Early dislikes to CHAP. X. his very virtues, his docility, his aptitude to acquire and retain knowledge, become instruCatholics mental to his prejudice vitiating his native inculcated by benevolence-possibly conducive to his misery, and that of his country. sanctioned and this Penal Code. Hostility of persons in powerJustices, &c. Many, very many, ingenuous Protestants have candidly avowed and lamented the false impressions, which they had thus imbibed-and have attributed their estrangement from intolerance to the result of serious reflection, correct information, experience of actual life, and mature conviction of the absurdity and mischiefs of those Penal Laws. But, how many thousands may not have been' equally fortunate with a Charlemont, a Latouche, a Shaw, &c. &c. How many, less enlightened, still look only to what the Law declares and inculcates-implicitly adopting its hostile declarations as their rule of action-and yet would readily admit the Catholics to favour and respect, if the Law ceased to condemn and defame them. 5. This Hostility pervades the exercise of power, through all departments in Ireland. Hence, the authorities vested in Justices of the peace, by common or statute law, are, in several instances, only so many instruments of vexation and weapons of annoyance, against the poorer Catholics. The extensive jurisdiction enjoyed CHAP. X. by them, under the Irish insurrection Acts, the Hostility of Arms Acts, Revenue, Sessions, Riots, Militia Justices, &c. against Catho Ballot, Highways, Distresses, Timber Acts, &c. lics. &c.-and under divers other statutes, professing general purposes-are really felt to be, in effect, augmentations of the powers of the Protestants over the Catholics, in Ireland. The same may be truly affirmed of the various powers vested in other public officers, clerks, deputies, registers, &c. &c. federacies. 6. Hostility against the Catholics Hostile Conappears, moreover, in those confederated societies, formed upon the principle of jealous exclusion. These societies are the natural offspring of this Penal Code and have long existed, with more or less acrimony, under various disguises Friendly and appellations; as "Friendly Brothers," Orange Lodges, "Honest Fellows,"" Local Hunts,' "Protes Orange Lodges," &c. &c. brothers, &c. Many of the lower Protestants, tradespeople 1811. and artisans (sanctioned by the Irish Adminis tration) have formed confederacies hostile to their Catholic fellow-subjects. Their avowed Their nature. object is the maintenance of the present enormous monopoly of power and profit-termed Protestant ascendancy-the real objects (of CHAP. X. many at least) are private interest, personal emolument, facility of peculation, public discord, &c. These people feel, however, that their sway is not secure or permanent: and their fears are constantly awake. Hostile and exclusive Confederacies. Seneca. Qui Sceptra duro sævius imperio regit, Timet timentes. Metus in authorem redit. Their vigilance is redoubled, and their jealousy excited, as they become more acquainted with Their nature the real strength and situation of the Catholics, and principles. and with the relative state of Europe. Though tenacious of monopoly, they are not deaf to the suggestions of reason and justice. A man of this cast views, with displeasure, the increasing numbers of the Catholics, and their steadfast perseverance in soliciting their rights— but, yet, is not quite blind to the menacing Variable policy. power of the foreign enemy. His policy is, therefore, wavering; and his treatment of the Catholic capricious. He considers himself as placed in the situation of the boy, holding the angry wolf by the ears, Ptolem. Laert. Auribus Lupum tenet. There is danger in holding him: equal danger in letting him loose.-Fear sometimes tholics. strips, even a wise and good man, of his best CHAP. X. faculties. So it is with these people. In a moment Confederacies of panic, they adopt an universal and unqualified hostile to Caproscription of the entire Catholic body, without distinction of persons, wealth, talent, industry, or other merit and thus disclose the truth, that monopoly, not the public welfare, is the object of their attachment. Protestants cordially dis It is, however, but just to state of the Pro- Majority of testants of Ireland at large, that an immense liberal; and majority of them (especially of those distin- posed. guished by property, rank, education, and personal merit) are cordially disposed towards a liberal and constitutional treatment of their Catholic fellow-subjects-and that every opposite Irish Adminis feeling would probably subside in a short time, prejudices. if it were not sustained and inflamed by all the influence and industry of the Irish Administration. tration, inflames 1811 ploy Catholic 7. This Hostility is sometimes so Refusals to emvirulent, as to refuse employment to Catho- Tradesmen, lic tradesmen, artisans, servants, &c.-merely on account of their religion. Servants, &c. Persons are to be found, even in the higher ranks of life, holding great offices or commands, Instances. deriving splendid incomes from the taxation of the Catholic people-who will not hire or CHAP. X. employ any Catholic. They import their stewards, agents, tenants, gardeners, household Catholic ment. servants-from England, Scotland, Germany, refused employ-Switzerland-rather than employ an Irish Catholic. They even pique themselves upon this unnatural fastidiousness. The Irish prints abound with advertisements, and offers of various situations-stipulating for the Protestantism of the party as the chief recommendation. If any Protestant, foreigner or other, is to be had he is preferred to the native Catholic. Mischiefs. Indeed, it is not easy to procure Protestant servants in Ireland. Such is the copious distribution of lucrative patronage-civil, military, and ecclesiastical-that almost every adult male Protestant in Ireland (nay many minors and females) may be amply provided for-and placed above situations of a servile nature. Thus the honest industry of Catholics is very generally damped and repressed, especially in the cities and towns. Those employments, indeed, which are beneath the sphere of Protestant ambition, such as day-labourers, &c. are still within the reach of Catholics-but no selection for beneficial occupation, no public reward or honour, cheers the Catholic artist or tradesman. His inducements to attain excellence are limited |