but they again got poffeffion of it, took Sir Hardrefs, Jones, and fome other active partizans of the opposite caufe, and fent them over prifoners to England. The torrent was too violent to be stopped in it's course, by the feeble exertions of the old Irish Catholics, and a few zealous republicans. In a short time, not only Dublin but Galway, Athlone, and all the principal towns in Ireland, were in the hands of the royalifts, who, imitating the example of their friends in England, and with the fame views, united in declaring for a free parliament. A council of officers called together a convention of eftates, who, influenced by the fame defign with the royalifts, prefided in the administration of public affairs. The scheme was now ripe for execution. Charles had made fome general declarations at Breda, concerning his principles and intentions, with respect to the privileges of his fubjects; in thefe, notwithstanding the proofs he had given, of his being a man deftitute of principle, contrary to found policy, and all just regard to the rights of the constitution, the people of England and Ireland implicitly acquiefced. Anxious to free themfelves from a state of distraction, in which they had been involved for many years, without confidering, that it was much better to have a little more patience, than to precipitate themselves into the evils of defpotifm, he was proclaimed fovereign, in the chief towns of both kingdoms. The proclamation, in this country, was followed by a loyal address, and by a prefent of twenty thousand pounds to his Majefty, four thousand to the Duke of York, and two thou fand to the Duke of Glocefter.

VOL. II.

Adieu,

LET

XXXV.

I

LETTER

T is painful to every feeling of humanity, to view the state of this country, from the year fixteen hundred and forty one, to the restoration. During the whole of that period, the mind is not relieved by the intervention of one gleam of public happiness. The dreadful effects of ambition, of a violent party fpirit, and of religious bigotry, aggravated by the calamities of civil war, fill up the whole of the scene. Of thefe, ambition, or a thirst of lawless domination was the original fource of all our miferies. This provoked the natives to arms. The hiftory of mankind does not produce an instance, of a government founded in equity, and adminiftred by the principles of justice, being difturbed by a confpiracy of the fubjects, fimilar to the Irish infurrection. The ambition of Charles, which kindled the flame of contention betwixt him and the parliament, extended to this country, multiplied the diftractions of the feveral parties, and aggravated our miferies. By oppofing the arbitrary measures of the King, the parliament of England, acted a part worthy of the reprefentatives of a free people; they exhibited a noble example of patriotifm, which did honor to their spirit and magnanimity. But power fafcinates the heart, and the glorious fpirit of freedom is too apt to be limited, and partial in it's exertions, being corrupted by a mixture of human frailty. The love of liberty, an emanation from a Being of the most perfect goodness, never produces it's genuine effects, but when accompanied by that divine principle of benevolence, which would reftrain from injury, and animate to promote the happiness of all with whom we are con

nected

nected. Benevolence, nay a common regard to the rights of men, diftributes juftice with the ftricteft impartiality, is equally attentive to the privileges of thofe, who are not of our religious opinions, as of those who, in this respect, entertain the fame fentiments. It is not confined in it's views, does not center it's regard in immediate, whilft it is indifferent to the intereft, or violates the rights of more remote connexions. Had the parliament of England acted from these fair and generous principles, the Roman Catholics of Ireland would have ceafed to complain, and not only they, but all the advocates for freedom would have united their efforts, in eftablishing the liberties of both countries, on a folid and permanent foundation. But, as we have frequently observed, religious bigotry, produced in them, with respect to the natives of this country, a spirit of perfecution, and they were fcarcely in poffeffion of power, when they trampled on our civil privileges.

You will fay, that the King committed to them the care of this country, and that if he had not, neceffity would have obliged them to interfere in it's concerns. But were the Irish nation the property of his Majefty, which he might transfer or dispose of at pleasure? Could he convey to them, a right that did not belong to him, and which they could not pretend to exercise, without being guilty of ufurpation? As to their being obliged to interpofe in our affairs, this neceflity entirely arofe from the principles, in refpect to the natives, on which they formed their views, and conducted the operations of the war. Whatever national advantages they obtained, by their oppofition to Charles, were confined folely to England. We were in no refpect to participate of them; fo much was it the reverfe, that

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the

the most tyrannical of his proceedings, were not more hoftile to British liberty, than the measures of their government were in refpect to our rights. Had their interference been accompanied by a declaration, in favour of our liberties, and when their fituation changed, had they restored us to the poffeffion of them, it then might have been faid, that the encroachments, of which Irishmen complained, arofe from a neceffity, occafioned by the confufion of the times. But they thought no apology was required. It is evident, that Ireland, in their eftimation, was not entitled to the privileges of an independent kingdom. The favourable change of their affairs, produced no alteration in their principles of government, to our advantage. With the fuccefs of their arms, their violations multiplied. They difpofed of our property, they confined our trade, they bound us by their laws, as if we had no legislature of our own, as if we were flaves, in all refpects, fubject to their abfolute controul. Four years previous to the ufurpation of Oliver, we were utterly deprived of our national dignity, and loft our conftitution.

FROM the time that Cromwell threw off the mask, his conduct was perfectly confiftent with his principles. He did not, like the parliament, pretend to be the friend of liberty; under the power of an avowed defpot, neither England, or any other branch of the empire, could expect to enjoy the privileges of a free government.

Farewell.

LET

ONE had fuffered fo much, by the late revo

NON rection, instead of procuring a redress of any 1660. of the grievances, under which they labour

lutions, as the natives of Ireland. The infur

ed, aggravated their miferies. In addition to all their former hardships, their lands, as forfeited, were violently torn from them. They had been driven into a part of the provinceof Connaught, beyond the limits of which, they must not pass, were it but to feek for juftice, and to complain of their diftreffes, that common, that small confolation of the unfortunate. Some of these, anticipating the relief, which they flattered themselves they would obtain, on the acceffion of Charles, took, forcible poffeffion of their old lands, and habitations. Great pains were taken to represent to the King, this conduct of thefe much injured people, and that of all the Roman Catholics of Ireland, in the most odious point of view. It was the intereft of those, who had torn from them their property, and who were apprehenfive of lofing it, to do them these malignant offices. To prejudice them, in this refpect, no poffible effort was omitted. Befides the pains that were taken, to make unfavourable impreffions of them, on the mind of his Majefty, commiffioners in behalf of the foldiers and adventurers, were fent over to attend the English parliament, to prevent the natives from being reftored to their eftates. Upon intelligence, that a general act of indemnity was likely to be paffed, new commiffioners were dispatched to England, who ftrenuously exerted their endeavours, to exclude the Irish from deriving any advantage from it, in refpect to the forfeited lands. They were but too fuccessful

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