Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 4.djvu/132

118 had expended a million of money in fortifications alone; that during the war they had lost twelve ships and cargoes worth fifteen hundred thousand pounds; that since the last subscription they had paid two hundred and ninety-five thousand pounds for customs, and above eighty-five thousand pounds in taxes. They had furnished ten thousand barrels of gunpowder when the government was greatly pressed for it, and taken eighty thousand pounds'-worth of exchequer bills. The house weighed the proposal, but was persuaded by Montague to give the preference to the new company. On this the old company offered, notwithstanding their great losses, to advance two millions to government, on condition that the charter to the new company was not granted. The offer came too late; the bill for the new company was passed and carried also in the lords, but with considerable opposition, and a protest from one-and-twenty peers. This act was, notwithstanding, deemed a very unjust and arbitrary measure; and the arguments of the whigs for a standing army, their wholesale embezzlements in the government offices, and by most flagrant contracts, sunk greatly their popularity. In fact, a more greedy and corrupt set of men never existed than the whigs of this period.

Before closing the session, the house of commons received a petition from colonel Michelbourne, who, with Dr. Walker, had made the splendid defence of Londonderry, praying that the arrears due to himself and officers might be considered. It appeared that not only had these meritorious officers been left neglected and unpaid all this time, notwithstanding their extraordinary services, but the townspeople, in another petition, complained of the poverty and ruin they had been suffered to remain in from the destructive attack on their city, and they prayed the attention of the house to their sufferings. The house, on examination, found the representations wholly borne out, and prayed his majesty to take measures for doing justice to these most deserving citizens, that their case might not remain a reproach to the country and a discouragement to all good subjects. William promised that their demands should be granted; and certainly it was a disgrace to him that, whilst he had taken care to see his Dutch subjects amply remunerated for their share in his wars, and even for bringing him over, he should so long have left these brave men in utter neglect.

But though the Irish in this case obtained a degree of regard from the commons, they were more sharply and unjustly treated in other respects. One William Molyneux, a gentleman of Dublin, had written a book to prove the kingdom of Ireland independent of the parliament of England; in fact, he wanted to ignore Poyning's celebrated statute, which made it necessary that every measure submitted to the Irish parliament should first have the consent of the English privy council. The house appointed a committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with the publication of this book, and as it at that time was issued anonymously, to pray the king to take measures for discovering and punishing the author. They pointed out that an act of parliament had been passed during the last session in Dublin, pretending to be only a re-enactment of an English act, for the better security of his majesty's person and government, but, in reality, a new act, thus setting at defiance Poyning's statute. They attributed both to the book and to this act of parliament an attempt to render Ireland independent of England, and prayed his majesty to punish the authors of these measures, and to prevent such offences in future.

The narrow and tyrannical spirit exercised towards Ireland was strikingly manifested by another prayer of the commons to his majesty. It appeared that the Irish had introduced the woollen manufacture into their country, and that it was beginning to flourish. Instead of rejoicing that Ireland showed symptoms of rising from her destitution, and employing her people in useful labours instead of leaving them to idleness and sedition, the commons immediately prayed his majesty to put a stop to this manufacture. They looked on Ireland, not as an integral part of the realm, the prosperity of which must add to the general prosperity, but as a foreign country, and, with a most pitiful jealousy, demanded that this woollen manufacture should be put an end to. It is curious to perceive in the commons' address the idea which it entertained of the utter subjection of Ireland to England, and that it was to be suffered to possess no mercantile enterprise except at the will of this country—not even to make coats for its own people's backs. It says, "Being very sensible that the wealth and power of this kingdom do, in a great measure, depend on the preserving the woollen manufacture as much as possible entire to this realm, they thought it became them, like their ancestors, to be jealous of the establishment and increase thereof elsewhere, and to use their utmost endeavours to prevent it; that they could not without trouble observe that Ireland, which is dependent on and protected by England in the enjoyment of all they have, and which is so proper for the linen manufacture, the establishment and growth of which would be so enriching to themselves, and as profitable to England, should of late apply itself to the woollen manufacture, to the great prejudice of the trade of this kingdom, and so unwillingly promote the linen trade, which would benefit both nations; that the consequence whereof would necessitate his majesty's parliament of England to interpose to prevent this mischief, unless his majesty, by his authority and great wisdom, should find means to secure the trade of England by making the subjects of Ireland procure the joint interests of both kingdoms. Wherefore, they implored his majesty's protection and favour in this matter, and that he would make it his royal care, and enjoin all those he employs in Ireland to use their utmost diligence to hinder the exportation of wool from Ireland—except to be imported hither—and for discouraging the woollen manufactures, and encouraging the linen manufactures in Ireland; to which the commons of England should always be ready to give their utmost assistance."

William promised to do as they desired, and thus was Ireland, till a recent period, always repressed in every attempt to raise herself and extend her industry, lest it should interfere with the industry of England. Well might its parliament be anxious to get from under Poyning's statute.

Whilst William was oppressed with the difficulties growing up abroad, he had no great peace at home. Of late he had given much evidence of growing favour to Van Keppel, one of his countrymen, who had been originally one of his