or thirty miles and not see a living creature, either man, or beast, or bird,-they being all dead, or had quitted those desolate places. Our soldiers would tell stories of the places where they saw smoke-it was so rare to see either smoke by day, or fire or candle by night." In this manner did the Irish live and die under Cromwell, suffering by the sword, famine, pestilence, and persecution, beholding the confiscation of a kingdom and the banishment of a race. "So that there perished (says S. W. Petry) in the year 1641, 650,000 human beings, whose blood somebody must atone for to God and the king!!"

In the reign of Charles II., by the Act of Setdement, four millions and a half of acres were for ever taken from the Irish. "This country," says the Earl of Essex, lord-lieutenant in 1675, "has been perpetually rent and torn, since his majesty's restoration. I can compare it to nothing better than the flinging the reward on the death of a deer among the packs of hounds -where every one pulls and tears where he can for himself." All wool grown in Ireland was, by act of Parliament, compelled to be sold to England; and Irish cattle were excluded from England. The English, however, were pleased to accept 30,000 head of cattle, sent as a gift from Ireland to the sufferers in the great fire-and the first day of the sessions, after this act of munificence, the Parliament passed fresh acts of exclusion against the productions of that country.

"Among the many anomalous situations in which the Irish have been placed, by those 'marriage vows, false as dicers' oaths,' which bind their country to England, the dilemma in which they found themselves at the Revolution was not the least perplexing or cruel. If they were loyal to the king de jure, they were hanged by the king, de facto; and if they escaped with life from the king de facto, it was but to be plundered and proscribed by the king de jure

of James I. and at the restoration, despoiled the natives of no less than ten millions six hundred and thirty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven acres, now added to its plunde? one million sixty thousand seven hundred and ninety-two acres more, being the amount, alto gether, (according to Lord Clare's calculation) of the whole superficial contents of the island Thus not only had all Ireland suffered confiscation in the course of this century, but no inconsiderable portion of it had been twice and even thrice confiscated. Well might Lord Clare say, 'that the situation of the Irish na tion, at the revolution, stands unparalleled in the history of the inhabited world."-(pp. 111 -113.)

66

By the articles of Limerick, the Irish were promised the free exercise of their religion. but from that period till the year 1788, every year produced some fresh penalty against that religion-some liberty was abridged, some right impaired, or some suffering increased. By acts in King William's reign, they were prevented from being solicitors. No Catholic was allowed to marry a Protestant; and any Catholic who sent a son to Catholic countries for education was to forfeit all his lands. In the reign of Queen Anne, any son of a Catholic who chose to turn Protestant got possession of his father's estate. No Papist was allowed to purchase freehold property, or_to_take a lease for more than thirty years. If a Protestant dies intestate, the estate is to go to the next Protestant heir, though all to the tenth generation should be Catholic. In the same manner, if a Catholic dies intestate, his estate is to go to the next Protestant. No Papist is to dwell in Limerick or Galway. No Papist is to take an annuity for life. The widow of a Papist turning Protestant to have a portion of the chattels of deceased, in spite of any will. Every Papist teaching schools to be presented as a regular Popish convict. Prices of catching Catholic priests from 50s. to 10., according to rank. Papists are to answer all questions respecting other Papists, or to be committed to jail for twelve months. No trust to be undertaken for Papists. No Papist to be "In fact, most of the outlawries in Ireland on grand juries. Some notion may be formed were for treason committed the very day on of the spirit of those times, from an order of which the Prince and Princess of Orange ac- the House of Commons, "that the sergeant-atcepted the crown in the banqueting-house; arms should take into custody all Papists that though the news of this event could not possi- should presume to come into the gallery!" bly have reached the other side of the Chan-Commons' Journal, vol. iii. fol. 976.) During nel on the same day, and the lord-lieutenant this reign, the English Parliament legislated of King James, with an army to enforce obedi- as absolutely for Ireland as they do now for ence, was at that time in actual possession of Rutlandshire-an evil not to be complained the government, so little was common sense of, if they had done it as justly. In the reign consulted, or the mere decency of forms ob- of George I. the horses of Papists were seized served by that rapacious spirit, which nothing for the militia, and rode by Protestants, towards less than the confiscation of the whole island which the Catholics paid double, and were could satisfy; and which having, in the reign compelled to find Protestant substitutes. They were prohibited from voting at vestries, or being high or petty constables. An act of the English Parliament in this reign opens as follows:-" Whereas attempts have been lately made to shake off the subjection of Ireland to the imperial crown of these realms, be it en acted," &c. &c. In the reign of George II four-sixths of the population were cut off from the rights of voting at elections, by the neces

afterwards.

