CH. V.] SICK POOR. 187 



" Would you go there ? you'd be well treated." 



" No, Sir, I'd rather have my liberty; 't is sweeter than 

 good living." 



" But the Society will not be able to give you any more 

 assistance." 



" Well, God is good ! I'd rather go begging on the 

 streets than go there." 



REMARKS. 



Since the Reformation was introduced into Ire- 

 land, the Lord Lieutenant and all the members of 

 his Government, the military governor together 

 with all the army, the chancellor and the judges, 

 the archbishops and bishops, as well as the clergy 

 who hold the livings, have all been Protestants. 

 They have scarcely had to legislate for and judge 

 any but English Protestants, in favour of whom all 

 the lands were confiscated. They have been, if not 

 rich, at least the most rich, and consequently have 

 not needed for themselves hospitals or asylums. 



Ireland, at that time peopled with one million 

 of inhabitants, had only charitable institutions 

 proportioned to its population, and at that period 

 even these establishments were less necessary than 

 at the present day. The clergy were then the 

 only medical men, and the sick received gratui- 

 tously from the same hands the relief of medicine 



