Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Historical And Geographical Account Of Ireland.
be preserved between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant interest . It was therefore thought prudent to relax the reins of government , and not to put the forfeitures too rigorously into execution . "The experience of half a century has confirmed the wisdom of the above considerations . The lenity of the measures pursued in regard to the Irish Roman Catholics , and the great pains taken for the instruction of their childrenwith the progress which knowledge and the arts
, have made in that country , have greatly diminished the Popish interest . The spirit of industry has enabled the Irish to know their own strength and importance ; to which some accidental circumstances have concurred . All her ports were opened for the exportation of wool and woollen yarn to any part of Great-Britain ; and of late years , acts of parliament have been made occasionally for permitting the
importation of salt beef , pork , butter , cattle , and tallow , from Ireland to Great Britain . But though some laws and regulations had occasionally taken place favourable to Ireland , it must be acknowledged , that the inhabitants of that country laboured under considerable grievances , in consequence of sundry unjust and injudicious restraints of the Parliament of
England respecting their trade . These restraints had injured Ireland without benefiting Great Britain . The Irish had been prohibited from manufacturing their own wool , in order to favour the woollen manufactory of England : the consequence of which was , that the Irish wool was smuggled over into France , and the people of that country were thereby enabled to rival us in our woollen manufacture ,.
and to deprive us of a part of that trade . An embargo had also been laid on the exportation of provisions from Ireland , which had been extremely prejudicial to that kingdom . The distresses of the Irish manufacturers , as well as those of Great Britain , had likewise been much increased by the consequences of the American war . These circumstances occasioned great murmuring in Ireland , and some attempts were made for the relief of the inhabitants of that kingdom in
the British Parliament , but for some time without success : for a partiality in favour of the trade in England prevented justice from being done to Ireland . But several incidents , which happened afterwards , at length operated strongly in favour of that kingdom . When a large body of the king ' s troops had been withdrawn from Ireland , in order to be employed in the American war , a considerable number
of Irish gentlemen , farmers , traders , and other persons , armed and formed themselves into volunteer companies and associations , for the defence of Ireland against any foreign invaders . By degrees , these volunteer associations became numerous and well disciplined : audit was soon discovered , that they were inclined to maintain their rights at homeas well as to defend themselves against forei enemies .
, gn When these armed associations became numerous and formidable , the Irish began to assume an higher tone than , that to which they had before been accustomed : and it was soon manifest , that their remonstrances met with unusual attention , both from their OWJI Parliament and from that of Great Britain . The latter , on the nth of May , 1 779 , presented an address to the King , recommending to his Majesr / s
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Historical And Geographical Account Of Ireland.
be preserved between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant interest . It was therefore thought prudent to relax the reins of government , and not to put the forfeitures too rigorously into execution . "The experience of half a century has confirmed the wisdom of the above considerations . The lenity of the measures pursued in regard to the Irish Roman Catholics , and the great pains taken for the instruction of their childrenwith the progress which knowledge and the arts
, have made in that country , have greatly diminished the Popish interest . The spirit of industry has enabled the Irish to know their own strength and importance ; to which some accidental circumstances have concurred . All her ports were opened for the exportation of wool and woollen yarn to any part of Great-Britain ; and of late years , acts of parliament have been made occasionally for permitting the
importation of salt beef , pork , butter , cattle , and tallow , from Ireland to Great Britain . But though some laws and regulations had occasionally taken place favourable to Ireland , it must be acknowledged , that the inhabitants of that country laboured under considerable grievances , in consequence of sundry unjust and injudicious restraints of the Parliament of
England respecting their trade . These restraints had injured Ireland without benefiting Great Britain . The Irish had been prohibited from manufacturing their own wool , in order to favour the woollen manufactory of England : the consequence of which was , that the Irish wool was smuggled over into France , and the people of that country were thereby enabled to rival us in our woollen manufacture ,.
and to deprive us of a part of that trade . An embargo had also been laid on the exportation of provisions from Ireland , which had been extremely prejudicial to that kingdom . The distresses of the Irish manufacturers , as well as those of Great Britain , had likewise been much increased by the consequences of the American war . These circumstances occasioned great murmuring in Ireland , and some attempts were made for the relief of the inhabitants of that kingdom in
the British Parliament , but for some time without success : for a partiality in favour of the trade in England prevented justice from being done to Ireland . But several incidents , which happened afterwards , at length operated strongly in favour of that kingdom . When a large body of the king ' s troops had been withdrawn from Ireland , in order to be employed in the American war , a considerable number
of Irish gentlemen , farmers , traders , and other persons , armed and formed themselves into volunteer companies and associations , for the defence of Ireland against any foreign invaders . By degrees , these volunteer associations became numerous and well disciplined : audit was soon discovered , that they were inclined to maintain their rights at homeas well as to defend themselves against forei enemies .
, gn When these armed associations became numerous and formidable , the Irish began to assume an higher tone than , that to which they had before been accustomed : and it was soon manifest , that their remonstrances met with unusual attention , both from their OWJI Parliament and from that of Great Britain . The latter , on the nth of May , 1 779 , presented an address to the King , recommending to his Majesr / s