"Hac gener atque socer coeant mercede suorum."

VIRGIL.

"In a manner so summary, prompt, and high-mettled, 'Twixt father and son-in-law matters were settled."

Among the persons most puzzled and perplexed by the two opposite royal claims on their allegiance, were the clergymen of the established church; who, having first prayed for King James as their lawful sovereign, as soon as William was proclaimed, took to praying for him; but again, on the success of the Jacobite forces in the north, very prudently prayed for King James once more, fill the arrival of Schomberg, when, as far as his quarters reached, they returned to praying for King William

again.

sity under which they were placed of taking the oath of supremacy. Barristers and solicitors marrying Catholics are exposed to all the penalties of Catholics. Persons robbed by privateers during a war with a Catholic state, are to be indemnified by a levy on the Catholic inhabitants of the neighbourhood. All marriages between Catholics and Protestants are annulled. All Popish priests celebrating them are to be hanged. "This system" (says Arthur Young) "has no other tendency than that of driving out of the kingdom all the personal wealth of the Catholics, and extinguishing their industry within it! and the face of the country, every object which presents itself to travellers, tell him how effectually this has been done."-Young's Tour in Ireland, vol. ii. p. 48.

and correct abuse. He stands in the singular predicament of being equally trusted by the rulers and the ruled. It is a new era in government, when such men are called into action; and, if there were not proclaimed and fatal limits to that ministerial liberality-which, so far as it goes, we welcome without a grudge, and praise without a sneer-we might yet hope that, for the sake of mere consistency, they might be led to falsify our forebodings. But alas! there are motives more immediate, and therefore irresistible; and the time is not yet come, when it will be believed easier to govern Ireland by the love of the many than by the power of the few-when the paltry and dangerous machinery of bigoted faction and prostituted patronage may be dispensed with, and the vessel of the state be propelled by the Such is the history of Ireland-for we are natural current of popular interests and the now at our own times; and the only remain- breath of popular applause. In the mean ing question is, whether the system of improve- time, we cannot resist the temptation of gracing ment and conciliation begun in the reign of our conclusion with the following_beautiful George III. shall be pursued, and the remain-passage, in which the author alludes to the ing incapacities of the Catholics removed, or hopes that were raised at another great era of all these concessions be made insignificant by partial concession and liberality—that of the an adherence to that spirit of proscription revolution of 1782,-when, also, benefits were which they professed to abolish? Looking to conferred which proved abortive because they the sense and reason of the thing, and to the were incomplete-and balm poured into the ordinary working of humanity and justice, wound, where the envenomed shaft was yet left when assisted, as they are here, by self-interest to rankle. and worldly policy, it might seem absurd to "And here," says the gallant Captain Rock,doubt of the result. But looking to the facts "as the free confession of weaknesses constiand the persons by which we are now sur-tutes the chief charm and use of biography-1 rounded, we are constrained to say that we greatly fear that these incapacities never will be removed, till they are removed by fear. What else, indeed, can we expect when we see them opposed by such enlightened men as Mr. Peel-faintly assisted by men of such admiraole genius as Mr. Canning-when royal dukes consider it as a compliment to the memory of their fathers to continue this miserable system of bigotry and exclusion,-when men act ignominiously and contemptibly on this question, who do so on no other question,-when almost the only persons zealously opposed to this general baseness and fatuity are a few whigs and reviewers, or here and there a virtuous poet, like Mr. Moore? We repeat again, that the measure never will be effected but by fear. In the midst of one of our just and necessary wars, the Irish Catholics will compel this country to grant them a great deal more than they at present require, or even contemplate. We regret most severely the protraction of the disease, and the danger of the remedy; but in this way it is that human affairs are carried on!

