52 RELIGION. 



was opened : if therefore thefe laws were unncceffary from the 

 revolution to the death of King William, and the experience 

 of that reign tells us they were not, mod certainly they cannot 

 be fo at prefent. 



The enlightened fpirit of TOLIRATION, fo well under- 

 ftood and praftifed in the greateft part of Europe, is making 

 progrefs every day, fave in Ireland alone : while the pro- 

 teftant religion enjoys peace and protection in catholic coun- 

 tries ; why fhould a nation, in all other refpefts fo generous 

 and liberal as the I/ifti, refufe at home what they receive and 

 enjoy abroad. 



As the abfurdity of the prefent fyftem can no longer be 

 doubted, the queftion is, in what degree it fliould immedi- 

 ately be changed ? Would it be prudent dire&ly to arm, 

 and put upon a level with the reft of the community, fo large 

 and neceffarily, fo difgufted a body of the people ? Great 

 fudden changes are rarely prudent ; old habits are not im- 

 mediately laid afide ; and the temper of men's minds, nurfed 

 in ignorance, fhould have time to open and expand, that they 

 may clearly comprehend their true interefts : for this reafon 

 the alteration of the laws fhould be gradual, rather than by 

 one or two repealing claufes, at once to overthrow the whole. 

 But all things confidered, there ought not to be a fingle feffi- 

 'ens without doing fomething in fo necefTary a work. For 

 inftance, in one feffions to give them a power of taking mort- 

 gages ; in another of purchafing lands ; in a third, to repeal 

 the abominable premiums on the divifion of a family againft 

 itfelf, by reftoring to parents their rights ; in a fourth, mafs 

 to be rendered legal ; in a fifth, a feminary, to be eftablifh- 

 ed by law, for the education of priefts, and a bifhop to be al- 

 lowed, with thofe powers which are neecflary for the exer- 

 cife of the religion ; by which means the foreign intereft 

 from a priefthood, entirely educated abroad, would be at 

 once cut off. Thus far the moft zealous friends to the pro- 

 teftant religion could not objeft upon any well founded prin- 

 ciples. When once the operations of the new fyftem had 

 raifed a fpirit of induftry, and attendant wealth among the 

 lower clafTes of them, no evil confequences would flow from 

 permitting them the ufe of arms. Give them an intereft in 

 the kingdom, and they will ufe their arms, not to overturn, 

 but to defend it. Upon firft principles, it is a miferable go- 

 vernment, which acknowledges itfelf incapable of retaining 

 men to their obedience that have arms in their hands j and 

 fuch an one as is to be found in Ireland alone. In like manner 

 I fhould apprehend that it might be proper to give them ? 

 voice in the election of members of parliament. There i 

 great reafon to believe, that they will not be treated by gei: - 

 tlemen in the country in the manner they ought to be, until 

 ihis fcrt of importance is given them. 



Let 



