’Tis true indeed, that within the memory of man, the Parliaments of England have sometimes assumed the power of binding this kingdom by laws enacted there,[21] wherein they were at first openly opposed (as far as truth, reason and justice are capable of opposing) by the famous Mr. Molineux,[22] an English gentleman born here, as well as by several of the greatest patriots, and best Whigs in England; but the love and torrent of power prevailed.  Indeed the arguments on both sides were invincible.  For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery:  But in fact, eleven men well armed will certainly subdue one single man in his shirt.  But I have done.  For those who have used power to cramp liberty have gone so far as to resent even the liberty of complaining, although a man upon the rack was never known to be refused the liberty of roaring as loud as he thought fit.

[Footnote 21:  Particularly in the reign of William III., when this doctrine of English supremacy was assumed, in order to discredit the authority of the Irish Parliament summoned by James II. [S.]

See note on Poyning’s Law, p. 77. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 22:  See note on p. 167. [T.S.]]

And as we are apt to sink too much under unreasonable fears, so we are too soon inclined to be raised by groundless hopes (according to the nature of all consumptive bodies like ours) thus, it hath been given about for several days past, that somebody in England empowered a second somebody to write to a third somebody here to assure us, that we “should no more be troubled with those halfpence.”  And this is reported to have been done by the same person, who was said to have sworn some months ago, that he would “ram them down our throats” (though I doubt they would stick in our stomachs) but whichever of these reports is true or false, it is no concern of ours.  For in this point we have nothing to do with English ministers, and I should be sorry it lay in their power to redress this grievance or to enforce it:  For the “Report of the Committee” hath given me a surfeit.  The remedy is wholly in your own hands, and therefore I have digressed a little in order to refresh and continue that spirit so seasonably raised amongst you, and to let you see that by the laws of GOD, of NATURE, of NATIONS, and of your own COUNTRY, you ARE and OUGHT to be as FREE a people as your brethren in England.

If the pamphlets published at London by Wood and his journeymen in defence of his cause, were reprinted here, and that our countrymen could be persuaded to read them, they would convince you of his wicked design more than all I shall ever be able to say.  In short I make him a perfect saint in comparison of what he appears to be from the writings of those whom he hires to justify his project.  But he is so far master of the field (let others guess the reason) that no London printer dare publish any paper written in favour of Ireland, and here nobody hath yet been so bold as to publish anything in favour of him.