From Seumus McManus History of the Irish Race: When Parliment met in October, 1779, Grattan moved his celebrated amendmetn to the Address to the Throne, Demanding Free Trade for Ireland That it was right to import and export what commodities she pleased, unrestrained by foreigh legislation. His speech was doubtless very eloquent as were those of Hussey, Burgh and Flood, who supported him. But it is safe to say that the solid ranks of the placemen and "tied" borough members, who made up the Government's permanent majority in the Irish House of Commons, would have been as little moved by them, were it not that, outside in College Green, bold Napper Tandy had his artillery corps mustered, all in their gallant uniforms of emerald and scarlet, his cannon trained on the Parliament Houses and Placarded with the inscription "Free Trade or _______" To the pregnant arguement of that unwritten alternative, the prudent placemen yielded. The amended address was carried by a huge majority, and next day it was borne to the Castle, along streets lined by Volunteers in full war kit, and thence dispatched to England marked "Urgent"

It was treated as "Urgent" by the prime minister and the British Legislature and Free Trade was restored.