18 
of theIrish. The country and govern- 
ment has therefore exhibited, for two 
centuries, the extraordinary spectacle 
of millions of native Roman Catholics 
subjected to the oppressive and offen- 
sive rule of a handful of protestants. 
Thus situated and governed, it was 
impossible that either agriculture, arts, 
manufactures or commerce, could pros- 
I. 
The Irish had been conquered and 
degraded—and_ to preserve the domi- 
nion of England, it beeame sound policy 
to keep them an ignorant and degraded 
people: hence, edueation, except by 
protestant schoolmasters, was prohibit- 
ed, and the native catholic was rendered 
incapable of filling any office in the 
state. 
Things remained in this situation 
for centuries; for though efforts were 
made in the reign of Charles, I. and 
James II. to restore the independence 
of Ireland, Cromwell and William II. 
added fresh rivets to their galling 
chains. At length the spirit of enquiry 
raised its head. America, threatened 
with subjugation because she refused 
to be taxed without being represented, 
boldly insisted on her right to the pri- 
vileges enjoyed by her fellow subjects 
in Britain—She argued better than the 
mother country, for she had the consti- 
tution on her side, and the success of 
her arms confirming the authority of 
her arguments, she became a free and 
independent country. Ireland attempt- 
ed to profit by the example of America; 
she armed herself—talked like a weak 
and passionate woman—was frightened 
by a proclamation, and finally submit- 
ted to the authority of England. 
The discussions which had taken 
place during the American contest, 
were revived by the French revolution, 
and another attempt was made by lre- 
land to assert her independence. But 
the principal actors on that occasion 
totally forgot the heterogeneous nature 
of the materials which they had to work 
up into a system of political union and 
religious liberality. Well educated in- 
dividuals of all sorts of christians acted 
together with some degree of cordiality 5 
but it became impossible to divest the 
rigid protestant and the bigotted catho- 
lic of their early prejudices and hosti- 
lity towards each other. Hence B. B. 
Harvey the commander in chief of the 
Irish army, lost his authority, and was 
obliged to retire; and the protestants 
of the North, alarmed by the atrocities 
practiced in the South, resigned their 
Picture of freland, and the Cause of its Discontents. 
{eb. I, 
arms and sabmitted te the British go- 
vernment; and thus it has been proved 
in the most decided manner, that reli- 
gious prejudices will generally over- 
come the spirit of genuine political 
liberty. 
The concessions which the catholics 
have obtained, being considerably short 
of their views and expectations, they 
will continue their applications te the 
legislature until they obtain an equality 
of privilege—and either emancipation 
must be granted, or Ireland will con- 
tinue a disturbed and distracted coun- 
try. 
The catholic populatiox amounts to 
about four millions and a half, and the 
number of protestants do not exeeed 
two millions. The protestants are di- 
vided into various religious seets; but 
the catholics are, from the nature of 
their privations, a united people. Under 
these circumstances, a legislative unio 
has taken place between Great Britain 
and Ireland; but that union has not 
tended to promote the interest, or to 
increase the political and social happi- 
ness of the country. The catholics 
hoped, by that measure, to obtain an 
equality of privileges—but they have 
been disappointed ; and all that the 
protestants have gained, is the supposed 
guarantee of England (o the landed pro- 
perty which their ancestors obtained by 
fighting in the ranks of the British in- 
vader: 
Look now at the situation of Ireland. 
His Majesty visited that country latel 
—the osteutatious character of the Iris 
was completely displayed—every thing 
external wore the best face possible, 
and even the street beggars were 
dressed for the eceasion. ‘But party 
spirit, which is so deeply rooted in that 
unfortunate country, could hardly be 
kept.in order even by the presence of the 
King ; and his Majesty’s gracious ad- 
monition seems now to be set at defi- 
ance even by the servants of the Crown 
in Ireland. In several parts of the 
country, particularly in the counties of 
Limerick, Clare, Cork, and Tipperary, 
outrages of the most daring and atro- 
cious nature continne to set law and hu- 
manity at defiance. To what are these 
disturbances to be attributed? I will 
state the cause. The manner of letting 
land in Ireland, particularly the estates 
of absentees, has been one great source 
of oppression and discontent. When 
we see the lands of the late Archbishop 
of Tuam—and of other noblemen and 
gentlemen, set up to auction, and the 
words 
