not fall short of 12,000 men.[1] Not satisfied with these declarations and their frequent repetition, they at once proceeded to give practical proofs that they were in earnest.
In the financial position when properly understood, they knew that they would be able to find few or no arguments to support their position. The revenues of Ireland, though not at this moment in a prosperous condition, were rapidly recovering the effect of the war. The deficit of the biennial period ending Lady Day 1767 had been £73,000. The deficit for the period ending Lady Day 1769 had been estimated at the same amount, and a "confidential credit" for a loan of £100,000 obtained to cover it. The revenue, however, recovered so rapidly that the Lord-Lieutenant as the year went on felt himself justified in estimating the deficit at only £39,000. He even ventured to hope for a possible surplus. In any case there was the whole of the loan to fall back upon should any temporary difficulty arise from the preliminary expenses connected with the Army Bill. These facts, however, did not weigh with the Junto.[2]
Immediately on the reassembling of Parliament, Mr. Saxton Pery moved for a Committee to inquire into the application of the money granted for the support of the military establishment since the 3ist of March 1751, and into the present state of the military establishment. The Shannon-Ponsonby party supported and carried the motion.[3] Elated with their victory they proceeded to reopen every dormant question which could be made into a source of annoyance and difficulty. The House of Commons in 1764 had voted a sum for a bridge at St. Kennis. The sum was insufficient, and an application for a supplemental vote was to have been made in 1764. The persons who should have attended to laying this case before the Committee of Supply happened to be absent,