We are sorry we have nothing for which to praise the administration on the subject of the Catholic question-but, it is but justice to say, that they have been very zealous and active in detecting fiscal abuses in Ireland, in improving mercantile regulations, and in detecting Irish jobs. The commission on which Mr. Wallace presided has been of the greatest possible utility, and does infinite credit to the government. The name of Mr. Wallace, in any comnission, has now become a pledge to the pub!ic that there is a real intention to investigate

will candidly own that the dawn of prosperity and concord, which I now saw breaking over the fortunes of my country, so dazzled and deceived my youthful eyes, and so unsettled every hereditary notion of what I owed to my name and family, that-shall I confess it?-I even hailed with pleasure the prospects of peace and freedom that seemed opening around me; nay, was ready, in the boyish enthusiasm of the moment, to sacrifice all my own personal interest in all future riots and rebellions, to the one bright, seducing object of my country's liberty and repose.

"When I contemplated such a man as the venerable Charlemont, whose nobility was to the people like a fort over a valley-elevated above them solely for their defence; who introduced the polish of the courtier into the camp of the freeman, and served his country with all that pure, Platonic devotion, which a true knight in the times of chivalry proffered to his mistress;-when I listened to the eioquence of Grattan, the very music of freedomher first, fresh matin song, after a long night of slavery, degradation, and sorrow;--when I saw the bright offerings which he brought to the shrine of his country,-wisdom, genius, courage, and patience, invigorated and embellished by all those social and domestic virtues, without which the loftiest talents stand isolated in the moral waste around them, like the pillars of Palmyra towering in a wilderness!-when I reflected on all this, it not only disheartened me for the mission of discord which I had undertaken, but made me secretly hope that it might be rendered unnecessary; and that a country, which could produce such men and

achieve such a revolution, might yet-in spite | owes this short era of glory, our work, believe of the joint efforts of the government and my family take her rank in the scale of nations, and be happy!

"My father, however, who saw the momentary dazzle by which I was affected, soon drew me out of this false light of hope in wnicn I lay basking, and set the truth before me in a way but too convincing and ominous. Be not deceived, boy,' he would say, 'by the fallacious appearances before you. Eminently great and good as is the man to whom Ireland

me, will last longer than his. We have a power on our side that will not willingly let us die;' and, long after Grattan shall have disappeared from earth,-like that arrow shot into the clouds by Alcestes, effecting nothing but leaving a long train of light behind him,the family of the Rocks will continue to flourish in all their native glory, upheld by the everwatchful care of the legislature, and fostered by that nursing-mother of Liberty,' the Church.'"

GRANBY.*

[EDINBURGH REVIEW, 1826.]

