Summary of the depressing circumstances of the country. Emigration of the more energetic Irishmen Early nomadic tendencies of the nation Systematic degradation of Catholics . Their condition in the early Hanoverian period Gradual relaxation of the religious disabilities Effects of the penal code on the respect for law Social and political effects of the confiscations Extreme dread of Catholic ascendency. How far race has been important in Irish history Illustrations of the tolerant character of the Irish Freedom of Ireland from the witch mania Active disloyalty not prevalent in Ireland. Catholic bishops nominated by the Pretender Conflict between the English and Irish interests The Irish interest purely colonial Causes of the discontent that followed the Revolution Conflict with the Government, 1751-1753 HISTORY OF IRELAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I. IRELAND BEFORE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. THE history of Scotland in the eighteenth century furnishes us with one of the most remarkable instances on record of the efficacy of wise legislation in developing the prosperity and ameliorating the character of nations. In the history of Ireland, on the other hand, we may trace with singular clearness the perverting and degrading influence of great legislative injustices, and the manner in which they affect in turn every element of national well-being. This portion of the history of the Empire has usually been treated by English historians in a very superficial and perfunctory manner, and it has been obscured by many contradictions, by much prejudice and misrepresentation. I propose in the present work to examine it at some length, and in doing so it will be my object, much less to describe individual characters or particular episodes, than to analyse the social and political conditions of the country, to trace historically the formation of the peculiar tendencies, VOL. I. B |