to be better informed. It has been unjustly imagined, that we were then a herd of naked and barbarous wretches, totally unacquainted with the arts of fociety, fcarcely provided with the means of fubfiftence; over whom a handful of men obtained an eafy conqueft. Nothing can be more falfe; the Irish were then a people as civilized, at leaft to the full, as the English themselves. Trained in the exercises of war, enlightened with all the little learning then known in Europe; if unacquainted with the arts of government and refinement of policy, labouring under this miffortune in common with all the king doms of the North. I appeal to the ftately ruins which have efcaped the ravage of war and time. Kilmallock; Cafhel built by a provincial King, compare it with the works of English monarchs in later periods, Weftminfter Hall or Abbey; the ancient ornaments of gold and filver, which are found at this day, and fhew that when thefe metals were fcarce known to the English, they were common in Ireland; their extenfive intercourfe with the learned and pious in other countries; the many eminent perfons of each denomination, which this in early ages produced. In many places now wholly abandoned and defolate, are ruins of churches and other buil. dings; we know that formerly there were many confiderable cities in Ire land, now fo totally deftroyed, that we can scarce tell where they stood; Spencer mentions feveral of them; and we are affured that anciently it had thirty-fix bishops fees. But to proceed; Strongbow had vaft poffeffions in England, full as valuable perhaps as his new-acquired kingdom; ey gave Henry a hold on his loyalty, and encouraged that Monarch to * See Sir James Ware-Bishop Nicholion advance claims, which elfe had never been heard, or heard in vain. He prohibited the exporting of provisions or ammunition to Ireland, and commanded his fubjects to return; probably the adventurers had at first shewn fome fymptons of afferting their independence. They fent depaties to the King, affured him of their obedience; offered to hold their conquefts as made in his name; he fee ned offended; the perfonal attendance of Pembroke appeafed him; he affected to confider the fubmiffion of his fubjects as a conquest of Ireland. And the "better (lays Sir John Davies*) to affure this inconftant fea-nymph who was fo eafily won, the Pope would needs give her to him with a King; connubio jungam ftabili propriamque dicabo." But as the conquell was flight and fuperficial, fo the Pope's donation and Irish fubmiflions were but weak and fickle affurances.Henry paffed over into this kingdom with a train of five hundred knights, a retinue for ftate, not offence, "+the Kings, with all the Princes and men of value in the land, did of their own good wills, and without any war or chivalry fubmit and take oaths of fidelity to him; and he did ordain and command, at the inftance of the Irish that fuch laws as he had in England fhould be of force and obferved in Ireland; fettled the ecclefiaftical jurifdiction; gave them a diftinct Parliament. It is not poffible, fays Mr. Molyneux, to fhow a more fair original compact, between a King and People, than this between Henry II. and the people of Ireland." Suppo fing it to be fo, how has it been obferved by his fucceffors? that we fhould enjoy the common law of England in its full extent, that we fhould have a free Parliament of our own.-Suppofing an original compact violated, what are the confequences? the Brehon law unrepealed, the Irish customs fuffered to remain (as tanis try), the authority of the princes and chieftains unimpeached; the common law of England was permitted to the people of Ireland as a free gift, not impofed; a pledge of amity and frank confederacy, not a mark of fubjection. I may be chimerica'; but to me, the conduct of the Irish nation in this tranfaction, appears peculiarly amiable and philofophical; a people in an age of darknefs, feeing and feel ing the excellency of equitable laws and a free model of government; rifing above national pride and preju dices, refolving to receive the conftitution they admired from a neighbouring prince; paying him in return their grateful homage. Scenes of horror enfued little agreeing with this tranquil and compofed picture; blare English want of faith, English infringement of a folemn covenant. I cannot account for the paffive conduct of the Irish on this occafion of a vifit from Henry, in any other way, or on any other principle; that they wanted not means of defence, and courage to ufe them, appears from their fubfequent contests with the English; when the defign of fubjecting this country was avowed. Henry remained but five months here, the rebellion of his children recalled him to England,*ae departed, without ftriking one blow, building a castle, leaving a garrifon, or one true fubje& more than he found at his coming over; which were only the nglish adventurers, who had. gained the port towns in Leinster and Munfter, and fome fcopes of land adjoining, partly by Strongbow's al liance, partly by force. He carried away with him but the empty name, leaving to the Irish potentates all the effentials of fovereignty, power of giving laws, appointing magiftrates and officers, punishing malefactors, making peace and war. This King fent over to the Irish, the modus tenendi Parliamenta, in terms the fame with that of England; and considering