THERE is nothing more amusing in the spec- | Granby seems to us to answer this test ex tacles of the present day, than to see the Sir tremely well; it produces unpunctuality, makes Johns and Sir Thomases of the House of Com- the reader too late for dinner, impatient of conmons struck aghast by the useful science and tradiction, and inattentive,-even if a bishop wise novelties of Mr. Huskisson and the chan- is making an observation, or a gentleman cellor of the exchequer. Treason, Disaffection, lately from the Pyramids, or the Upper CataAtheism, Republicanism, and Socinianism-racts, is let loose upon the drawing-room. The the great guns in the Noodle's park of artillery objection, indeed, to these compositions, when -they cannot bring to bear upon these gentle- they are well done, is, that it is impossible to do men. Even to charge with a regiment of an- any thing, or perform any human duty, while cestors is not quite so efficacious as it used to we are engaged in them. Who can read Mr. be; and all that remains, therefore, is to rail Hallam's Middle Ages, or extract the root of against Peter M'Culloch and political econo- an impossible quantity, or draw up a bond, my! In the mean time, day after day, down when he is in the middle of Mr. Trebeck and goes one piece of nonsense or another. The Lady Charlotte Duncan? How can the boy's most approved trash, and the most trusty cla- lesson be heard, about the Jove-nourished mours, are found to be utterly powerless. Two- Achilles, or his six miserable verses upon Dido penny taunts and trumpery truisms have lost be corrected, when Henry Granby and Mr. their destructive omnipotence; and the ex- Courtenay are both making love to Miss Jerhausted commonplace-man, and the afflicted myn? Common life palls in the middle of fool, moan over the ashes of imbecility, and these artificial scenes. All is emotion when strew flowers on the urn of ignorance! Gene- the book is open-all dull, flat, and feeble when ral Elliot found the London tailors in a state it is shut. of mutiny, and he raised from them a regiment Granby, a young man of no profession, living of light cavalry, which distinguished itself in with an old uncle in the country, falls in love ♣ very striking manner at the battle of Minden. with Miss Jermyn, and Miss Jermyn with him; In humble imitation of this example, we shall but Sir Thomas and Lady Jermyn, as the avail ourselves of the present political disaf- young gentleman is not rich, having discover fection and unsatisfactory idleness of many ed, by long living in the world and patient men of rank and consequence, to request their observation of its ways, that young people are attention to the Novel of Granby-written, as commonly Malthus-proof and have children, we have heard, by a young gentleman of the and that young and old must eat, very naturally name of Lister,† and from which we have de- do what they can to discourage the union. The rived a considerable deal of pleasure and en- young people, however, both go to town-meet tertainment. at balls-flutter, blush, look and cannot speak The main question as to a novel is-did it-speak and cannot look,-suspect, misinteramuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon! did you mistake eleven for ten, and twelve for eleven? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not-story, language, love, scandal itself, cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that, or it does, nothing. Now

• Granby. A Novel in Three Volumes. London, Colbarn, 1826.

This is the gentleman who now keeps the keys of

Life and Death, the Janitor of the world.

pret, are sad and mad, peevish and jealous, fond and foolish; but the passion, after all, seems less near to its accomplishment at the end of the season than the beginning. The uncle of Granby, however, dies, and leaves to his nephew a statement accompanied with the requisite proofs-that Mr. Tyrrel, the supposed son of Lord Malton, is illegitimate, and that he, Granby, is the heir to Lord Malton's fortune. The second volume is now far advanced,

and it is time for Lord Malton to die. Accord ingly Mr. Lister very judiciously despatches

Having introduced our reader to the Miss Cliftons, we must make him acquainted with Mr. Trebeck, one of those universally appear. ing gentlemen and tremendous table tyrants by whom London society is so frequently go verned:

Upon this slender story, the author has succeeded in making a very agreeable and interesting novel; and he has succeeded, we think, chiefly, by the very easy and natural picture tainment, and a keen and lively turn for "Mr. Trebeck had great powers of enter of manners, as they really exist among the upper classes; by the description of new cha- Satire; and could talk down his superiors, racters judiciously drawn and faithfully pre- confidence. He saw the advantages of being whether in rank or talent, with very imposing served; and by the introduction of many striking and well-managed incidents; and we are formidable, and observed with derision how particularly struck throughout the whole with those whose malignity he pampered with the discretion and good sense of the author. ridicule of others, vainly thought to purchase He is never nimious; there is nothing in ex- by subserviency exemption for themselves. cess; there is a good deal of fancy and a great knew the precise current value of pretension; He had sounded the gullibility of the world; deal of spirit at work, but a directing and and soon found himself the acknowledged superintending judgment rarely quits him. We would instance, as a proof of his tact umpire, the last appeal, of many contented and talent, the visit at Lord Daventry's, and the description of characters of which the party recommendation, but rather left his example "He seldom committed himself by praise or is composed. There are absolutely no events; and adoption to work its way. As for censure nobody runs away, goes mad, or dies. There is little of love, or of hatred; no great passion he had both ample and witty store; but here comes into play; but nothing can be farther too he often husbanded his remarks, and where removed from dulness and insipidity. Who it was needless or dangerous to define a fault, has ever lived in the world without often could check admiration by an incredulous meeting the Miss Cliftons?

a

followers.

