bours, and be gradually naviinated to agriculture grants in the county of Derry they engaged to and the mechanic arts. To the British adventu- expend L.20,000 on the plantation, to build the rers were affigned places of the greatest strength cities of Londonderry and Colerain, and ftipulated and command; to the servitors, ftations of the for such privileges as might make their settlements greatest danger, and greatest advantage to the convenient and respectable. Asa component force crown; but as this appeared a peculiar hardship, was necessary to protect this infant plantation, the they were allowed guards and entertainment, un king, to support the charge, inftituted the order til the country should be quietly and completely of BARONETS, an hereditary dignity, to be conplanted. The experience of ages had shown the ferred on a number not exceeding 200; each of inconvenience of enormous grants to particular whom, on passing his patent, was to pay into the lords, attended with fuch privileges as obstructed : exchequer such a fum as would maintain 30 men the administration of civil government; and, even in Ulfter for 3 years, at 8d, daily pay. But scarce. in the late reign, favourite undertakers had been ly had the lands been allotted to the different pa. gratified with such portions of land as they were tentees, when considerable portions were reclaim. by no means able to plant. But, by the new ed by the clergy as their rightful property. And scheme, the lands to be planted were divided into fo far had the estates of the northern bishoprics three different proportions ; consisting of rooo, been embarassed, both by the ufurpations of the 1500, or 2000 English acres. To prevent all dis. Irish lords, and the claims of patentees, that they putes between the undertakers, their settlements scarcely afforded a competent, much less an hoin the respective districts were to be determined nourable, provision for men of worth and learn. by lot. Eftates were assigned to all, to be held of ing, while the state of the parochial clergy, was them and their heirs. The undertakers of 2000 ftill more deplorable. Most of the northern acres were to hold of the king in capite ; those of churches had been either deftrayed in the wart, 1500, by knight's service; those of 1000, in com- or had fallen to ruin : the benefices were small, mon foccage. The first were to build a castle, and either shamefully kept by the bishops in the and inclose a strong court-yard, or bawn, as it way of commendám or fequestration; or filled was called, within 4 years; the ad to finish a house : with ministers as scandalous as their income. The and bawn within 2 years; the 3d to inclose and wretched fock was totally abandoned; and for a bawn: the first were to settle upon their lands, many years divine service had not been used in within three years, 48 able men of English or any parish church of Ulfter, except in cities and Scottish birth, to be reduced to 20 families; to great towns. Toʻremedy these abuses, and to make keep a demesne of 600 acres in their own hands; some proper provision for the inftru&ion'of a peoto have 4 fee-farmers on 120 acres each; lix leafe- : ple immersed in lamentable ignorance, K. James holders, each on 100 acres ; and on the reft, 8 ordained, that all ecclefiaftical lands should be refamilies of husbandmen, artificers, and cottagers. stored to their respective fees and churches, and

The others were under the like obligations pro- that all lands fhould be deemed ecclefiaftical, from portionably. All

' were, for five years, to refide - which bishops bad in former times received rents upon their lands, either in person, or by fuch for penfions : that compofitions thould be made agents as should be approved by the state, and to , with the patentees for the fite of cathedral keep a fufficient quantity of arms for their de. -churches, the residences of bishops and digoitafence. The British and servitors were not to alić. ries, and other church lands which were not innate their lands to mere Irish, or to đemise any tended to be conveyed to them; who were to reportions of them to such persons as should refuse ceive equivalents if they compounded freely, or to take the oaths to government; they were to else to be deprived of their patents, as the king let them at determined rents, and for no shorter was deceived in his grant, and the posteslions reterm than 21 years. The houses of their te. ftored to the church. To provide for the inferior nants were to be built, after the English fashion, in clergy, the bishops were obliged to resign all their towns or villages. They had power to erect impropriations, and relinquish the tithes paid manors, to hold courts baron, and to create them out of parishes, to the refpective incum. tenures. The old natives, whose tenures were bents; for which ample recompence was made granted in fee-fimple, to be held in soccage, were out of the king's lands. Every proportion allotallowed the same privileges. They were enjoin- ted to undertakers was made a parish, with a ed to set their lands at certain rents, and for the parochial church to each. The incumbents, belike terms as the other undertakers; to take no fides their tithes and duties, had glebe lands af Irish exa&tions from their inferior tenants, and to figned to them of 60, 90, or 120 acres, according oblige them to forsake their old Scythian custom, to the extent of their parishes. To provide for a of wandering with their cattle from place to place succession of worthy pastors, free schools were esfor pafture, or creaghting, as they called it: to dowed in the principal towns, and confiderable dwell in towns, and conform to the English man- grants of lands conferred on the university of ner of husbandry. An annual rent from all the Dublin, which had been re-established by Queen lands was reserved to the crown for every 60 Eng. Elizabeth, together with the advowfon of his paJish acres, 6s. 8d. from the undertakers, 1os. from rochial churches, three of the largest, and three servitors, and 135. 4d. from Irish natives. But for of the middle proportion in each county. Such two years they were exempt from such payments, was the general scheme of this famous northern except the natives, who were not subject to the plantation, so honourable to K. James, and of -charge of transportation. What gave credit to this such consequence to the realm of Ireland. It undertaking, was the part which the city of Lon. happy effects were immediately perceived, aldon took in it. The corporation accepted of large though the execution by no means corresponded

