REFLECTIONS 2037/00 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND, IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY; THE PROGRESSIVE OPERATION OF THE CAUSES AND THE MEASURES BEST CALCULATED TO REMOVE ADDRESSED TO THE British Members of both Houses of Parliament. LONDON: PRINTED FOR JAMES RIDGWAY, 170, PICCADILLY. 1822. C THE NEW YORK 95474 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS, 1888. Printed by R. Macdonald, Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell. ΤΟ IRELAND'S BEST BENEFACTOR, HER FRIEND, NOT MORE ILLUSTRIOUS THAN ATTACHED, The following Faithful Poztraiture OF THE FEELINGS AND FACULTIES WITH WHICH NATURE HAS GIFTED HER PEOPLE, AND OF THE ERRORS AND FAILINGS-THE OFFSPRING OF A BASE AND BESOTTED POLICY-WHICH HAVE MARRED HER ENJOYMENT OF THE BOUNTIES OF PROVIDENCE, Is respectfully inscribed, BY HIS MAJESTY'S DUTIFUL SUBJECT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THERE is but one excuse for intruding on the public another pamphlet on the state of Ireland,-that those who have inundated the press with such productions, have omitted some important topic of argument, or neglected to afford some information, which it is essential that those whom I address should possess. To expect to reinforce arguments already so variously, and in many cases so ably urged, would be as presumptuous, as to re-state facts already adduced would be idle. To remove the obstacles which impede the attempts of non-resident legislators to perform their duties to Ireland, is the object of the following pages. "Ireland," says an able writer," and in a greater degree than other countries, has feelings that must be flattered, and prejudices and habits that, to be conquered, must be soothed: she must not be stretched on the Procrustan bed, or lopped or lengthened to an iron scale. Those that legislate for her should know her; and their system should be elastic and accommodating." Nor is it inconsistent with the respect I feel for the work of that * State of Ireland, Past and Present, p. 26. b |