178 PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



part to perform in directing the administration, and appointing 

 the rulers of Ireland, were lamentably ignorant of the real state 

 of the country, and took very little trouble to enquire into the 

 subject. Agitators too were never wanting to keep the people 

 continually in a disturbed and insubordinate state. 



The Revolution of 1688, which established the freedom of 

 Britain, had no such advantage for Ireland, her people were not 

 allowed the privileges of freemen, they had no Bill of Rights — 

 no Habeas Corpus Writ, and they were deprived of their com- 

 mercial interests. The latter was done in order to advance t!ie 

 commercial advantages of England. By arbitrary acts, in the 

 reigns of Charles II. and William III., her woollen manufactory 

 was virtually annihilated, and the country was plunged into the 

 depth of misery. By mock bounty, the linen manufacture was 

 given in lieu, which was uncongenial to the climate and habits of 

 the people, and entailed a loss of 800 per cent, per annum, in 

 prime cost alone. 



Thus was the Irish government in times past not a system but 

 an entanglement, partly from false principles of commerce — 

 chiefly from carelessness in the arrangements of the state, and a 

 want, in the outset, of proper governors to reside in the country, 

 and perform their duties in person. 



Since the Union, Ireland has been gradually improving, and 

 recovering herself, peace and prosperity have been located wher- 

 ever the people have been able to find emploi/ment, though the 

 reverse is the case where there is no demand for their main strength, 

 labour-capital. They are willing to work, and to do more than 

 most others would do, and those who treat them kindly might 

 have at command their hearts — their lives — their all : as a proof 

 of this, it may be shown, that in Ulster there is as much peace 

 and security for property as in any part of England. 



There must then be some mismanagement in certain places : 

 this could be remedied by a Board of Review, which should 

 examine minutely and carefully into the condition and capability 

 of the whole island, and declare the result to a permanent govern- 

 ment of uniform cimsistenci/ ; it would then be enabled to act in 

 the light — not in the dark. Such a board would also afford 

 numberless other important advantages. 



From certain uncontroverted facts which have lately been made 

 public, it is evident, that many improvements, incompatible with 

 vmiversal anarchy are ])rogressing, and that local disturbances 

 will be quelled, by the me;\ns which are in action for that purpose. 



