68 



PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 

 PROCEEDINGS IN THE ATHENiEUM. 



November 26th.— Mr. S. Purdon's Sketch of the Histofy of 

 Ireland. 



The Lecturer in stating facts, found himself obliged to expose 

 circumstances, which condemned the conduct both of English 

 Governors and English Adventurers. 



It is evident from the authority of history, that, from the first 

 invasion of Ireland, by the English, in the reign of Henry the se- 

 cond, England never has, down to the present day, entirely or 

 completely established a fair moral and conclusive dominion 

 over the people. 



The native Irish were treated with a contempt the most offen- 

 sive, and even the first English settlers in Ireland were soon 

 treated with similar contempt, though there was a vast politi- 

 cal distinction made between the purely Irish, and the Anglo- 

 Irish, in respect to laws and privileges. 



The pride of the Irish was wounded by such treatment, and 

 their natural generosity revolted against their oppressors. 



The mutual repulsion which has existed between the two 

 islands, has been erroneomli/ attributed to a modern cause, the 

 difterence of religion. But the discord grew up long before such 

 difference existed; neither could the original disagreement be 

 attributed to a superstitious principle; for when the Britons inva- 

 ded the country, Ireland had not submitted to the papal domi- 

 nation, but England was thcuy and for ages before, the supersti- 

 tious vassal of the Boynish hierarchy. And it is well authenticated 

 by Archbishop Usher, and by others, that the precepts taught in 

 Ireland, in the first centuries of the Christian 3era,as well as those 

 taught there by saint Patrick, were all free from the erroneous 

 novelties which had corrupted the Romish church. 



From the authorities of Lord Coke, Sir John Davies, Baron 

 Finglus, and a variety of other illustrious names; we have great 

 reason to believe the moral disposition of the real I rish were 

 most excellent. 



And when we compare the dispositions of the present inhabi- 

 tants of the island, and trace their different descents, we find that 

 those who are of the aboriginal stock, are of natures far more pure 

 and generovis, than are those who are of a foreign or a mixed 

 stock. 



