objects of the reforming confpirators, fo that it will be impoffible to connect them with the Papists, by the chain of "Catholic Republic ;" a whim which must have arifen in the inflated brain of a porterpuffed Englishman, as it certainly cannot be of Irish growth.

The noble author has no need to apologize for any of his infults. That which excites contempt will not occafion refentment; and his fancies (or whatever else he pleases to call them) must only be despised: for, as I have before declared, it is the authority and not the work which claims attention. I would not stop to contradict the impudent, invidious, and false affertions, refpecting the non-antiquity of this ifland, but that it is poffible that these pages may be read by Irishmen fo ignorant of the history of their native land, as to be induced to give credit to these groundless allegations. For, to the fhame of Ireland I must acknowledge, that it has been too much the custom to neglect inftructing our youth in the annals of that country, refpecting which they ought to be particularly interested; and even where it is thought proper to give them any information respecting Irish hiftory, it is merely the books written by bigoted Proteftants and prejudiced Englishmen that they are permitted to perufe. I must be pardoned for digreffing to make fome observations on a fubject which is of much importance to real Irishmen. Amongst the numerous caufes which

* Such as Temple's account of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, in which we have affidavits (relative to Proteftant ghosts shrieking for vengeance against their Papist murderers,) fimilar to that of Mr. Richard Grandy on a late occafion.

have combined to render this noble island complete ly fubfervient to the views of British Ministers, is the fyftem of education which has been (with very few exceptions) adopted by the higher claffes of its inhabitants. One of the first ideas implanted in the youthful minds is a contempt for the land they ought to love; and one of the firft principles inculcated, is that of a profound refpect for English manners, English customs, and English persons, be they ever fo inelegant, vicious, and contemptible. No education is confidered fo unfashionable, no language fo difcordant, no accent fo vulgar, as the Irish. The natural confequences of thofe early prejudices are tyranny, difguft, and expatriation. Some unworthy fons of Hibernia cannot even be perfuaded that the lower class in their native country are poffeffed of the common capacities of other peasants; and fome of the partizans of British infolence even go fo far as to declare, that nothing but extermination and new colonization can render Ireland a fuitable habitation for enlightened men: but (thanks to the allpowerful Being who furrounded our country with the ocean!) the number of those who support this deteftable opinion is very infignificant, and those few are not remarkable for either talents or information.When we confider the customary mode of education amongst the higher claffes of Irishmen, and all the various methods pursued to anglicize them, we mult cease to wonder that patriotism and public virtue are fo rare amongst our men of rank and fortune. In regard to the peafantry of Ireland, I know few national characters which fo powerfully attract the ad

miration

miration of a liberal mind; but whilft we respect the talents, the courage, the hospitality, and generofity of our poor and unhappy countrymen, we must lament the unfortunate diftortions of virtue, fo frequently produced by ceafelefs impolicy of treatment. However cruelly-harfh ufage may have goaded human nature in Ireland, it has not " degraded the human character," and perhaps a day may yet arrive when this fhall be demonftrated. But to return to the antiquity of my beloved country-It is extremely difficult to trace the ancient, or indeed the modern history of our island, as it has ever been the custom of invaders to use their utmost exertions for the purpose of destroying every monument of antiquity, and annihilating every veftige of former fplendour, which might remind the fubdued people that they had once poffeffed independence. Nothing fo much conduces to the fupport of national virtue, as historical evidences of former celebrity. This the English knew but too well, and the effects of this knowledge has been fatally deftructive to the documents of Irish literature. However, they have not been fo completely fuccefsful in their attempts to fupprefs every proof of the former cultivation and glory of this nation, but I may be authorized to af fert, that the civilization of this ifle was long anterior to that of Great Britain; that the arts and fciences were cultivated here, in very remote ages; that Ireland was once remarkable for literary knowledge, and that multitudes of Irish manuscripts have been at various times deftroyed by those merciless invaders, who endeavoured to barbarize a nation

which they could not excel. In fact, the fame paltry policy, and ignoble jealousy, have been obfervablé in all their subsequent conduct; and even in this enlightened age they may, perhaps, be traced in the present project of a Legislative Union. It is to no purpose to contradict the affertions of ignorance; but I fhall just recommend to the noble author the perusal of those works* which treat of ancient Ireland (and have at least as much claim to belief as thofe refpecting other countries,) before he expects to gain credit when he affirms, that all useful knowledge of it is coeval with English connexion !"

--I know not what is meant by "criminal indulgence to her colony," nor indeed can I discover the fignification of many other phrafes adopted in this publication; but the hacknied expreffion of "ber colony" will not answer the purpose of the noble author, and may occafion obfervations of which he is not aware. It is no honour to the English to mark for their defcendants, all those who are most tyrannical, únjuft, mercenary, and mean; but 1 fhould be very willing to refign them to the parent by whom they are claimed, did I not think it neceffary to expofe the numerous mifrepresentations, ignorances, and falfehoods, with which this deteftable compofition abounds. The hoftile parties are not, by any means, fuch as the noble author appears to fuppose, and endeavours to reprefent. They are not the Catholic and the Proteftant, the Milefian and the

Spencer's State of Ireland, &c. &c, &c.

eration.

Cromwellian, the first poffeffor and the fecond poffeffor of the land: No-But I fhall not prefume to depict them. We do not reproach any man with the crimes of his ancestors; we do not oppofe the children through refentment to the fathers; but we endeavour to refift the progrefs of those who would encroach upon our freedom. The ancient wars of Ireland, like all other civil wars, have been barbarous and inhuman, but it is difficult (indeed I might fay impoffible) to afcertain on which fide the greateft cruelties were perpetrated, as each party accuses the other: however, all honeft and unprejudiced perfons must agree, that the crimes committed by men, fighting for the land which they had ufurped, must be confidered more atrocious than those of men fighting for the property of which they had been recently difpoffeffed. But it is of very little importance to the prefent question, in what manner their progenitors conducted themselves five or fix hundred years ago; and I mention these circum◄ ftances merely to convince the noble author, that I am not unacquainted with thofe parts of Irish history to which his knowledge appears to be confined; and that I have read fome of those works which he appears to confider authentic. For the information of certain persons who may chance to peruse these pages after the work of the noble author, I think it neceffary to declare, that his endeavour to perfuade his readers, that the late rebellion in this country proceeded from the ancient inhabitants, the Roman Ca tholics, the claimants of forfeited eftates, is as base as his affertions are false and malevolent: and one