Commercial Propositions

Commercial Propositions, negotiated 1784–5, an attempt to rationalize the laws governing trade between Great Britain and Ireland by reducing or eliminating tariffs. In addition to removing anomalies left by the settlement of 1782, the prime minister, William Pitt, hoped to reinforce the connection between the two kingdoms by having Ireland contribute to the cost of imperial defence. Irish patriot opinion, however, saw this requirement, and an accompanying proposal that the Irish parliament should be bound to replicate British legislation relating to shipping, as infringements of legislative independence. There was also resentment that Ireland was still excluded from the East India Company's lucrative monopoly, and that points already agreed had been revised to meet objections from English interests. The commercial bill was abandoned after passing its first reading (15 Aug. 1785) by an unacceptably low majority. Its failure, confirming Pitt's concern at the instability of the Anglo‐Irish connection, helped prepare the way for the Act of Union.