Disabilities to tohick the Irish were subject. 63 



of wise and elaborate Contrivance, and as well 

 fitted for the oppression, impoverishment,and de- 

 gradation of a people, and debasement of them, 

 and of human nature itself, a.s ever proceeded 

 from the perverted ingenuity of man." Such 

 is the strong and faithful rq)i*esentation given 

 by this great statesman, of the severities and 

 the effect of them, as exercised under the spe- 

 cious pretence of a regard for religion. A 

 recital of some few disabilities, to which the 

 catholics were made subject, will prove this 

 picture was not too highly drawn. It was en- 

 acted in this code, that, the elder son of a ca- 

 tholic remaining a catholic, the younger pro- 

 fessing himself a protestant in his father's life- 

 time should inherit the estate. Thus at one 

 blow was the domestic security and confidence 

 of two parts out of three of the whole nation 

 destroyed. The catholics were prohibited from 

 residing in towns, and the distrust of them 

 proclaimed, by withholding from them the right 

 of possessing arms. 



Though persecution should appear to be 

 sanctioned by the most specious pretences or 

 imposing authority, nothing can be more odi- 

 ous ; and in no shape can it assail mankind so 

 cruelly, as when it proceeds to restrain edu- 

 cation, and condemn the people to ignorance, 



