278 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK III. 



maintenance of deserted children ; also towards the relief 

 of aged and infirm persons, of orphans, of helpless widows 

 with young children, of the families of sick persons, and 

 of casual destitution. 



REMARKS. 



The Commissioners appear to us here again to 

 have taken a false view of the subject. The majo- 

 rity of them are Protestants, and under the influ- 

 ence of prejudices which may be regarded as invin- 

 cible in England. In order to explain our meaning, 

 we must go some way back, and repeat what has 

 been already often said. 



In early times workmen and their families were 

 slaves, and, whether the head of the family were 

 idle or industrious, well or ill, living or dead, the 

 family was always maintained. The Christians per- 

 ceived the dangers to which the weakest portion 

 of society would be exposed, on destroying this 

 yoke of servitude, which however was at the same 

 time a security. Hence arose in the middle ages 

 that spirit of making gifts to the Church, and 

 especially to the religious orders. The latter cleared 

 and cultivated the land, erected buildings, and thus 

 provided for all the fresh wants which this new 

 organization introduced into society. It is unne- 

 cessary to comment here upon the spirit of pillage 