appeals from the Irish parliament to the British reason, nature, and nations, as well as to the law peers was an ufurped jurifdi&ion assumed by the of the land. This publication was to disagreeable Latter; the bad confequences of which they point to government, that they offered a reward of ed out very fully. This representation being laid L.300 for the discovery of the author; but as ao. before his majefty in parliament, it was resolved, body could be found who would give him up, the that the barons of exchequer in Ireland had acted printer was prosecuted in his fead: however, be with courage and fidelity, according to law, &c. was unanimously acquitted by a jury of his cQUBand an address was presented to his majesty, pray, trymen. ing him to confer on them some mark of his royal (16.) IRELAND, HISTORY OF, UNDER KING favour as a recompence for the injuries they had GEORGE II. The Irish continued to be jealous sustained from the Irish legislature. This was of their liberties, while the British minikry seemed followed by a bill for the better securing the de- to watch every opportunity of encroaching upon pendency of Ireland upon the crown of Great them as far as postible. Apprehenfions having Britain. By this it was determined, " That the been entertained of a design upon Ireland by the house of lords of Ireland have not, nor of right partisans of the pretender in 1715, a yote of cre. ought to have, any jurisdiction to judge of, affirm, dit to government had been passed by the house or reverse, any judgment, sentence, or decree, of commons to a congderable amount. This laid given or made in any court within the kingdom; the foundation of the national debt of that kingand that all proceedings before the faid house of dom, which was quickly augmented to several lords, upon any such judgment or decree, are ut- hundred thousand pounds; for discharge of wbich, terly null and void to all intents and purposes a fund had been provided by adminiftration. An whatever. It was also determined in this bill, that attempt was made during the adminiftration of " the king's majefty, by and with the consent of Lord Carteret" (who governed Ireland till 1930), the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons of to veft this fund in the hands of his majefty and Great Britain, in parliament assembled, had, hath, of his beirs for ever, redeemable by parliament. and of right ought to have, full power and autho- This was opposed by the patriotic party, who rity to make laws and ftatutes of sufficient force infifted, that it was inconsistent with the public and validity to bind the people of Ireland." This safety, and unconftitutional, to grant it longer than bill was looked upon by the Irish to be equivalent from feffion to session. In 1731, another attempt to a total annihilation of their liberties ; and they was made to veft the same in the crown for at were ftill further exasperated in 1924, by the pas years ; but when the affair came to be debated, tent granted to one Wood, an Englishman, to the strength of both parties was found to beequal. coin halfpence and farthings for the ufe of Ireland. ly balanced. Immediately before the vote, hox. In this affair Wood is said to have acted very dif- ever, Col. Tottingham having rode poft on the ochonourably; insomuch that a shilling of the half. casión, arrived in the house, and determined the pence he made were scarcely worth a penny. question against government. The behaviour of Great quantities of this bale coin were sent' over; Lord CHESTERFIELD, who was made governor and it was used not only in change, but accounts of Ireland in 1745, is highly extolled on account were likely to be paid in it, so that dangerous of his moderation, and the favour he howed to consequences seemed ready to ensue. The Irish the liberties of the people. As the apprehenfions parliament, in an address to the king, represented of government were then very cooliderable, on that they were called upon by their country to account of the rebellion which 'raged in Scotland, lay before his majesty the ill consequences of his lordship was advised to augment the military Wood's patent, and that it was likely to be attend force of Ireland by 4000 men. Instead of this, ed with a diminution of the revenue and the ruin however, he fent four battalions to the duke of of trade. The fame was set forth in an applica. Cumberland, and encouraged the volunteer aliotion to his majesty by the privy council. In short, ciations which formed in different parts for the the whole nation seemed to úpite their efforts to defence of the country. These battalions he reremedy an evil of such dangerous tendency, the placed by additional companies to the regiments effects of which already began to be felt. Among already on the establishment; by which means be the controversial pieces which appeared on this saved a considerable expense to the nation, without occafion, those of Dr SWIFT were particularly dif- augmenting the influence of the crown. The fuptingựished. His Drapier's Letters are to this day plies asked by him were stall, and raifed in the beld in grateful remembrance by his countrymen; moft easy and agreeable manner to the people, esbut he was in danger of suffering deeply in the pending the money at the same time with the utcaufe. He had been at particular pains to explain moft economy. There was even a faving, which an argument used by the Irish on this occasion, he applied to the use of the public. It had been viz. that brass money, being illegal, could not be a custom with many of the lieutenant.governors forced upon the nation by the king, without ex. of Ireland, to bestow reverfionary grants, to pur. seeding the limits of his prerogative. Hence the chase the allistance of friends in support of their opposte party took occafion to charge the Irish measures. Lord Chesterfield, however, being conwith a design of cafting off their dependence on vinced that this practice was prejudicial to the inBritain altogether: but Swift having examined the terest of the nation, put a ftop to it; but the moft accufation with freedom, pointed out the en- remarkable part of his adminiftration was the croachments made by the British parliament op humanity with which he treated the Roman Cathe liberties of Ireland; and asserted, that any de. tholics. · Before bis arrival, the Romith chapels pendence on England, except that of being sub. in Dublin had been shut up; their priests were jects to the same king, was contrary to the law of commanded by proclamation to leave the king

