their children in thofe calamitous times. Slaves at home and abroad, we were contemptible to the eyes of Europe; though admirably fituated for trade, we were incapacitated to avail ourselves of that advantage, and reduced to a paffive indolence productive of a multitude of calamities. Yet, this very period was the mildeft we experienced fince the Revolution. Men feldom hurt a fallen enemy, Contempt restrains the hand which charity would not, and imbecility is very often its own fafe-guard. On this fcore it was that men in power gave our poor people about this time, a temporary ease they could not enjoy themselves, and while they were tortured by animofities arifing from ambition and contests for power, we who were excluded from every prof pect, having no object but our domeftic concerns, enjoyed a refignation that well fupplied the place of imaginary happiness which is (after all our bustles.) the most that refults from the painted pomp of power, and the vortex and the vexatious dis

tractions of ambition.

In this calmness of 1752-53, and the fucceeding years, Mr. O'Conor published his best works. The first of his printed works that he acknowledg ed, was a pamphlet entitled-Seafon able Thoughts relating to our civil and ecclefiaftical conftitution. The motto of it was fo applicable, and fo elegan, and conveys the drift of the whole book fo admirably, that I cannot deny myself the plea ure of tranfcribing it here.

Nolite igitur in confiderandis bonis viris defatigari non cupiditate prafertim aut pravitate, aliqua lapfis, fed opinione officii, ftulta fortaffe, certe non improba.

"Do not then be fuperficial in your enquiries concerning good men, ef pecially men who have fallen, not through any perverfeness of temper, VOL. I.

or wild ambition, but through a principle of conviction, perhaps foolish, but moft affuredly not wicked or impious."

From the following extracts our readers may form an idea of the merit of this work:

After mentioning that the object of his book is "to ftruggle against the big, the compound, the difgraceful evil of inveterate prejudices," and expreffing a hope that the happy period of its diffolution is not fo remote as those who have intereft in error, would endeavour to make it ;" he afks at No. 14, whether the posfibility of miftaking the neceflary mysteries of the chriftian faith, should not humble the arbitrary expounders, render them diffident of their own interpretations, and ofcourfe indulgent to the interpretations of others? 15, Whether fuch an honest diffidence would not become fallible men, who oft are obliged to differ not only from each other, but at various times even from themselves? 23, Whether it be not highly abfurd to punish a man for what should recommend him most, his honeft adherence to his principles? Whether a man's good behaviour in civil fociety, does not pronounce his doctrines found in the only cafe in which the civil magiftrate can take cognizance of his faith? 44, Whether perfecution on the fcore of opinions, is allowable in any inftance, except when the doctrines advanced are undeniably fubverfive of the plain principles of moral rectitude, and confequently of the national confti. tution? 40, Whether at the fame time, it feems not highly reasonable that the legislators of every church or chriftian worship, fhould not admit their eftablishments to be attacked factiously by diffenting fects, to whom a free toleration of their own feveral

24,

out allowing them any power of dif turbing the public peace? I fay factiously, to distinguish the violence of modern enthufiatts, from the zealous but meek oppofition of the primitive chriftians, to the religion established by law in their times. 61, Whether charging people with doctrines they condemn, be not as unjuft as forcing your own upon them? 72, May not the conftant rule of Queen Elizabeth in making the proper iftinétion between Papifts in confcience, and Papiis in factoin, be as worthy of our confi eration as of that wif and glo. rious Princes? (See the Craftsman, vol. 7, and Oldcattle's remarks on the Hiftory of Engla d. 75, Might not an act be fately paffed to qualify Papills to purchase ad improve our walte lands, of which we have fe. veral hundred thoufand acres utterly ufeless to the proprietors? Is it not tter that fuch waftes fhould be ome profitable in Popith hands even to Proteftants, than noxious to Proteftants in none? You gain a great de-l by the experiment, you lofe nothing.

But the principles of Papifts lead to the fubverfion of civil liberty and the conftitution. No-All mankind Jove biberty, and prefer it to every other human good, if any fuch can fubfift whé e liberty does not.