smile, and depress pretensions of a season's standing by the raising of an eyebrow. He and a keen relish for bantering and exposing had a quick perception of the foibles of others, them. No keeper of a menagerie could better show off a monkey than he could an 'original.' subject to place his own absurdities in the He could ingeniously cause the unconscious best point of view, and would cloak his derision under the blandest cajolery. Imitators he loved to turn upon the luckless adopters of loved much; but to baffle them-more. He out of the scrape into which himself had led his last folly, and see them precipitately back

"The Miss Cliftons were good-humoured girls; not handsome, but of pleasing manners, and sufficiently clever to keep up the ball of conversation very agreeably for an occasional half hour. They were always au courant du jour, and knew and saw the first of every thing were in the earliest confidence of many bride elect, and could frequently tell that a marriage was 'off' long after it had been announced as 'on the tapis' in the morning papers-always knew something of the new opera, or the new Scotch novel, before any body else did-were the first who made fizgigs, or acted charades-contrived to have private views of most exhibitions, and were supposed he knew the when,' the 'where,' and the "In the art of cutting he shone unrivalled: to have led the fashionable throng to the Caledonian Chapel, Cross Street, Hatton Gar'how.' Without affecting useless short-sightden. Their employments were like those of edness, he could assume that calm but wanmost other girls; they sang, played, drew, dering gaze which veers, as if unconsciously, rode, read occasionally, spoiled much muslin, round the proscribed individual; neither fix. manufactured purses, handscreens, and reti-ing, nor to be fixed; not looking on vacancy, cules for a repository, and transcribed a con- abstracted; a look which perhaps excuses you nor on any one object; neither occupied nor siderable quantity of music out of large fair print into diminutive manuscript.

them.

to the person cut, and, at any rate, prevents "Miss Clifton was clever and accomplished; idol. He wished to astonish, even if he did him from accosting you. Originality was his rather cold, but very conversable; collected seals, franks, and anecdotes of the day; and not amuse; and had rather say a silly thing than a commonplace one. was a greater retailer of the latter. Anne was He was led by this odd and entertaining; was a formidable quiz-rudeness and vulgarity; but he had consider sometimes even to approach the verge of zer, and no mean caricaturist; liked fun in most shapes; and next to making people able tact, and a happy hardihood, which genelaugh, had rather they stared at what she said. rally carried him through the difficulties into Maria was the echo of the other two: vouched which his fearless love of originality brought for all Miss Clifton's anecdotes, and led the him. Indeed, he well knew that what would, laugh at Anne's repartees. They were plain, scouted in any body else, would pass current in the present condition of his reputation, be and they knew it; and cared less about it than with the world in him. Such was the faryoung ladies usually do. Their plainness, however, would have been less striking, but famed and redoubtable Mr. Trebeck.”—-(pp. for that hard, pale, par-boiled town look, that 109-112.) stamp of fashion, with which late hours and hot rooms generally endow the female face." -(pp. 103-105.)

This sketch we think exceedingly clever. But we are not sure that its merit is fully sustained by the actual presentment of its subject

L

to sit near-sometimes. I am to-day. This is one of my lucid intervals. I'm much better, thanks to my keeper. There he is, on the other side of the table-the tall man in black,' (pointing out Mr. Bennet,) a highly respectable kind of person. I came with him here for change of air. How do you think I look at present?'-Caroline could not answer him for laughing. Nay,' said he, 'it is cruel to laugh on such a subject. It is very hard that you should do that, and misrepresent my meaning too.'-Well then,' said Caroline, resuming a respectable portion of gravity, that I may not be guilty of that again, what accomplishments do you allow to be tolerable?'