dom;

dom; and such as disobeyed had been subjected more enabled, through the exertions of his friends, to imprisonment and other penalties, Lord Chef to present himself as a candidate for the city of terfield, however, convinced that the affection is Dublin. Being again élected; he continued to only to be engaged by gentle usage, permitted diftinguith himself by the same virtuous principles them to exercise their religion without disturbo for which he had been from the beginning fo reance. The accusations brought against them of markable, and died with the character which he forming plots againit government were disregard- had preserved through life, of the incorruptible ed; and so much was his moderation and upright- Lucas. In 1953, a remarkable contest took place dels applauded by all parties, that, during the betwixt government and the Irish parliament relawhole time of his administration, the national tive to previous consent. As the taxes for defray. tranquillity was not once interrupted by the small. ing ftate expenses are imposed by the representaeft internal commotion. On his leaving the iNand, tives of the people, it thence naturally follows, his buft was placed, at the public expense, in the that they have a right to superintend the expendicastle of Dublin. Lord Chesterfield having left ture of them; and by an inspection of the jour. Ireland in the spring of 1946, the island continued nals of the house of commons, it appeared, that to be governed by lords justices until the 13th from 1692 they had exercised a right of calling for Sept. when William earl of Harrington came and examining the public accounts. When any over with the powers of lord-lieutenant. A COD- surplus remained in the treasury, it was also cur. teft in the election of representatives for the city tomary to dispose of it by bill for the good of the of Dublin this year, called forth the abilities of public. In 1949, however, a considerable fum Mr C. Lucas, so much celebrated for his patrio having remained in the treasury, the disposal of tic virtues. Having some years before been ad- this money in future became an object to ministry. mitted a member of the common council, he re- In 1751, it was intimated to parliament by the folved to exert himself in behalf of the privileges lord-lieutenant, the duke of Dorset, that “ his of his fellow-citizens. The powers of this city majesty would graciously consent and recommend corporation, as well as of others, had been chan- it to them, that such part of the money as then reged by authority derived from an act in the time mained in the treasury should be applied to the reof Charles II.; and among other innovations, for duction of the national debt.” As this implied a the purpose of augmenting the influence of the right inherent in the king to dispose of the money crown, ebey deprived the commons of the power as he thought proper, the proposal was accountof choosing the city magiftrates. This was now ed an invasion of the privileges of the house of rested in the board of aldermen; which being sub- commons. No notice was therefore taken of the ject, in the exercise of its jurisdiction, to the appro. direction given by Dorset, but the bill was sent bation of the privy council, was consequently de- over to England as usual, without any notice taken pendent on government. Mr Lucas complained of his majesty's content. In England, however, loudly of the injury; but as this law could not this very material alteration was made, and the be altered, he fet himself to inquire, whether en- word consent introduced into it. The commons croachments, which could not be justified by law, at this time did not take any notice of such an had not been made on the rights of the citizens ? essential alteration; but next year, on its being Having satisfied himself, by searching into ancient repeated, the bill was rejected. Government were records, that his apprehenfions were well-founded, now at the utmost pains to defend the measure he published his discoveries, and encouraged the