Speech of the Right Honourable William Pitt, in the House of Commons, Thursday, January 31, 1799 / On offering to the House the resolutions which he proposed as the basis of an union between Great Britain and Ireland: Fifth Edition.

The speech sets out a government proposal for a legislative union between the two kingdoms, outlining its principles and argued benefits for security, stability, and commerce while addressing a wary reception from the Irish legislature. The speaker acknowledges and respects Ireland’s right to decide, yet insists on presenting and recording a clear outline before the British Parliament so the measure can be judged dispassionately. He urges careful consideration by landed, mercantile, and manufacturing interests, proposes parliamentary approval of general resolutions as a negotiating basis, and recommends leaving detailed provisions for subsequent discussion and royal communication to Ireland.