He makes his debut at dinner very character- | I question if you have the power of frowning istically, by gliding in quietly after it is half them down in a very forbidden manuer: buti over; but in the dialogue which follows with would give them no countenance nevertheMiss Jermyn, he seems to us a little too reso- less. Your advice seems a little ironical.'lutely witty, and somewhat affectedly odd-'Oh, you may either follow it or reverse itthough the whole scene is executed with spirit that is its chief beauty. It is equally good and talent. taken either way.'-After a slight pause, he "The duke had been discoursing on cookery, continued-I hope you do not sing, or play, when Mr. Trebeck turned to her, and asked in or draw, or do any thing that every body else a low tone if she had ever met the duke before does.'I am obliged to confess that I do a -'I assure you,' said he, ‘that upon that sub-little-very little-in each.'-'I understand ject he is well worth attending to. He is sup- your "very little:" I'm afraid you are accom posed to possess more true science than any plished.'-You need have no fear of that. amateur of his day. By the bye, what is the But why are you an enemy to all accomplish. dish before you? It looks well, and I see you ments?All accomplishments? Nay, surely, are eating some of it. Let me recommend it you do not think me an enemy to all? What to him upon your authority; I dare not upon can you possibly take me for?'-'I do not my own. Then pray do not use mine.- know,' said she, laughing slightly.-'Yes, I see Yes, I will, with your permission; I'll tell you do not know exactly what to make of me him you thought, by what dropped from him—and you are not without your apprehensions. in conversation, that it would exactly suit the I can perceive that, though you try to conceal genius of his taste. Shall I? Yes.-Duke,' them. But never mind. I am a safe person (raising his voice a little, and speaking across the table,) Oh, no! how can you? Why not!-Duke,' (with a glance at Caroline,) 'will you allow me to take wine with you?' 'I thought,' said she, relieved from her trepidation, and laughing slightly, 'you would never say any thing so very strange. You have too good an opinion of me; I blush for my unworthiness. But confess, that in fact you were rather alarmed at the idea of being held up to such a critic as the recommender of a bad dish. Oh, no, I was not thinking of that; but I hardly know the duke: and it would have seemed so odd; and perhaps he might have thought that I had really told you to say something of that kind.'-'Of course he would; Let me see,' said he, with a look of consibut you must not suppose that he would have deration; you may play a waltz with one been at all surprised at it. I'm afraid you are hand, and dance as little as you think convenot aware of the full extent of your privileges, nient. You may draw caricatures of your and are not conscious how many things young intimate friends. You may not sing a note of ladies can, and may, and will do.'-Indeed I Rossini; nor sketch gateposts and donkeys am not-perhaps you will instruct me.'-Ah, after nature. You may sit to a harp, but you I never do that for any body. I like to see need not play it. You must not paint miniayoung ladies instruct themselves. It is better tures nor copy Swiss costumes. But you may for them, and much more amusing to me. manufacture any thing-from a cap down to But, however, for once I will venture to tell a pair of shoes-always remembering that the you, that a very competent knowledge of the less useful your work the better. Can you duties of women may, with proper attention, remember all this? I do not know,' said be picked up in a ball room.Then I hope, she, it comprehends so much; and I am said she, laughing, 'you will attribute my defi- rather puzzled between the "mays" and "must ciency to my little experience of ball. I have nots." However, it seems, according to your only been at two.'-Only two! and one of code, that very little is to be required of me; them I suppose a race ball. Then you have for you have not mentioned any thing that I not yet experienced any of the pleasures of a positively must do'--'Ah, well, I can reduce London season? Never had the dear delight all to a very small compass. You must be an of seeing and being seen, in a well of tall archeress in the summer, and a skater in the people at a rout, or passed a pleasant hour at winter, and play well at billiards all the year; a ball upon a staircase? I envy you. You and if you do these extremely well, my admirahave much to enjoy.'-'You do not mean that tion will have no bounds.''I believe I must I really have? Yes-really. But let me forfeit all claim to your admiration then, for give you a caution or two. Never dance with unfortunately I am not so gifted.'--Then you any man without first knowing his character must place it to the account of your other and condition, on the word of two credible gifts. Certainly-when it comes.'-'Oh it is chaperons. At balls, too, consider what you sure to come, as you well know: but, nevercome for-to dance of course, and not to con- theless, I like that incredulous look extremely.' verse; therefore, never talk yourself, nor-He then turned away, thinking probably courage it in others.'-'I'm afraid I can only that he had paid her the compliment of suffi swer for myself. Why, if foolish, well- cient attention, and began a conversation with meaning people will choose to be entertaining, the duchess, which was carried ɔn in such a