62 Mistaken Policy oj Queen Elizabeth. 



by the barbarous policy of those days, and con- 

 tinued with little exception, as a rule of con- 

 duct towards Ireland, until modern times. 



To impoverish and stultify a nation for the 

 express purpose of securing their allegiance, 

 might be consistent with the political doctrines 

 of a Dey of Algiers, but are highly at variance 

 and repugnant to British feelings. 



The true source of all the vexations ex. 

 perieneed by Queen Elizabeth from Ireland, 

 was in her mistaken policy. Had she adopted 

 a contrary conduct, and promoted the civiliza- 

 tion of the people, and the general interests of 

 the country, it would have saved the blood and 

 treasure of her English subjects, rescued Ireland 

 from infinite misery, and her reign from per- 

 petual reproach. 



The perfection of the system of disabilities 

 was, however, reserved for the reign of Queen 

 Anne. Mr. Burke, in his letter to Sir H. Lan- 

 grishe, to which I have before referred, gives an 

 admirable description of them. " You abhorred 

 it, as I did, for its vicious perfection ; for I must 

 do it justice, it was a complete system full of 

 coherence and consistency well digested, and 

 well composed in all its parts it was a machine 



