M

A X I IM

M S

CONTROLLED

IN IRELAN D.

The Truth of fome Maxims in State and Government, examined with reference to Ireland.

ΤΗ

HERE are certain Maxims of State, founded upon long obfervation and experience, drawn from the conftant practice of the wifeft nations, and from the very principles of government, nor ever controlled by any writer upon politics. Yet all these Maxims do neceffarily prefuppofe a kingdom, or commonwealth, to have the fame natural rights common to the reft of mankind who have entered into civil fociety. For, if we could conceive a nation where each of the inhabitants had but one eye, one leg, and one hand, it is plain that, before you could inftitute them into a republic, an allowance must be made for thofe material defects, wherein they differed from other

mortals.

mortals. Or, imagine a legislator forming a fyftem for the government of Bedlam, and, proceeding upon the maxim that man is a fociable animal, fhould draw them out of their cells, and form them into corporations or general affemblies; the confequence might probably be, that they would fall foul on each other, or burn the house over their own heads.

Of the like nature are innumerable errors, committed by crude and fhort thinkers, who reafon upon general topics, without the least allowance for the most important circumftances, which quite alter the nature of the cafe.

This hath been the fate of thofe fmall dealers, who are every day publishing their thoughts either on paper or in their affemblies for improving the trade of Ireland, and referring us to the practice and example of England, Holland, France, or other nations.

I fhall therefore examine certain Maxims of government, which generally pass for uncontrolled in the world, and confider how far they will fuit with the present condition of this kingdom.

Firft, it is affirmed by wife men, that the dcarnefs of things neceffary for life, ín a fruitful

fruitful country, is a certain fign of wealtli and great commerce: For, when fuch neceffaries are dear, it must abfolutely follow that money is cheap and plentiful.

But this is manifeftly falfe in Ireland, for the following reafon. Some years

ago, the species of money here, did probably amount to fix or feven hundred thousand pounds; and I have good cause to believe, that our remittances then did not much exceed the cafh brought in to us. But the prodigious difcouragements we have fince received in every branch of our trade, by the frequent enforcements, and rigorous execution of the navigationact, the tyranny of under custom-house officers, the yearly addition of absentees, the payments to regiments abroad, to civil and military officers refiding in England, the unexpected fudden demands of great fums from the treasury, and fome other drains of perhaps as great confequence, we now fee ourselves reduced to a ftate (fince we have no friends) of being pitied by our enemies, at least, if our enemies were of fuch a kind as to be capable of any regards towards ús, except of hatred and contempt.

VOL. XV.

R

Forty

Forty years are now paffed fince the Revolution, when the contention of the Britifh empire was, moft unfortunately for us, and altogether against the ufual courfe of fuch mighty changes in government, decided in the leaft important nation, but with fuch ravages and ruin executed on both fides, as to leave the kingdom a defert, which, in fome fort, it ftill continues, Neither did the long rebellions in 1641 make half fuch a deftruction of houses, plantations, and perfonal wealth, in both kingdoms, as two years campaigns did in ours, by fighting England's battles.

By flow degrees, and by the gentle treatment we received under two aufpicious reigns, we grew able to live without running in debt. Our abfentees were but few, we had great indulgence in trade, a confiderable fhare in employments of church and flate; and, while the fhort leafes continued, which were let fome years after the war ended, tenants paid their rents with eafe and chcarfulness, to the great regret of their landlords, who had taken up a spirit of oppreffion that is not cafily removed. And although, in these fhort leafes, the rent was gradually to encrease after short periods; yet, as foon as

the term elapfed, the land was let to the highest bidder, most commonly without the leaft effectual claufe for building or planting. Yet by many advantages, which this island then poffeffed, and hath fince utterly loft, the rents of lands ftill grew higher upon every leafe that expired, till they have arrived at the present exorbitance; when the frog, overfwelling himself, burft at laft.

With the price of land, of neceffity rofe that of corn and cattle, and all other commodities that farmers deal in: Hence likewife, obviously, the rates of all goods and manufactures among shopkeepers, the wages of fervants, and hire of labourers. But, although our miferies came on. faft, with neither trade nor money left, yet neither will the landlord abate in his rent, nor can the tenant abate in the price of what that rent must be paid with, nor any fhopkeeper, tradefman, or labourer live, at lower expence, for food and clothing, than he did before.

I have been the larger upon this first head, because the fame obfervations will clear up and ftrengthen a good deal of what I fhall affirm upon the rest.