they had adopted, and pamphlets were published people to take the proper steps for obtaining re- in which it was justified on various grounds. The dress. The consequence of this was a contest be- cvent, at laft, however, was, that his majefty by tween the commons and aldermen, which lasted letter took the money which had been the subject two years. The former struggled in vain to re- of dispute out of the treasury. In 1960, Ireland cover their loft privileges ; but the exertions of sustained an inconsiderable hoftile invasion, the Lucas in every stage of the dispute had rendered first that had been experienced in the kingdom him fo popular, that on the death of Sir J. So- for 10 years. The armament confifted originally merville he was encouraged to stand candidate for of five thips; one of 48 guns, two of 36, and two a feat in parliament. He was elected according- of 24; having on board 1270 land forces. They ly, and diftinguithed himself not enly by the bold. were commanded by the celebrated Thurot, whose ness and energy of his fpeeches, but a number of reputation, as captain of a privateer, had advanced addresses to his countrymen. In some of these him to this dignity. The squadron, however, was he particularly considered the several branches of driven by adverse winds to Gottenburgh; where the conftitution, and pointed out the encroach. having continued a few days, they fet fail for the mneots of the British legiflature. Government, place of their destination. On their arrival at the alarmed at his boldness, determined to crush him coaft of Ireland, they were obliged to fhelter by the hand of power; for which reafon the moft themselves in Lough Foyle from a violent storm obnoxious paragraphs were extracted from his which again overtook them. The wind, however, works, and made the foundation of a charge be having hifted, and continuing to blow tempeftufore parliament. The commons voted him an ene- ously, they were obliged to keep out to fea. Two my to his country; and addreffed the lord-lieu. of the fhips were thus separated from the reft by tenant for an order to profecere him by the attor- the violence of the storm, and returned to France; ney-general. The universal efteem in which he but the remaining three directed their course to was held, could not screen him from ministerial the illand of Ilay, where they anchored; and havvengeance: he was driven from Ireland; but bar. ing repaired their damages, took in a fupply of ing Igent fome years in bapishment, he was once provisions, and thence failed to Carrickfergus. In

the

a

the mean time, an officer belonging to the small led the inclosures of the commons, and commitnumber of troops then in Carrickfergus took poft ted other acts of violence. These unavailing ef. 'on a rifing ground, with an advanced party, to forts were conftrued into a plot against govern'observe the motions of the enemy. A skirmishment; numbers of the rioters were apprehended ensued betwixt this party and Thurot's'men, un- in the counties of Limerick, Cork, and Tippetil the former, having spent all their ammunition, rary, and some of them condemned and exewere obliged to retire into the town. · Having in cuted. In different places these unbappy wretchvain attempted to prevent the enemy from taking es, instead of being looked upon as objects of poffeßion of it; the British troops fhut themselves compassion, were prosecuted with the utmost feup in the castle, where they were soon obliged to verity. Judge Aston, however, who was sent over capitulate, after having killed about 100 of their to try them, executed his office with such huma. enemies, with the loss of only three on their own nity as did him the higheft honour. A moft ex. part. The French having plandered the town, traordinary and affecting proof of this was, that let fail on the 26th of February; and three days on his return from Dublin, for above ten miles after were all taken by Captain Elliot, Thurot from Clonmell, both fides of the road were lined himself being killed in the engagement.

