this ground the chiefs discharged men for the defence of the province him. In my opinion Meton affected of Ulster." madness more skilfully than did Reformation is well known to be Ulysses of Ithaca: for Palamedes detected the latter; but none of the Athenians suspected the former, No. 66.-The answer of a Scythian concerning cold. On a fall of snow, a king of Scythia asked a person whether he did not feel cold. He, retorting, asked the king whether his face was cold; who answering, "No," he replied, "I am all face." A REVIEW of the POLITICAL CON- A of slow growth. The schemes of James, however, took root, and form. ed the ground-work of a general in termixture of sentiment and interest, between the Irish and their conquerors. The suspension of martial differences allowed leisure for the revival of religious disputes. The oath of supremacy was objected to by the catholic party, while the protestants vehemently asserted its propriety. Though the court-religion obtained a majority of adherents, the catholics were powerful and obstinate. They appealed against the returns to parliament of many of the adverse fac[Continued from p. 408, vol. vii.) tion, and laid their complaints at the NEW era now opened to the foot of the throne. Redress, howeye of the historian. Separate ever, was not to be obtained; and wars with internal Irish factions, no silent dissatisfaction was the only longer exist. The whole country resource. The boldness with which bows to the yoke, and it remains to the King thus caused his right and trace the progress of legislative wis- title to be established, in defiance of dom through ages in which the pre- the displeasure of the native catholics, judices of habit, and the usual vices speaks, most forcibly, the success of fierce and untutored nature, are with which his political regulations all it has to combat. had already been crowned. Beneath James I. commenced his reign with the security of a fixed and uniform a general act of oblivion, in regard to government, commerce expanded and his Irish subjects. The districts re- flourished. The revenue of the cus cently subjugated were divided into toms increased during the reign of counties, and itinerant judges, for the James, from fifty pounds, to nine first time, penetrated every recess of thousand seven hundred pounds the country. Sheriffs were appointed a-year. The whole revenue of the to each of the thirty-two counties, country, however, was still inadeand the Irish law, with all its alleged quate to the expenses of government, abuses, was generally abolished. By by the annual sum of sixteen thouthis alteration, it appears that the sand pounds; and the amalgamation commonalty of the Island were cer- of interests promoted by the sovetainly benefited. The vassal now, reign, did not produce sufficient har for the first time, saw his chieftain mony to reduce the military establishbrought to the same tribunal with ment of the English in Ireland, which himself, and each tenant obtained consisted, in the latter years of this exemption from the burthen of per- reign, of four thousand men. sonal services. The most serious Charles I. appears to have consistep adopted towards a continuance dered Ireland merely as a dependant of the advantages gained by the province, from whose barbarous na English arms, was the plantation of tives some scanty resources might be colonies on the forfeited lands. This obtained. In vain we look for any step was taken with judgment. acts of legislative solicitude, for any Great advantages were held out to instances of parental wisdom, ope the settlers, and military assistance rating on subjugated rudeness. The was procured, by means of the novel Viceroy of Wentworth, it is true, institution of Knights-Baronets, each evinced considerable anxiety for the member of which was to subscribe promotion of commerce. He adsufficient for the "support of thirty vanced thirty thousand pounds for the encouragement of the linen manu- friend, no circumstances occur during factories: but this sum came from the protectorate of Cromwell, to il his personal and private fortune. lustrate the political connection beGovernment assuredly took interest tween the two kingdoms. in the melioration of the state of the The Irish had become sufficiently Irish clergy; but when their livings sensible of the value of a fixed governwere increased. the King did not fail men; and they profited by this exto become a partner in the benefits, perience on the death of the Protector. by demanding eight subsidies, of four A convention of the estates assemshillings for every pound of the an- bled, in defiance of the English nual produce of each benefice, pay- council, and voted a loyal address able in eight years, beside the tax of and several handsome presents, to the one twentieth imposed by Henry exiled sovereign. Both catholics and VIII. Every instance in which protestants joined in the spirit of this Charles interfered with the concerns address, though actuated by different of