with the view of defending the country and overawing the rebellious, it may easily be imagined that abuses are frequent. The northern counties, in particular, have exhibited scenes too shocking for description. Deliberate and unprovoked murders, attended with circumstances of the most horrid barbarity, have been often perpetrated, and the perpetrators escaped unpunished. Besides not having the means of defending themselves, Catholics are exposed more than any other subjects, to robberies and depredations. They are not permitted to enter any of the volunteer or yeomanry corps, but are completely open to the militia ballot. Indeed, they are the only persons in Ireland such ballot can effect, because almost every Protestant, being a member of one or other of these corps, thereby enjoys full protection. Of some further miscellaneous Laws and Penalties affecting Catholics. In the foregoing sections of this Appendix, 1 have confined myself to the notice of such laws as were passed for the avowed and distinct object of depressing the Catholics. But besides these, there are various statutes relative to general purposes; containing clauses which, either directly or indirectly, militate against the rights and privileges of this class of religionists; and to them I shall now briefly direct my attention. By a statute enacted in 1695,* a pecuniary fine of £2, and in case of non-payment, the punishment of whipping, is imposed on every hired labourer or servant who shall refuse to work on any day of the year, excepting on such days as named in the statute. The operation of this statute is, that Catholics are compelled to work on many holidays appointed by their Church. The statute 1699,† inflicts a penalty of £10. on every *7 Will. 3. c. 14. person who shall be aiding or assisting in burying any dead, in any other place but in a Protestant churchyard. By this law the feelings of Catholics are insulted, even in the nicest point of their religion, and on a subject which never fails to awaken the keenest sensations. In 1703,* it was enacted, that a fine of £10. or in default of payment, the punishment of whipping, shall be inflicted on every person who shall be present at any pilgrimage, or meeting, held at any holy-well, or reputed holywell. By the same law, all magistrates are required to demolish all crosses, pictures, or inscriptions, any where publicly set up for the veneration or respect of Catholics. It is shameful to deprive the Catholics of the privilege of following the precepts of their religion, but it is ridiculous to curb them in their pious and innocent amusement. By the statute 1571,† it is high treason to obtain any writ or printed instrument from the Pope or Bishop of Rome, or any person authorized by him. The hardship, injustice, inconvenience, and impolicy of this law are too apparent to require illustration. The public education of Catholics is wholly neglected in Ireland, except at the College of Maynooth, which cannot educate a tenth of the necessary supply of Catholic clergymen ; there is no public Catholics' seminary for Catholics in Ireland. Till 1793, Catholics were not admissible into the College of Dublin, even as students, and at this moment they remain excluded from being "members" of that college. To these rigid regulations against Catholics, on the score of education, may be added those which relate to the charitable foundations of Ireland. Catholics are indeed admissible into them, but their children must be educated by Protestant masters, and in Protestant principles. It has been already noticed, that Catholic laymen may be guardians to Catholic children under certain conditions.→→ 2 Anne c. 6. § 7. + 18 Eliz. C. 2. Whether a Catholic clergyman can act in that capacity, however, under any circumstances, still remains doubtful. Catholics following the profession of medicine, are not directly excluded from holding situations in the line of their profession, either in the navy or army, or in hospitals; but this is sufficiently effected by the operation of the Anti-Catholic system in general. It is a fact, that scarcely a single Catholic holds even any inferior medical situation of a public nature. Catholics are not allowed the liberty of presenting even to Protestant benefices, though this right is permitted to persons of every other religion, and also to foreigners: nay, he cannot even give up his right in trust to a Protestant; for, by statute 1704, it is enacted, "that whenever any Catholic should claim, possess or enjoy, any advowson on right of patronage or presentation, to any ecclesiastical benefice, (or where any Protestant should claim, possess, or enjoy, any such right in trust for a Catholic) the same should be thereby ipso facto vested in the crown, according to such estate as such Catholic might have therein, until such Catholic, or his heir, should abjure his religion." And this clause is re-enacted in 1793, omitting so much of it as regards trustees. What the effect of this omission may be still remains to be tried. The absurdity and manifest injustice of this law is evident. It is depriving Catholics of a right, which a Protestant considers as a part of his property, being a saleable commodity. Even in Catholic France this privilege has never been denied to Protestants of any sect. Yet France is a land of tyranny, and Ireland a land of freedom,—at least, so the " Anti-Catholics" tell us!!! In this way, brief as it is, could I proceed to write many sheets, on the disabilities which affect Catholics. The limits within which my work is necessarily restrained, however, compel me to draw to a conclusion. I shall only, therefore, further remark, in general, that there is scarcely a relation, even in the ordinary conduct of human life, in which Catholics do not, more or less, keenly feel the noxious influence of the intolerant code, which even allowing that it might be pru dent in our fore-fathers to frame, it would be undoubtedly, wise and provident in us to abolish. The days of bigotry and persecution are gone, I trust, for ever. The mind, enlightened by rational Christianity, and soothed by philosophy, has learned to appreciate justly the precepts of religion. It perceives, that moderation and forbearance are virtues of the highest order, absolutely essential to human happiness, and without which, all the doctrines of theological metaphysics, which the mind of man has hitherto been able to conceive, lose every thing of value, dignity, or goodness. |