with-men, women, and children; who, as he (17.) IRELAND, HISTORY OF, UNDER KING passed along, kneeled down and implored the GEORGE III. TILL THE OCTENNIAL BILL. blessing of heaven upon him as their guardian and Soon after the accession of George III. Ireland protector. In the mean time, the violences of the first began to be disturbed by a banditti who styl- White Boys continued, notwithttanding that many ed themselves White Boys; and as these were examples were made. The idea of rebellion was generally of the Romith persuasion, the prejudi. Aill kept up; and gentlemen of the first rank ces against that fect broke forth in the usual man- were publicly (though groundlefsly) charged with ner. A plot was alleged to have been formed being concerned in it, insomuch that some of them against the government; French and Spanish emif- were obliged to enter bail, to protect themselves faries to have been sent over to Ireland, and actu. from injury. The Catholics of Waterford gave ally employed in carrying it into execution. The in a petition to Lord Hertford, the governor, in 'real cause of this commotion, however, was as 1765, in behalf of themselves and brethren, pra follows: About 1739, the murrain broke out testing their loyalty and obedience to government; among the horned cattle in the duchy of Holftein, but no effe&tual step was taken to remove, or even from whence it soon after spread through the to investigate the cause of the disturbances. Aother parts of Germany. From Germany it reach- bout two years after the appearance of the White ed to Holland, whence it was carried over to Eng. Boys, a similar commotion arose in Ulfter; which, land, where it raged with great violence for a however, proceeded in part from a different cause, number of years. The mitigation of the penal and was of much shorter duration. By an act of laws against the papifts about this time encouraged parliament, the making and repairing of highways the natives of the fouth of Ireland to turn their in Ireland was formerly a grievous oppression on thoughts towards agriculture, and the poor began to the lower ranks of people. A housekeeper who enjoy the necessaries of life in a comfortable man. had no horse was obliged to work at them 6 days ner.' A foreign demand for beef and butter, how. in the year; and if he had a horse, the labour of ever, having become uncommonly great, by rea. both was required for the fame space of time. son of the cattle diftemper, ground appropriated The poor also complained, that they were often to grazing became more valuable than that em- obliged to work at roads made for individuals, ployed in tillage. The cottars were everywhere which were of no service to the public; that the difpofseffed of their little possessions, which the tithes exacted by the clergy were unreasonable, landlords let to monopolizers, who could afford a and the rent of lands higher than they could bear. higher rent. Whole baronies were thus laid open In 1963, therefore, being exasperated by a road to pasturage, while the former in habitants were proposed to be made through the county of Ardriven desperate by want of fubfiftence. Num. magh, the inhabitants molt immediately affected by bers of the fled to the large cities, or emigrated it rofe in a body, and declared that they would to foreign countries, while those who remained make no more roads of the kind. As a mark of took small spots of land, about an acre each, at diftin&tion, they wore sprigs of oak in their bats, an exorbitant price, where they endeavoured to from which circumstance they called themselves procure the means of protracting a miserable ex- Oak Boys. The number of their partisans soon

istence for themselves and families. For some time increased, and the insurrection became general these poor creatures were allowed by the more through Armagh, Tyrone, Derry, and Ferma.

humane landlords the liberty of commonage ; but nagh. In a few weeks, however, they were disafterwards this was taken away, in despite of jul.- perled by parties of the military; and the public tice and a positive agreement; at the same time tranquillity was restored with the loss of two or the payment of tithes, and the low price of la- three lives. The road act, which had been fo bour, not exceeding the wages in the days of Q. juftly found fault with, was repealed next feftion; Elizabeth, aggravated the distresses of the unhap. and it was determined, that for the future the py sufferers beyond measure. In such a fituation, roads should be made and repaired by a tax to be it is no wonder that illegal methods were pursued equally assessed on the lands of the rich and poor. in expectation of redrels. The people, covered another set of insurgents, called STEEL Boys, with white ikirts, assembled in parties at night, soon made their appearance on the following acturned up the ground, destroyed bullocko, level count: The estate of an absentee nobleman hap