Ireland, seems to have had money motives. The first parliament in the for its object; and such was his success, reign of Charles I. assembled at that the treasury of Ireland, now, for Dublin on the 8th of May. 1661; the the first time, boasted the possession lower house being composed chiefly of 20,0001. after all its incumbrances of protestants, The business was were discharged. conducted with little opposition, and The influence of Wentworth for a the declaration made by the King, on time induced the Irish to take an his accession, regulated the proceedactive part in the royal cause, at the ings. This declaration was judiciously commencement of the civil wars; but impartial, and contained a plan for the enormity of the services required satisfying, as far as possible, the dewas not to be tolerated; and the mands of the adventurers, the solIrish gradually fell into the views of diers, and the catholics. A combinathe great majority of the English na- tion of circumstances, attendant on tion. With polite watchfulness the the depopulating tendency of civil Irish House of Commons now endea- wars, the emigrations to America, and voured, by their famous declaration the prevalence of the plague, caused concerning the Queries, to circum, an act to be passed, in which all Irish scribe the prerogative, and conse- cattle, imported by England, were quently extend the liberties of the declared subject to a duty that subject. Though these objects were amounted to virtual prohibition. not to be hastily attained, the King's The effects of this act were most caembarrassments induced him to stoop lamitous to Ireland: the price of catto many concessions. As the motive tle speedily fell from fifty to ten shilof these humiliations was too appa- lings per head while the rents in rent to escape notice, they served England (to enhance which the act rather to stimulate rebellion, than in- had been passed) still continued subsure peace; and the catholics and ject to the morbid depression they native Irish accordingly resorted to had before experienced. This act the sword. A bloody contest ensued, (the offspring of those members which was fomented and prolonged, known by the appellation of country by the descendants of those Irish gentlemen) can never be sufficiently chiefs, who had forfeited their posses- reprobated, as a proof that England sions by former acts of rebellion. was, at this period, guided by a policy These men, as, might be expected, that disclaimed all fellowship of comprofited by the weakness of govern- munities, all ties of honour and ment; and one scene of severe com- justice, in her political intercourse motion took place, until the successes with the chief of her dependencies. of Cromwell and the stern wisdom It is but justice to the memory of of his decisions, stopped the deluge Charles to observe that he was, in of human blood, and enforced the awful pause of conflict. As her internal commotions had wakened Ire Those who had settled ip Ireland, land too seriously to render her either on lands purchased of government, at dreadful as a foe, or profitable as a a low rate. person, decidedly averse to this op- from the hasty measures of James, pressive act; and humanity must blush which betray so complete an ignowhile she owns that it supposed a de- rance of human nature, so utter a sire to embroil the affairs of Ireland, want of wisdom and consideration, in order to remove Ormond from the he turns with contempt and disgust. government, is supposed to have actu- After three years of puerile despotated the cabal which carried it into ism, James fled to Ireland, as his execution. last resource. His Catholic friends, A statute so mutually injurious with manly fidelity, flocked to his could not long exist as a barrier be- standard; and a tardy policy, too tween the two countries. In the flimsy to avoid detection, induced the year 1758, the free importation of forlorn fugitive to offer protection Irish cattle was permitted, for a li- and friendship to his estranged Protes mited time, and renewed on the tant subjects. His authority, howexpiration of the grant. ever, was short-lived, but the Irish The rude conflicts of individual Parliament boldly asserted national ambition had now given way to the independence, and by repealing the insidious machinations of political act of settlement, menaced the Prointrigue. The cabinet was bent on testants with utter extirpation. The the downfall of Ormond; to achieve authority of the English House of this unjustifiable object, they stimu- Commons set every act of this Parlia lated the catholics to exertion, by ment aside, and proclaimed an edict promises of indulgence. Various po- For the security of their Majesties litical cabals ensued; but, happily, Protestant subjects in Ireland." without any consequential effect on Not satisfied with the security prothe unity necessary to be preserved cured for the Protestants by this act, between the two kingdoms. The the English Parliament extended the