Purchase and Estimate of the Life of Man, since these People have offended
in Word or in Deed. No Riotings have been heard in their Houses, no
Complainings in their Streets; they have been silent and harmless as Sheep
before their Sheerers. Our Parties, Factions, and Insurrections, as they
are merrily stiled in _England_, have been all among ourselves; this
People were neither Actors nor Partakers therein. They have offered
themselves to our Fleets, and to our Armies; to tend our Persons, to till
our Grounds, to hew our Wood, and to draw our Water. Where we admit them
to fight for us, they have ever proved valiant; where we admit them to
serve us, they are found loving, observant, and faithful. Temptations have
come to their Doors and called them forth; the Contagion of Rebellion hath
broken out among their Neighbours; they have yet remained quiet, and
continued untainted; still loyal to their Sovereign, amenable to
Government, and submissive to Law, through a long and trying Succession of
about seventy Years, they have scarce appeared to repine in the midst of
their Calamities.
When I look back on the querulous and restless Nature of Man: When I trace
the human Propensities through the Records of Ages and Nations: In all the
Histories of those States who had least Cause of Complaint: Throughout the
Commonwealths of _Asia Minor_, the _Archipelago_, the _Grecian Continent_,
_Italy_, the Islands of the _Mediterranean_, &c. where the RIGHTS OF
NATURE, under Forms of various Institution, were ASSERTED BY LIBERTY AND
GUARDED BY LAW: Where the ASSURANCE OF PROPERTY gave most REASON FOR
CONTENT: I can find but few Instances of any People who, through such a
Length of Time, have continued firm and unshaken, in an uninterrupted
Loyalty and Submission to Government.
What then, do we look for further? What Proofs do ye yet require, of
Peacefulness and Attachment at the Hands of these our Brethren? Is no
Period to be put to their State of Probation? Must they _for ever_ keep
out upon _Quarantine_, without Harbour or Hopes of Rest or Reconciliation?
That were hard, indeed.
If it is Revenge that we seek, they have, already, suffered enough, not
for their own Faults, but for the Hostility of their Forefathers. If we
seek our Safety, alone; let us chace _them, at once, from Country and
Community_; or put an _End to our domestic Fears_, by giving them Cause to
defend us.
Indeed, Sir, neither common Sense, nor Sense of any Kind, can possibly
suppose, That Acts of Kindness which have been, from the Beginning of the
World, the Cement of Friendship to all other People, should prove the
reverse to these People alone.
Had they been to us, as the Swallow, in Autumn, who forsakes all
Connections on the Approach of Inclemency, I should never have pleaded for
any Confidence in them. But a People, who, through a Winter of seventy
Years Continuance, have never failed, or forsaken, or given us Cause of
Offence, surely merit some Consideration, some grateful and chearing Ray
to warm them to a Sense that _Protestants_ are not, by Choice, of a cruel,
unforgiving, and malevolent Nature.
Lastly, Sir, as I know you to be a Gentleman of a communicative
Disposition, and that you were, formerly, fond of exhibiting the
Sentiments of some of your Friends; should you impart this Letter to any
of your popish Acquaintance, I doubt they might be apt to give me more
Thanks than I am conscious I deserve. It is, therefore, but commonly
honest, to advertise you, and them, that while I write in the Favour of
_Papists_, the Interest of _Protestants_ is never out of my Eye.
When I thought your Favourites most formidable, I shewed I did not fear
them; and now, that I think them impotent, let them not think I flatter.
What I have hitherto hinted is but a narrow opening to the Concerns and
Interests of an unhappy Country, whereof I have the Misfortune to be a
helpless, though loving, Member. To promote the Advantage of _Ireland_, in
any respect, would be, to me, the cardinal Point of the whole Compass of
my Ambition; and a subsequent Letter may shew how far my Observations
relate to the Decline, or Prosperity, of my Country, whenever you confer
the Pleasure of an Answer on,
_Dear_ SIR,
_Your truly affectionate_, &c.
FOOTNOTES
_ 1 Dublin_, 1753, _M. Reilly_, Editor.
2 This _Mac Con More Macnamara_, Duke of _Klan Cullane_, founded,
erected, and amply endowed the beautiful Abbey of _Quin_; as did
other Chieftains of his Name and Family, several Parochial Churches,
with a great Number of magnificent Castles.
_ 3 Seasonable Thoughts_, &c. published by _George Faulkner_; _the Case
of the Roman Catholics_, and _the Principles of the Roman
Catholics_, the two last published by _P. Lord_, in _Cook-street,
Dublin_.
4 To all the above Productions of _Ireland_, may be justly added, our
inestimable Fisheries, and plentiful Mines, which, under due
national Encouragement, would raise immense Treasures.