CH. II.] ORPHANS AND FOUNDLINGS. 143 



was paid. The witnesses, however, gave her a good cha- 

 racter, and she herself speaks with the greatest apparent 

 candour and openness, and, there is every reason to believe, 

 with truth. 



This inquiry was continued in the same manner in a 

 multitude of parishes in different counties of Ireland, and 

 the evidence established facts of the same nature as those 

 already cited. 



In several baronies it was stated that there are usually 

 four orphans to one foundling, and that the vestry has not 

 the power to levy a cess for orphans, whilst they have the 

 power of doing so for foundlings under twelve months 

 old, whose parents cannot be discovered. 



In other baronies the people refuse to pay the rate fixed 

 by the churchwardens, and prefer rather themselves to 

 take charge of the children from charity than to let them 

 become Protestants. Nevertheless, in all other respects, 

 there are no complaints against the churchwardens, who 

 have very difficult duties to perform, and who are very 

 upright. 



The private societies which have been formed for or- 

 phans and foundlings are always under the control of a 

 Protestant minister, and on condition that the children 

 are Protestants. Thus the witnesses say that these so- 

 cieties have never been at all successful. 



The people everywhere prefer that no law should be 

 enacted respecting the manner of bringing up orphans 

 and foundlings, rather than to force them to be Protest- 

 ants ; for up to the present day all the funds raised by 

 authority can be applied only on condition that the child- 

 ren shall be brought up in the established religion, and it 

 is for this reason that the people refuse to pay. Several 



