He, however, wished the reform to be carried on 'through the intervention of parliament,' while the more extreme party insisted on sending delegates from the volunteers to a convention in Dublin.

This military convention 'met at the Royal Exchange in Dublin, November the 9th, 1783--Parliament was then sitting.

An armed convention assembled in the capital, and sitting at the same time with the Houses of Lords and Commons, deliberating on a legislative question, was a new and unprecedented spectacle.
'In this convention, as in all public assemblies, there was a violent and a moderate party.

Lord Charlemont, the president of the assembly, was at the head of the moderate men.

Though not convinced of the strict legality of the meeting, he thought a reform in parliament so important and desirable an object, that to the probability or chance of obtaining this great advantage it was the wisdom of a true patriot to sacrifice punctilio, and to hazard all, but, what he was too wise and good to endanger, the peace of the country.