Ireland, tke vulnerable Part of the Empire. 67 



he overlooked by the tyrant of France; and 

 had the whole of his powerful efforts been 

 directed to the shores of this country, it is 

 doubtful how the contest might have termi- 

 nated. The weak side of England is on the 

 Irish coast, and so it must inevitably continue, 

 until the many causes of complaint, which are 

 now generally admitted, are taken most se- 

 riously into the consideration of the British 

 parliament. These being admitted, however, is 

 no small acquisition, as it is the previous step 

 to their redress God grant that a wise, en- 

 lightened, and undcviating policy, may heal those 

 wounds that have been, and are still, so griev- 

 ously felt by Ireland, and so injurious to the 

 prosperity and tranquillity of England. Mr. 

 Burke says, and I think truly, " Our constitution 

 is not made for great general prescriptive ex- 

 clusions ; for sooner or later it will destroy them, 

 or they will destroy it." 



Dispersed as the established church is, in 

 small communities, it is not possible, in our 

 transient view of the country, to form any ac- 

 curate judgment: we saw several churches 

 building, others repairing, and parsonage houses 

 erecting, in many parishes. The residence of 

 the . which cannot fail of being attended 



with important advantages, is now insisted on 



