The next statute was enacted in 1775,* and is much more vigorous than any of the former. By this act "Any one justice, &c. is empowered within his county or jurisdiction, from time to time, as well by night as by day, to search for, seize and carry away, or cause to be searched for, seized aud carried away, all arms and ammunition whatever belonging to or in the custody or possession of any Catholic (not duly licensed), or in the hands or possession of any person in trust for any Catholic; and for that purpose to enter into any dwelling-house, out-house, field, or other place belonging to any Catholic or reputed Catholic, or belonging to any other person whatsoever, where such justice shall have reasonable cause to suspect that any such arms or ammunition shall be concealed."

-The same statute further enacts, that "if any such Catholic or other person, upon such search, shall refuse to deliver up the same, answer upon oath, &c. he shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or by such corporal punishment of pillory or whipping, as the court (of sessions) before whom he shall be tried, may in their discretion think proper."

This act was made perpetual in 1800:†

Having thus stated the various laws enacted at different times, relative to Catholics keeping or using arms in Ireland, it now becomes necessary to shew how far they have been mitigated. The statute 1793, already so often mentioned, has among many others the following clause: "That nothing therein contained shall extend to authorize any Catholic to have or keep in his hands, or possession any arms, &c. &c., or to exempt such person from any forfeiture, or penalty inflicted by any act respecting arms, armour, or ammunition in the hands or possession of any Catholic, or respecting Catholic keeping such warlike stores, (save and except Catholics seized of a freehold estate of £100 yearly, or pes, sessed of a personal estate of £1,000. or upwards, who are hereby authorized to keep arms and ammunition as protestants

15 and 16 Geo. III. ch. 21. § 15.

+40 Geo. III. c. 96.

now by law may and also except Catholics. possessing a freehold estate of £10. yearly value, or £300. personal estate, who shall take the oath of 13 and 14 Geo. III. at the sessions, and in open court swear and subscribe an affidavit of the fact of such property), and Catholics so qualifying may keep arms and ammunition as protestants may, so long as they continue to possess such property."

From this clause it is evident that there are only two classes of catholics in Ireland, legally authorized to have and use arms: 1st, Such as are seized of a freehold property worth 1001. yearly, or personal property to the amount of 1,0001. and take the oath prescribed by the above act. And, 2dly, Such as possess 101. yearly of freehold property or 3001. personal property, and take the oath of 13 and 14 Geo. III.; and also swear and subscribe an affidavit, in open court, verifying the value of such property; and beside qualify in terms of the statute of 1793.

All catholics not possessing the amount of property above mentioned, or failing in any part of the conditions of qualification (that is to say, the great majority of catholics), still continue liable to the utmost rigour of the different statutes of 1695, 1698, 1739, and 1775.

Innumerable are the hardships, injuries and insults to which a catholic is continually exposed from the operation of these laws. By them he is placed wholly at the mercy of protestant justices and constables; his house may be broke into at any hour either of the day or night. He may be summoned to a public scrutiny upon oath so often as they think fit; his arms may be taken from him; he may be fined or imprisoned, or even punished with pillory and whipping, upon the slightest evidence of his attempting to evade the law. He is likewise deprived of various legal means of providing for himself or his family. Thus he cannot hold the situation of a game-keeper; he cannot be a cutler, or cutler's apprentice, a gun-smith, or a gun-smith's apprentice; neither can he keep for sale, or otherwise, any warlike stores, ammunition, sword-blades, barrels, locks, stocks of guns, or fire arms. Moreover the protestants being not only permitted to keep arms, but being actually armed by the authority of government

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 indi rectly, militate against the rights and privileges of this class of religionists; and to them I shall now briefly direct my at tention.

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. S. c. 14.

9 Will. 3. c. 1.

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 de fault of payment, the punishment of whipping, shall be in flicted on every person who shall be present at any pilgri mage, or meeting, held at any holy-well, or reputed holy, well. By the same law, all magistrates are required to demolish all crosses, pictures, or inscriptions, any where pub licly 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 edu. cate a tenth of the necessary supply of Catholic clergymen ; there is no public Catholics' seminary for Catholics in Ire land. Till 1793, Catholics were not admissible into the Col. lege 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.

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 a 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!!!

sas

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