XXXIV. remove from Ireland, should be permitted to retire CHAP. with their effects to any country except Great Britain, in fhips provided for that purpose at the expense of the English government. The civil articles amounted to thirteen, the military to twenty-nine. Fourteen thousand Irish, availing themselves of the permiffion to go beyond fea, bid a farewell for ever to their native country. Ginckle, whofe fervices had been highly meritorious, and Rouvigny, another foreigner, by whom he had been powerfully feconded, were ennobled by William, the former under the titles of lord Aghrim and earl of Galway, the latter under that of lord Galway; but Mackay and Talmash, alfo of high merit, British officers, were invidioufly obferved to be neglected by their fovereign. CHAP. CHAP. XXXV. XXXV. for Irish history. Authorities for Irish history-Leland-ReflexionsLegiflation of the English parliament for IrelandA parliament-Lords juftices--A parliament— William Molyneux-Ruin of the Irish woollen manufacture The manufacture of linen not a compensation -Impolicy of restrictions on Irish industry— Refumption of the forfeitures-Proceedings of the Irish parliament-Sacramental test-Penal ftatutes Violence of party-Tories and whigs-Difpute about the lord mayor's election-Unconftitutional interference of the English parliament. CHAP. FROM the capitulation of Limerick I reluctantly part with Doctor Leland, my faithful guide from Authorities the first arrival of the Strongbownian English to that event, whofe history, fo impartial as to offend the shallow and violent of every party, is compiled from a great number of original hiftorians and other documents. Through his period of Irish transactions I have chiefly followed his compilation, more in the matter than the arrangement, comparing it with his authorities, fometimes ufing his words, as I took not the least pains either to avoid or adopt his expreffions, XXXV. preffions, but indifferently availed myself of what- CHAP. ever terms readily occurred, and feemed fit for the purpose. Notwithstanding the supplies afforded me by gentlemen of liberal spirit, a few of the lefs important materials, from which this refpectable writer has compiled, have been beyond my reach, particularly fome manuscripts. Some had been communicated to the doctor by the famous Edmund Burke, who, from partiality to catholics, and violence in favour of whatever party he efpoufed, was highly offended, when he found that the hiftorian was not feduced by his documents from the medium of rectitude. Such has been my own cafe when I wrote an account of the local rebellion in 1798. I was obligingly supplied with information by men of oppofite parties, who were much difappointed when they perceived that my history was not compofed in favour of either, but written from a comparison of different narratives with one another and my own experience. To clog my pages with quotations at bottom I have confidered as unneceffary in this compilation, but have mentioned in the body of the work my principal authorities before the commencement of Leland's period. The references to his materials may be seen in the margin of his book; and what tracts were extant relative to Irish history in the year 1723 are moftly registered in a treatise named Nicholfon's Irish Historical Library. For the remaining part of this compilation parliamentary records, and various undigested documents, must be ranfacked. 1 Since, CHAP. Since, from the final fubmiffion of the Irish to XXXV. William the third in 1691, this land remained Reflexions, above a century free from other than external war, the historian of this period has happily little elfe to record than parliamentary transactions; but unhappily thefe were fometimes of fuch a nature as, more permanently than war, to fink the nation in poverty and barbarifm. The baleful neglect and impolicy of the English government, fince the first plantation here of the Anglo-Norman colony, rendered this iland, which with a different conduct might have become an exuberant fource of wealth and power, fuch a drain of English blood and treasure, as led many, not without reason, into an opinion, that the nonexistence of Ireland, or its total fubmerfion under the waves of the Atlantic, would have been a confiderable advantage to England. In the peaceful period, fince the furrendry of Limerick, this country has been of important fervice to her fifter kingdom, but of vaftly less than fhe would have been, if the English parliament had acted towards her with a policy guided by common sense or common justice. The glorious revolution of 1688, which established in England an unparalleled fyftem of civil freedom, was far from extending the benignity of its influence in the fame degree to Ireland, where it only fecured the administration of internal government exclufively to the proteftant inhabitants, while these fame protestants, the conquerors, or the offspring of the conquerors, of this country for the English crown, were, in common with the catholics, treated as a conquered people XXXV. people by the English legislature, whofe laws, with equal CHAP. cruelty and impolicy, precluded them from availing themselves of the fruits of their own industry. The more democratical the government of a nation becomes, the more is it enclined to domineer over dependant nations; and, if its councils be fwayed by the influence of mere mercantile perfons, it ruins, by aiming at a monopoly, the commerce of its de. pendencies by reftrictive laws, and thus, by natural confequence, injures effentially its own. Immediately on the restoration of tranquillity in Ireland, in 1691, the English parliament proceeded to legiflate for this country, at a period when its interference might feem leaft blameable, and yet was in appearance unneceffary, fince the acts of the executive might have fufficed for temporary purposes till an Irish parliament could be affembled. Among the laws made for Ireland on this occafion was one for the abrogation of the oath of fupremacy, and the fubftitution of other oaths, by which the catholics were virtually excluded from both houfes of the legiflature. At length, for the granting of money A parlia to the crown, a parliament was convened in Ireland, nient. in 1692, by lord Sydney, the lord lieutenant, after twenty-fix years intermiffion of fuch affemblies, with exception only of the parliamentary convention held by king James. The commons voted a fum not exceeding feventy thoufand pounds; but foon quarrelled with the chief governor in defenfe of their privileges. Of the certified bills returned from England, on the principles of Poyning's law, two were bills of |