this as a diftinét independent kingdom, fettled it on Prince Jahn for his appanage, who held it fo for fome years; the crown of England fell into his hands, he confirmed to the Irifh by charter his father's grant of the common law of England, and a free Parliament; his fucceffor *im. mediately after giving the new vagna Charta to the English nation, granted a duplicate of it to the Irish, with only the neceffary alterations; this was in the first year of his reign, in the fame he confirmed the grant., The Parliament of Ireland well understood, juftly valued, was jealous to guard the rights thus afcertained to us; the ftatutes of force in England, which in the time fof Edward II. were referred to be examined in the next Parliament, fo many as were then allowed and published to fland, likewife for laws in this kingdom: the declaratory act in the reign of Henry IV. that English ftatutes bind not unless retracted by Parliament here, and the fimilar one of Henry VI. fpeak its attention to this great abjes. The compact firit made with Henry, confirmed by fucceeding Kings, was a great encouragement to many of the English to come over and fettle in Ireland, where they were to enjoy the fame laws and liberties, and live under the like conflitution as they Had formerly done in England. The influence and authority of the fifter ifland were diffufed with the new residents; her views began to develope themselves; an intereft foreign from that of the country was purned in it; the profperity of the land was no matter of delight to Eng. lih jealoufy it faded and drooped beneath her venemous and leaden atmofphere-the most cruel policy endeavoured to embroil the fettlers with the natives, left by uniting they might prove too strong-diffeminating animofities, exciting mutual contempt and fear, it interrupted the focial intercourse, it violated the tender charities, it prohibited even the innocent and endearing ties of marriage, and foftering kindred, between the dew and old inhabitants-the protection of English laws no longer extended, as had been promised, to all the peo ple; it was confined to the English, and a few fepts of the Irish-the unhappy refidue, fhut out from common jaftice, the rights of humanity, or even the privilege of flaves, were expofed to be plundered without redrefs, and butchered without reprehenfion-no political or civil eftima. tion, no legal protection, they were condemned to a general and indif criminate outlawry, unmerited and irrevocable ;-native Hibernian, and not of the five Septs, was a good plea in a civil action, a good juftification in a criminal profecution. Equally unjuft and odious, fuch was the conduct of the English: confider the feelings of humanity, my friend, and tell me, had the Irish been hurried into the most extravagant excelles, could we have condemned their refentments? Yours fincerely, TOBY BUTLER. IMPORTANT EXTRACTS FROM THE NEWSPAPERS. Yesterday, an appointment of offcers and clerks took place in the Police Bank, near the monument of Nelfon, when Mr. Card was nominated Secretary; Mr. Wilfon, Infpector of Forgeries; Mr. Logan, Cashier ; and Meffrs. Whitefide,. Wallace, Medlicott, Kiley and Hall were felected from the numerous candidates, of the old eftablishment, as Clerks and Runners. This inftitution must be flattering to the publicans, coach owners, car drivers, and dairymen, of the city of Dublin, whofe money has been fo handfomely applied by their trustee, Sir Alick to the commercial interests of the great metropolis. It is fuppofed Mr. Hall will be appointed law agent, as a recommendation, written by Dr. Duigenan, is under confideration. On Sunday, a detachment of the Police Horfe fcoured the neighbourhood of the Broad Stone, and fecu red feveral bakers' apprentices, treafonably engaged playing football, to the terror of the loyal inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The vigilance of this wonderful establishment must be obvious to every well difpofed perfon. Had not Lieut. Corporal Bulbrooks and his divifion arrived in time, the most ferious apprehenfions were entertained for the fafety of the canal, and the tranquillity of the dominions of his late majefty, Ben. I. King of the Beggars. After fecuring the culprits in the watch houfe, Juftice Blacker and the Corporal retired to their respective dwellings, and fpent the evening in focial harmony, the juft reward due to eminent merit, and and fuch great men, who have contributed to the fecurity of their country. It is faid, that Mr. Latouche means to fhare his apoftolical labours between the people of this country, and thofe of England alternately.. On Saturday, Mr. Latouche landed at the Pigeon Houfe, from EngJand; this pleafing intelligence was immediately communicated to a board of Saints, at a love feat in Woodftreet, who quickly proceeded to meet the monied man of God, on his way to town; and after ftrewing the road with their old cloaks, they efcorted him in joyful proceffion to Stephen'sgreen. Kent, the preacher and huxterman, could not attend, as his weights were in cuftody with the Lord Mayor. We are defired to contradict a report in circulation, that Mr. Hall, late Attorney General to the Alexandrian Police, had been remunera ted by Parliament, for his loffes, by the extinction of that money-making eftablishment. The real fact is, Dr. D brought a bill into Par liament, for the chearful