This conftitution was formerly their own, when the Popish Saxons go Verned England, when the Hy Niall race ruled in Ireland, and when the "Cortes prevailed in Spain. The Hy Niall race governed Ireland from the death of Dathias, [428] tó 1602, when Malach 1. was depofed. The Hy Niall Princes were taken by the election of the States out of 4 Royal 1 ynaftics.-1 he Engenian, Cona lian, Shanian, and Colmanian. The two first called the Northren, and the two others (who resided in Meath, their feudatory province,) the South eta Hy Nialls

88, But their principles lead to the fubvertion of the church esta blithment; fo do thofe of the Presbyteriáns, Anabaptifts, Methodists, &c. Every diffenting fect wishes to fee its own doctrines prevail; nor is this defire criminal, when confined within the bounds prefcribed by the Gofpel. Chriftianity led to the fubverfion of the church establishment of the Roman Empire. 77, Most of our pop:th hands at prefent, are chiefly employed in wafting and impoverthing the lands they occupy, from a confideration that improvements on fhort leases hurt the tenant, and temp Proteflant farmers to take leafes in reverfion. 105, Their süperftition is their own lofs, their neglect of improvement is ours. 11, May not rebellions break out as in Scotland, when Popery is in its grave? Reilly, the editor of Mr. O'Conor's works, fpeaking of this pamphlet in a letter dated Jan. 3, 1751, fays

Bishop Berkely is of my opinion as to the excellence of the Seasonable Thoughts. His letter to Mr. Faulkner in praife of them, in which he talks largely of the author's candour, judgment, and learning, and the public's eagernefs for that work, are a proof that I am not at all times wrong-Mr. Colclough, a very ref pectable M. P. mentioned the Thou hts two nights ago in a large company, where the Lord Lieutenant was prefent, and they agreed there that it was a strong rational pleading in favour of an unfortunate people, for whom what the Thoughts recom mended, ought to be done Whether they will be fo unanimous in another place, is another question.”·

The ame gentleman speaking of the fame work in another letter, dated, Nov. 2, 1751, fays—" The Thoughts fell rapidly and extremely well, but I believe if Mr. Faulkner

was

was in the kingdom, he would not print them on account of thole parts which bear hard on the clergy, who are excufing themselves of having any hand in profecuting Papifts, to whom they own more toleration fhould be given, The Roman Catholic on the other fide think, that the author is a Protestant.

This pamphlet was written at á time, when to attribute a book to a Roman Catholic author, was enough to prevent its being read by a Proteftant Mr. O' onnor, therefore, not only concealed his name, but, intending his work particularly for those who had leagued against every party but their own, occafionally threw into it expreflons which might ferve to render it palatable to their prejudices. I think it was Boffuet, that filed Fra. Paola à Calvinifla Cucullatus.-Mr. O'Connor was of this occafion the reverfe, he was a Catholicus Calvinizans; he endea youred to fupport truth by the arms of its enemies. I will not pretend to determine, how far circumstances of time and place may help to justify a man's affuming the mafk of hypocrify, for the purpose of establish ing the truth. St. Paul made himfelf agreeable to all parties; but it was for the purpofe of gaining them over to truth without countenancing error, and the number of fermons which were preached in thofe days against Popery rendered every word of Mr. O'Conor to that purpose unfeafonahle and unneceffary; they remind me of a paffage in the character of the Affembly man,

"he

preaches indeed in feafon and out of feafon, for he rails at Popery, when the land is full of Prefbytery, and would cry fire! fire! in Noah's flood.-Butler, Remains, page 23 Edit, 1754.*

"I doubted,' fays M. Bofwell, whether Dr. Johnfon would be prefent at a Prefbyterian praver. I

There are two or three Queries in this excellent pamphlet, with which I will conclude this extract, because their folation may be of use even to the present times. 414, Is it a wild fuppofition, that many converts to our religión, and many more on whom religion operates but little, or not all, may in fo ne future time prove the greateft enemies to our government, and that our chief doineltic danger muft flow from that quarter or from none! 122, is it not well known that the Court of France drew up an act for naturalizing all Irish papills, and this act has been lately registered in the Parliament of Paris? 124, May not the encrease of fubjects in that country, be in many relpects more dangerous to the world, than an increase of us dominion? 17, Let us then, in God's name, take the world on the terms it is granted to us, with all its faul:s and all its follies.-Let us attempt to reform the one, and remove the o ther, but ever confiftently with the laws of nature and the Gofpel.

told Mr. Aulay fo; Mr. Aulay faid he would omit it, rather than give Dr. Johnfon offence, but I would by no means agree, that an excess of politeriefs, ever to fo great a man, fhould prevent what I efteem one of the belt pious regulations. I mentioned to Dr. Johnson the over delicate fcrupulofity of our hoft; he faid he had no objetioni to hear the prayǝr; this was a pleafing furprize to me, for he re 'fused to go hear Principal Robert 'fon preach. I will hear him, faid he, if he will get up into a tree

6

and preach, but I will not give a 'fanction by my prefence to a Prefe nal page 129 Dublin Edit. 1785. byterian affembly Bofwell's Jou

This Query difcoters deep pes netration and political forefight, it has been verified awfully by recent

events.