prudence of Ormond preserved pub- new oaths of allegiance to the people lic tranquillity, in spite of all factious of Ireland, and excluded Papists from opposition, till his removal gave the the rights they had been accustomed catholic party an imperious ascend to enjoy, with undeviating severity. ancy. To complete the triumph of The statute now enacted repeals the this interest, the death of the king second of Elizabeth; and after exshortly took place, and James mount- cluding the Catholics from all places ed the throne, doomed to produce a permanency of rational government, through the mean of individual bigotry and imbecility. of public trust, proceeds to forbid any person, who shall omit to take the oath of supremacy, to sit or vote in either House of Parliament; to proA series of indiscreet counsels now secute any suit in a court of law or took place. The Protestant militia equity; to be guardian of any child, was hastily disarmed, and the attor- executor or administrator of any will. ney-general, and most of the judges, Should any native of Ireland infringe who were inclined to temperate pro- these articles, he was to forfeit five ceedings, were removed with impo- hundred pounds for every particular litic abruptness. In advancing his offence. own religious opinions, or those Candour must own that these meawhich he conceived most conducive sures were unjustifiably severe. Re to the welfare of mankind, James ligious restrictions might, for the purdid no more than we have seen Eliza- pose of general security, be, at this beth perform, with firmness and suc- juncture, politically necessary; but cess. But to the wary prudence of mere security did not need such sethe queen, the headstrong policy of vere exactions. When the Catholics James is sadly contrasted. Waving obtained temporary power under the all examination of the merits of their fugitive James, it does not appear, respective tenets, the historian must from the writers least favourable to point with applause to the cautious de- their sentiments, that they exercised liberation with which Elizabeth felt any personal severities on the humbled her way in the prosecution of that Protestants. It assuredly is evident grand question, and the establish- that the English House of Commons ment of her chosen mode of faith; forgot this circumstance when it framed the statute from which we THE BEE.-No. IV. have recapitulated several particulars. Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant, It is singular that no declaration of rights, similar to those obtained by the Commons of England Scot DEXTERITY OF LOVE. Lady Namur, good land, was donanted by the Irish Par- A YOUNG, hdy of alar, of 29 at liament; the liberties of Ireland, it a loss in conducting the corespondence may be supposed, were deemed suffi- which was to fix their repeated assigciently secure from the encroach- nations. A hair-dresser, not an unments of prerogative, by the declara- usual messenger of love, was chosen tion contained in the English Act of as the agent; but how escape the viSettlement; but perhaps we shall be gilance of her father, a widower, who nearer the truth in saying that the had a perpetual eye upon her conIrish did not dare, at this period, to duct? Singular as it may appear, claim any condescensions from the the old gentleman's wig was chosen Court of England. The student of as the letter-box. He wore a bag, history would scarcely believe that a which his daughter used to take off new era of rational liberty took place every evening when he called for his in England at the close of the 17th night cap, and was sure to find a bilcentury, when he looked over the let from her lover, which the hair dependencies of that potent island. dresser had placed there in the mornThe first parliament, assembled by ing, when he affixed the bag, and William, was prorogued almost as which the old gentleman had unsussoon as convened, because it refused pectingly carried about all the day. to agree to a bill for a new and une- She had sufficient time to peruse it, qual land-tax! No other Parliament and replace her answer, which the was assembled till 1095, though the hair-dresser withdrew in the mornEnglish Houses of Parliament were ing, to deliver to her lover. frequently supplicated in the mean time, to redress the crying grievances of In 1779, some excavations being Ireland. A crooked and pernicious po- made in Paris, by order of the police, licy led William to pay no other atten- in search of stolen articles, said to be tion to his forlorn neighbour than such hidden between Belleville and Mont as drained her of vital nourishment and Maitre, a stone was found, with an strength. Various destructive irregu inscription in Roman characters, larities were countenanced by the which was deemed worthy of the English king, with a view of gratify- examination of the gentlemen of the ing the friends whom he could not academy, and a committee was named otherwise reward by the profits of for this purpose. Here