratitude were forthwith forwarded to England.