4 & RELIGION. 



the fouth of Ireland fpin wool very generally, but the ptf- 

 chafers of their labour, and the whole worfted trade is in the 

 hands of the quakers of Clonmell, Carrick, Bandon, &c. 

 The fact is, the profeflors of that religion are under fuch dif- 

 couragements that they cannot engage in any trade which 

 requires both induftry and capital. If they fucceed and make 

 a fortune what are they to do with it ? They can neither buy 

 land, nor take a mortgage, nor even fine down the rent of a 

 leafe. Where is there a people in the world to be found in- 

 duftrious under fuch a circumftance ? But it feems to be the 

 meaning, wifli, and intent of the difcovery laws, that none 

 of them fliould ever be rich. It is the principle of that lyf- 

 tem that wealthy fubje&s would be nuifances, and therefore 

 every means is taken to reduce, and keep them to a ftate of 

 poverty. If this is not the intention of the laws they are the 

 moil abominable heap of felf- contradictions that ever were if- 

 lued in the world. They are framed in fuch a manner that no 

 catholic (hall have the inducement to become rich. But if m 

 fpite of thefe laws he fliould accidently gain wealth, that the 

 whole kingdom fliould not afford him a poffibility of inverting 

 it. Take the laws and their execution into one view, and 

 this ftate of the cafe is fo true, that they actually do not feem 

 to be fo much levelled at the religion, as at the property that 

 is found in it. By the law a prieft is to be tranfported and 

 Flanged for reading mafs, but the mafs is very readily left to 

 them with impunity. Let the fame prieft, however, make a 

 fortune by his mafs, and from that moment he is the objet of 

 perfecution. The domineering ariftocracy of five hundred 

 thoufand proteftants feel the fweets of having two millions of 

 (laves j thev have not the leaft objection to the tenets of that 

 religion which keeps them by the law of the land in fubjefti* 

 on ; but property and flavery are too incompatible to live to- 

 gether. Hence the fpecial care taken that no fuch thing fliould 

 arife among them. 



I muft be free to own that 'when I have heard gentlemen 

 who have favoured the laws as they now ftand, urge the dan- 

 gerous tenets of the church of Rome, quote the cruelties 

 which have difgraced that religion in Ireland, and led them 

 iiito the common routine of declamation on that (ide the quef- 

 tion ; (I cannot call it argument, for I never yet heard any 

 thing that deferved ihe name) when I have been a witnefs to 

 fuch converfations 1 could not but fmile to fee fubfcriptions 

 handed abouc for building a mafshoufe, at the very time that 

 the heavieft vengeance of the law fully executed fell on thofe 

 who poflfcfled a landed property, or ventured a mortgage up- 

 on it. 



It is no fuperficial view I have taken of this matter in Ire- 

 land, and being at Dublin at the time a very trifling part of 

 thefe laws was agitated in parliament, I attended t^he debates, 

 with my mind open to conriftion, and auditor for the mere 



purpofe 