is the inscripforfeited lands. The pay of the army tion in its original order: was intercepted, and the soldiers not only permitted to live at free quar ters, but to levy heavy contributions from the defenceless natives. When scenes like these were connived at by the sovereign, a purity of legislative demeanor was not to be expected in the servants of the crown. No claim could now succeed in the vice-regal court, but such as was backed by the ANTIQUARIAN SAGACITY. I I L E C E M I D E C HN SANE S. The Academy of Inscriptions bestrong argument of a bribe. In this ing completely puzzled, had recourse lamentable mass of corruption, it is, to the learned author of the Primitive however, gratifying to find that nei- World, Count de Gebelin, who was ther religious party was collectively inclined to think it antediluvian, or at oppressed. The cmnipotence of gold least as an ient as the skeletons of triumphed over abstract opinions, and unknown animals found in the neighthe Catholics now found themselves bourhood. He had written to the able to mitigate the severity of the late learned Mr. Bryant on the sublaws, in regard to their sect, by means ject, and was preparing a dissertation of purchased protections. [To be continued.] to shew that the Roman el aracters were derived from those of the in scription, which were very rude and the culpable organ of his pleasures, primitive, and seemed to be the only but sparing the other parts of his remains of the Celtic empire. body. Meanwhile a member of the aca SIR, SALLUST. PASSAGE in correspondent Duidius says demy, of a more cool and sagacious On a CONTROVERTED YOUR core is unable to compre hend me." (See last Number p. 200.) It is unfortunate when a man writes unintelligibly: he injures not only the cause he would support, but he ICI LE CHEMIN DES ANES. brings his own head into disrepute, That is, in plain English, "This Let me, therefore, endeavour to ren is a road for asses;" for those anider myself clear upon the controvertmals, which are very useful, have ed passage in Sallust. I cannot doubt been employed from time imme- it is considered what blind adoration the interest of such a discussion, when morial in carrying plaster from the scholars are apt to pay to every thing kilns; and the paths wind so much this admonition became wholesome drew the characters of Cæsar and and sometimes end in nothing, that that is Greek and Latin. The intention of Sallust, when he and salutary. SCOTCH ECONOMY. to their abilities. CHARLEMAGNE: Cato in that sententious manner, was evidently to contrast them: to shew, The passion of Charlemagne for that though both of them were truly letters, and his encouragement of great men, yet they had not two lead, them, were so well known, that two ing features in common. This is malearned Scotchmen, in the certainty of nifest from the whole tenor of the obtaining his protection, cried out as passage. They were equally great in he passed along the high way, Science mind and glory; but their minds and to be sold! This singular conduct their glory were conspicuously unlike. immediately arrested his attention; It is thus that Sallust commences his he ordered them to be presented to delineation: consequently in men. him, and having found that they tioning alternately the prominent chareally could perform what they had racteristics of each, he takes care to professed, afterwards promoted them bring forward such qualities as belong to posts of trust and honour suitable so appropriately to only one, that they cannot without violence and incon gruity be given to the other. Glory The lasciviousness of this prince is is presumed to be the object of both": well known. The vision of Weltin, and this is acquired by each in his own a work composed in 825, eleven peculiar way. Cæsar acquires it by years after the death of this prince, mercy and forbearance: Cato by semay convey to us some idea of the verity and inflexibility. Cæsar by punishment which the monks of munificence and generosity; Cato by that day thought due to his lascivious- parsimony and avarice. Will any ness. In a dream Weltin is trans- man say that these qualities are conported into a place of expiation, such vertible, or that Sallust has not seas the purgatory, where he is much lected them with such judgment and surprised to meet with Charlemagne. art, as to mark at once the character The angel who conducts Weltin to he wished? Can the severe and inthis place, satisfies him that in the flexible judge be humane and forend Charlemagne will receive the giving? Can the parsimonious ecorecompence due to his numerous vir nomist be a liberal and profuse spendtues, but must here atone for the fault thrift? Can the man of strict inteof having so freely abandoned himself grity of life be the copious diffuser to his licentious desires; and for this of wealth and luxury? No. These purpose he beholds a monster like are qualities so eternally incompatithe vulture of Prometheus, tearing ble with each other, that it were |