692 



IRELAND. 



nages, burials, masses, &c. The Irish pay their own clergy willingly, but they look upon 

 the money which goes to the English clergy, as cruel extortion. The last cow and the last 

 pig are often forced away by the officer to satisfy the demand of an English clergyman, whose 

 doctrines they disbelieve, and from whom ihey receive nothing but evil. The Catholic 

 religion and the Catholic clergy afford them their best comforts and consolations ; while the 

 Protestant religion is made to bring upon them their greatest sufferings. It is but natural, that 

 they should cling to the first, and hate the last. The Catholic clergy are exceedingly zealous, 

 and live on terms of familiarity with their flocks. They advise them on worldly affairs, and 

 generally act as their lawyers. The churches have few pictures or images. The stipend of 

 a priest is about f 150 a year. The fee for a marriage is from 5s. to a guinea ; for a chris- 

 tening, from 2s. to half a crown ; for visiting the sick Is., and for burials and masses, from 2s 

 to several pounds. 



Munbers of each Religious Sect. 

 Roman Catholics 6,427,712 

 Established Church 852,000 

 Presbyterians ...... 642,350 



Other Protestants 71,800 



18. Funerals. The funerals of the common Irish are peculiar. They are preceded by a 

 wake, where the friends sit up all night with the corpse, eating and drinking, as if on an occa- 

 sion of festivity. Female mourners are paid for the ulalulu, or howling at the burial ; a cus- 

 tom which is common in some eastern countries. They address questions to the corpse, as 

 " Why did you die, or why did you leave us ? " The processions are long and clamorous. 

 Many who walk in them are covered with long blue cloaks. 



19. Government. Ireland is still denominated a distinct kingdom, but it is governed by a 

 viceroy appointed by the king, called Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. There is also an Irish 

 chancellor, a secretary of state, a commander of the forces, and attorney-general. The island 

 was incorporated with the kingdom of Great Britain, in 1800. There is now no separate par- 

 liament, but Ireland is represented by 32 peers and 105 members of the House of Commons, 

 in the parliament of Great Britain. The citizens of Ireland are entitled to the same privileges 

 with those of England, in all matters of commerce and provisions under treaties. By the cath- 

 olic emancipation bill, certain restraints and disabilities are removed. This bill was passed in 

 the year 1829, and by it, all catholics are eligible to all offices of state, except the Chancellor- 

 ship, the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, the Regency of the United Kingdom, and the High 

 Commission of the church of Scotland. Catholics are still excluded from the right of present- 

 mg to a church living. Connected with the emancipation bill, was another law, which disfran- 

 chised the 40 shilling freeholders, and raised the qualification of electors to an income of 10 

 pounds from real estate. By the reform act, the elective franchise was extended to persons 

 occupying a tenement of ten pounds' yearly value, and to copyholders, and some other tenants, 

 Out the number of electors is small. 



20. Bank. There is a national bank at Dublin, called the Bank of Ireland, with a capital 

 of 3 millions sterling. Its profits arise from a trade in bullion, and the discounting of bills of 

 exchange. It is under the superintendence of a governor, deputy governor, and 15 directors, 

 all chosen yearly. 



21. Laws. Generally, the laws are the same with those of England. There are, however, 

 no poor laws, and the indigent have no aid but from charity ; Ireland is, therefore, the country 

 for mendicity. 



22. Antiquities. In the north of Ireland, are several of the round towers, that are found in 

 Scotland ; but there are few architectural or other antiquities in the island. 



23. History. The history of Ireland has been the theme of much discussion and dispute. 

 It has been contended, that the island was colonized by the Phoenicians, who brought hither 

 their religion ; and it is maintained, with some plausibility, that the round towers, and other 

 monuments, with certain manners and customs, still lingering among the Irish, bearing an ori- 

 ental cast, are witnesses of the fact. The traditions of the people, seem also to support the 

 theory. It is certain, that the island was known, and was populous, several hundred years be- 

 fore Christ. The first inhabitants were doubtless Celts, and the Celtic stock still maintains 

 the ascendancy in the country. Ireland presents, in the native tongue of its living inhabitants 



