"three yeares be expired if there be no soche "there, or not inough (for I wish tene or twelve "at the least) to be sent, who might be placed "in offices of dignitie of the churche, in remote places of this realme. Then I do wishe, (but

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this most humblie under your hignes' correc

tion,) that you would write to the regent of "Scotlande, where, as I learne, there are maney "of the reformed churche, that are of this lan

'

guage; and though for a while your majestie "were at some chardge, it were well bestowed, "for, in shorte tyme, thousands would be gayn"ed to Christ, that nowe are lost, or left at the "woorst."

It does not appear that this princess ever acted on the salutary principles recommended by this gentleman. It is not too much to say, that if the plan here proposed had met with approbation and countenance, the majority of the people of Ireland would, at this day, have been virtuous, industrious, and enlightened protes

tants.

It generally happens in the course of human affairs that one evil is productive of many: and the circumstance to which I allude, has produced effects, the injurious influence of which, is felt to the present day. For in consequence of the ill concerted and inadequate measures which the government of Ireland,in conjunction with the reformers, pursued, almost the whole

of the Irish population were left in the hands of a foreign power, whose emissaries were numerous, subtile, and artful; and who could not but be successful where there were scarcely any to oppose, and among a people already prepossessed in their favour.

In the first place, the natives were by this means confirmed in their attachment to the church of Rome.-They had, before this, thought little on the subject; nor had they any particular reason to view with affectionate prepossession the holy pontiff, who, in the plenitude of his apostolic authority, had made a grant of their country to foreigners. But they were now received under his sacred protection; and taught to regard him, not merely as their spiritual father, whose decisions were infallible, and whose authority was inviolable, but as their earthly prince and sovereign, whom alone they were bound to obey. They were confirmed in these sentiments by Italian and Spanish priests, as well as by their own pastors, who had received at foreign seminaries their education, and who returned admiring the splendor of that hierarchy, which they were ambitious to re-establish. And here it is impossible not to animadvert on that narrowness of principle, and that inexpedient proscription which excluded the youth of almost a whole nation from both the

Irish and English colleges, and compelled them to go in quest of learning among a people whose prevailing maxims and opinions were hostile to civil and religious liberty. What plan could be more replete with evil, or more permanently repugnant to the improvement, happiness, and subordination of the people? They were ignorant, and we refused them the means of instruction; we accused them of ferocious barbarity, and at the same time denied them the opportunity of emerging into civilization. Thus, their attachment to that church was necessarily increased, whose universities alone afforded them all the academical education which it was in their power to obtain.

I am far from thinking that this evil is completely obviated in more modern times by the establishment of a Roman Catholic college at Maynooth. It is true, there can be no comparison between ignorant priests and catholic teachers who are enlightened and let a protestant government, by all means,support a popish seminary, rather than leave the teachers of this religion destitute of all education. But I feel persuaded, that in every point of view, a greater good would be obtained by opening the doors of the Irish university to students of every description. This measure would make protestants and papists better acquainted, and would certainly diminish

that unchristian rancour with which the minds of both parties have been sufficiently embued. It also may be presumed, without any disrespect to Maynooth, that it would afford the excluded party greater academical advantages, than at present they can enjoy.

I am aware that, in the English and Irish colleges, Roman catholics at present are allowed to attend lectures, though not permitted to take degrees and many gentlemen do avail themselves of this privilege. But it is only a few who can be supposed willing to place themselves in circumstances where they labour under marked disabilities; where there can be little mulation, since the reward of merit is denied. The catholics, therefore, as well as all classes of dissenters, justly consider themselves as excluded from the Dublin university.

Secondly; another evil which the circumstances to which I have referred have produced, is, a general prejudice against the English government. This was the natural and necessary effect of that state of things to which allusion has now been made. The priests strengthened this impression by inculcating the most absurd of all tenets, and by associating these tenets with devotional feelings: they taught the universal monarchy of the pope, as well civil as spiritual; his authority to excom

1

municate and depose princes, to absolve subjects from their oath of allegiance, and to dispense with every law of God and man, to sanctify rebellion and murder, and even to change the very nature and essential differences of vice and virtue. All this absurdity was not necessary to confirm the inveterate hostility of men to that government, which they had always conceived as foreign, from whose ministers they confessedly received many provocations, and to which they had never been fully reconciled. It is to this prejudice, which, in many instances, has not yet been effaced, that we are to trace some of the evils which afflict Ireland. Hence also it is, that the native Irish continue to dislike Englishmen. To me, in their own language, they frankly acknowleged their antipathy to this nation. They sometimes spoke of them as men who had iniquitously despoiled them of the land of their fathers, and who had, at the same time, persecuted them on account of their religion.*

Far from me be the illiberal desire of exciting prejudice against a people whose interests I sincerely wish to promote. In making these remarks, my only object is to shew, that the circumstances in which the Irish have been

* See Chapter III: