soil. When the national dress, if dress it might be called, had disappeared, the habits of mind remained unchanged. New laws had been made, but the inveterate spirit of lawlessness existed in full force. No endeavours were used for effecting that religious reformation upon which the peace and security of Ireland must be founded; and the Court of Rome exerted its influence almost as openly during the reign of Charles and his brother as during the rebellion, and far more dangerously. Then came the Revolution, which made Ireland the seat of war, and left there its long train of evil consequences. From that time Great Britain may be charged with misgovernment towards that country.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

Look to the causes which occasioned that misgovernment, and see to what extent they may be considered as excusing it. Men judge wiseliest, when they judge most charitably.

MONTESINOS.

There can be no surer rule in regarding the history of the past; but it would be no safe principle for the conduct of present affairs. While this world is what it is, Suspicion must not be allowed to sleep at Wisdom's gates,* for

* Milton.

if her charge be resigned to Simplicity, the robber will enter in. William, our deliverer, neither intended nor inflicted wrong in Ireland; but from the sin of omission in its relations with that country, the British government in his days cannot be acquitted. His was an uneasy life; nor can we wonder that he, who during his whole reign was engaged in a continued struggle for the land of his birth and the kingdom which had adopted him, for the liberties of Europe and for the Protestant cause, should have regarded the affairs of Ireland as matters of inferior moment, which might stand over till a more convenient season. Under his successor there were the same all-important interests at stake abroad, and at home there were miserable intrigues, so base in their origin, so traitorous in their progress, so injurious in their consequences, that they have rendered Queen Anne's reign in one point of view as disgraceful, as it is glorious in another. Then came the House of Brunswick, and with its accession the happiest age of England began; but Ireland was still neglected, when there was no longer the excuse of more urgent duties for neglecting it.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

The race of statesmen had then become extinct among you. The two first monarchs of

1

that House were in their habits of mind, as well as by birth and education, foreigners, and they were transplanted too late in life ever to become intellectually or morally naturalized in their new country. You have said truly that that age was the happiest in English history, looking at its exemption from foreign or domestic troubles. At the same time, in whatever point of view it may be regarded, it is the least honourable. In no other half century was there so little written for posterity, or so little done that was worthy of remembrance. Manners were coarse; morals low; public probity a jest. Sound learning had almost disappeared. Ecclesiastical preferment was ill bestowed. Even the military character of the nation was ill supported; the army was in the worst state of discipline, for the spirit of jobbing and peculation extended to every thing. The English seemed to have no other ambition left than that of being a trading people, and that upon narrowest principles of shortsighted selfishness. That your institutions should have recovered from this general putrescence is the strongest proof of their vital force. There had been a tendency to this corruption from the time of the Great Rebellion, for political revolutions always loosen the moral cement of society. After a

the

generation, in which great sacrifices have been made to principles of civil or religious duty, the sense of either seems almost to be worn out. At such times Mammon finds the heart of a nation swept and garnished to receive him! Conscience has been rendered torpid, honour is set at nought, and the most opposite factions agree in acknowledging the goodliness of gain.

MONTESINOS.

The grievances of which Ireland complained in that age, arose exclusively from the blind system of trading selfishness. Against these it was that Swift raised his powerful voice. They have been removed, and Ireland would have partaken at this day, like Scotland, its full share of civilization and prosperity with the sister kingdom, had it, like Scotland, been every where subjected to the laws, and had not the most flagrant mispolicy been shown toward the Romanists; for what greater error could a government commit than that of conferring political privileges upon a class of freeholders who had no expectations of them, no pretensions to them upon any grounds of common policy, common convenience, or common sense; ..and giving encouragement to a priesthood, who are the confederated and sworn enemies of

that religion which is the corner-stone of the British constitution?

SIR THOMAS MORE.

Your age has not advanced more in chemical and mechanical science, and in promoting the comforts and luxuries of life for the classes to whose lot comforts and luxuries fall, than it has gone backward in some of the most essential points of polity. As there is no error more prevalent, so is there none more dangerous, than the doctrine which is so sedulously inculcated that the state ought not to concern itself with the religion of the subjects,.. whereas religion is the only foundation of society, and governments which have not this basis are built upon sand.

MONTESINOS.

Our ancestors knew this, and therefore they fenced the constitution with those ramparts which evil counsellors are exciting the present generation to throw down. I will not say that our church is perfect,..what earthly institution is so? I will not say that it stands in no need of improvement; but the world has never yet seen any other establishment in itself so good, and so beneficial in its results; nor is there any defect in it which may not safely be removed