HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE LATE

CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION, &c.

CHAP. I.

The treaty of Limerick-Government of William-Beneficent intentions towards Ireland-Consequent prosperity -Jealousy of the Protestants-Barter of the agricultural and commercial rights and advantages of the country for the privilege of oppressing the Catholics-Origin of the penal code-Reign of Anne-Increased persecution→→ Laws preventing Catholics from acquiring property, educating their children, and freely exercising their religion-Consequent wretchedness of the country-Reign of George I.-Increased oppression of the Catholics-Evil effect on the Protestants-Extreme misery of all classes -Reign of George II.-Farther privations-Last remaining privilege, the elective franchise, withdrawn-Charter schools instituted "for the salvation of the poor Irish" -Registry bill-Expulsion of the clergy-Desolating famine, and epidemic-New and violent persecutionTotal depression of the Catholics.

THE treaty of Limerick, whatever might have been its apparent purpose, whether restricted to the garrison, or extending to the entire kingdom, seems chiefly to have been designed to as

rious enemy.

sure to the capitulating party, a sure and immediate retreat from an inexorable and victoThe nerve and muscle of the Catholic community departed with the surrender of that city. The emigration was by thousands an army of brave men quitted Ireland, and left to the new masters a nation of unprotected slaves. Catholic property had been long on the wane; successive sacrifices, successive confiscations, had clipped it down to a mere relic of what it once was; and though the transfer had been far more peremptory and violent in the North, the South was by no means unvisited by the same sweeping spirit of plunder and confiscation. The treaty of Limerick confirmed property as it then stood, and was not less the charter of the Protestant than the Catholic. The whole value of a text depends however on the interpreter; and the Catholic in this instance was called in to listen and to obey; the Protestant held the rod and condescended to expound.*

*That flagrant insult to public justice and national faith, the bill misnamed "A Bill for the confirmation of the articles of Limerick," in which some of the most important clauses relative to the settlement of Catholic property were omitted, has scarcely been paralleled even in the history of Ireland. Read the original bill, and then the Protest, particularly 1, 2, and 3, reasons. It is some consolation to find that it was signed by four bishops.

The "Væ victis!" code commenced: even in the reign of the very prince who had treated with them as equal and honourable enemies, the Catholics were trodden on as hereditary slaves. The first oppressions were timid: but the successful experiment soon taught how easy a thing it is to trample on the fallen. The last resource of the oppressed, the "arma supersunt," was wrested from them. The plunder of intelligence, the spoliation of mind, came next; and a prospective legislation of barbarism, a studious desolation of every thing which could tend to the intellectual improvement and elevation of the country, henceforth became the paramount object, the essential principle of national government. This perverse ingenuity in evil was soon destined to be tasked to its utmost.* The beneficent intentions

The first four years of William's reign, during which he governed in his own sense, and with great judgment and lenity, was a period of real prosperity for Ireland. The doctrines of Doctor Dopping (expelled the council) had yielded for a time to the liberal and Christian philosophy of the Bishop of Kildare and Dr. Synge.-(Curry's Review, v. ii. p. 205.) It was true, indeed, that within two months after the treaty of Limerick, William, compelled it is to be hoped by his necessities (though this is a humiliating apology for a hero), had assented to the English bill, imposing a variety of oaths in direct violation of the 9th of these articles; but this iniquitous enactment had little influence on

of the sovereign were, in execution, converted into curses, or intercepted by the personal and party policy, the blighting atmosphere of Irish Protestantism, through which they had to pass. The most absolute sway of an individual tyrant would have been preferable to the multiplied tyranny of the Irish parliaments.* Powerful the personal administration of the sovereign. The security he granted to religious dissenters of all denominations, restored industry and plenty in all things; useful arts were introduced; the land was cultivated; and a fine island, reduced to a desert by a late war, soon assumed a new face.—(Observations, &c. by Lord Taaffe.) The Catholics participated largely in these advantages: 233,106 acres were restored of the confiscated estates; 74,722 outlawries were reversed : they engaged extensively in the import and export trade to the continent, particularly in the linen, yarn, and frieze trade: and so great were the profits and so flourishing the condition of the merchants, that apprehensions were entertained that the estates of Protestants, by mortgage and otherwise, would soon revert to the hands of the Catholics.-(Discourse on Ireland, in Answer to the Eton and Barnstaple Petitions, pp. 54.57, 58.) Lands rose by the influx of capital; the peasantry acquired valuable interests; a sturdy yeomanry appeared; the very cottier was less miserable. All this, a few years after, was bartered for a shadow. The Irish Protestant sold Ireland for the maintenance of his monopoly; and the English Protestant trampled on the Catholic in order to maintain his national supremacy.

*The Discourse on Ireland, in Answer to the Eton and Barnstaple Petitions, suggests, as one of the best means for retaining the Catholics in their actual wretchedness, the

only in evil, to all purposes of good weak and inefficient, they forgot the country in the party,

calling of frequent parliaments. In the reign of Charles II. parliaments had fallen comparatively into disuseCatholic interests had strengthened in proportion. These parliaments united in themselves the infamous perfection of the worst of tyrants and the basest of slaves. For the privilege of torturing the Papists (which from that day to this Protestant ascendancy has affected to consider its preserve), and which, after an ineffectual struggle, was first surrendered to them as the price for their future profligacy, in the celebrated address of the Deputy Capel, 27th August, 1695, they have universally exhibited in every page of their history the most disgraceful subserviency to the English usurpations. It is curious to place the acts of the Catholic parliament of James beside the acts of the Protestant parliament of William. Let the reader judge which of the two legislated most for the advantage of constitutional freedom and the true interests of Ireland.

Acts passed in the Catholic parliament of James.

An act declaring that the parliament of England cannot bind Ireland; and against writs and appeals to be brought for removing judgments, decrees, and sentences in Ireland to England.

An act for taking off all incapacities from the natives of this kingdom.

Acts passed in the Protest

ant parliaments of William and Mary..

An act, 3 William, recognised by the Irish parliament (thereby recognising the supremacy of England), for excluding Catholics from parliament.-Lords' Journal, v. i. p. 496.

An act restraining foreign education.-7 Will. c. 4. An act for disarming Pa