gentleman's ufe, but by fome accident in its tranfit to the miftrefs country, it came under the infpection of an Irish waiter, who archly applied a fheet of it to a certain pofterior purpofe, which rendered it fo defective on the first reading, that the dirty fubje&t fell to the ground. The chieftain of the cftablishment in justice deferved fome compenfation, as his place produced him 15,000 a year; jult five times as great as the falary of the Prefident of the United States, who governs a country 2,000 miles long; whereas the dominions of Alexandria, only reached from Ringfend to Bow bridge, a line one mile and three quarters long. In revenge this great man has turned banker, and his favorites have purchafed eftates. Mr. Bloomfield entertained a felet party of the Law Club, a few days ago: Mr. Caffidy, Mr. Dea, and other fpecial pleaders in the ancient law court of Kevin ftreet, were among the company. As the gentlemen were retiring, they were met by a number of their clients, who introduced a vulgar statute into ufe, called Club Law, to the great inconvenience of the profeffional cronics, who were feverely drubbed to their refpective dwellings. We hope Counsellor Bushe will not perfift in lending his interest to his brother in law, Mr. Crampton, and Mr. Jones, fo far as to give a monopoly of the Dublin ftage to one company. When Mr. Buthe interferes in public amufement, or public houfes, either fenates or theatres, we are apprehenfive, from the fate of one, of the extinction of the other. Mr. Bufhe, you are a great man! we dare not fay lefs of you but, Mr. Bufhe, your elevation, and your progrefs to diftinction, have tended to lower the rank of your country, and have impeded her courfe in the hiftory of nations. She has been converted from the primary rank of a planet, into a fatellite. It is with great pleasure we have to announce to the public, that Mr. Fof. ter, our illuftrious countryman, arrived in perfect health in London, to attend his arliamentary duties. The Catholics of Louth and Meath muft feel highly gratified at this happy intelligence. The families of Meffrs. Bird, Delabide, Famill, Fay, &c. and the tenants of the empty fhops of Dublin, muft naturally join in the common common intereft, felt for the greateft ftatefman, patriot, paymatter, and landlord, we ever had, fince the first unfortunate landing of the English. We hope Sir William Beechy, who is employed to paint a likenels of Mr. Folter, will do every juttice to the work, that no part of the outer man may be hid from potterity. Certainly the original is not very handfome, yet there are fome peculiar graces conveyed in the muddy countenance, which fhould not be concealed; even the nofe, though it may appear to tranger to be the ugliett in Parliament, has expreffion in it, that mult make it a valuable ornament in any Irish establishment." PROSPERITY OF DUBLIN. There is a garrifon of seven thoufand men in this city; fix hundred policemen, and feventy-four thousand paupers. The two former are loyal and well fed; the latter are fhrewdly fufpected for entertaining fentiments not favourable to the prefent ftate of affairs. Some people infinuate, they are the French party, alluded to by Mr. Grattan, in his elegant fpeech in favour of the Infurrection A&: if fo, there ought to be more foldiers, and more shoemakers, cutlers, combmakers, coachmakers, and bankrupts added to the magistracy. The reafon given by Mr. Fofter's friends for having his picture done by an English artift, is, that there is no nian in Ireland capable of doing him juftice. This is a flimfy apology for the Irish patriot's contempt for the native genius of his country; for there are no people more willing to de him justice, only the difcouraging ftatutes, frequently enacted to cramp Irish enterprize, draw a ftrong barrier between our people and their friend. Among others we can quote the Convention and Infurrection Acts, with the Act of Union: tho' not directly hoftile to painting, yet in point of exection they are strongly constructed to abridge it. ORDINATION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS. The Order of the Latin Rite for the· Ordination of Bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. Tranflated and Publifhed with the approbation of the Moft Rev. F. T. Troy. (Continued from Page 72.) Hymn being finished, C. B. rifes, and, his mitre laid afide, PREFACE CONTINUED. May this, O Lord, rain abundantly upon his head. May this defcend into his lips, may it drop down to his extremities, on every fide, fo that the power of thy fpirit may replenish his inward parts, and mantle him all around. Let there overflow in him the conftancy of faith, the clean. nefs of charity, the fingleheartedness of peace By thy authority let his footfteps be beauteous, that he may be an herald of peace, a news-bringer of thy bleed things! Give to him, O Lord, the ministry of reconcilement, in word and works, in the mightinefs of figns and prodigies. Let his fpeech and preaching be not in the plaufible words of the wifdom of man, but in the difplay of the Spirit and of power. Give to him, O Lord, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that he may employ, not boast of the authority thou impartelt, for building up, and not for deftruction. Whatfoever he fhall have bound upon earth, let it be alfo bound in the heavens, and whatfoever he fhall have loof en.d |