Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/299

 At the end of the year a pamphlet, entitled 'The Sale and Settlement of Ireland,' appeared, and attracted great attention. It was believed to be inspired from high quarters. The author was one David Fitz-Gerald. It impugned the whole Irish land settlement, made a series of bitter charges against the Duke of Ormonde, and accused Lord Clarendon of desiring to extirpate the Irish people root and branch. It was soon followed by another publication of a similar kind, called 'Queries on the State of Ireland,' written by Dr. Gorges and also aimed at the Duke of Ormonde and the Earl of Clarendon.

Sir William was urged to write a reply. He at first considered it was not within his province to do so. 'As to my answering the "Queries,"' he said, 'I say that my Lord of Ormonde and Lord Chancellor Clarendon's family are much concerned to satisfy the world as to the said "Queries;" and also the substance of the scandalous Treatise called the "Sale and Settlement of Ireland;" and that therefore it should be done by such hands as they think sufficient for it; by lawyers, skilled in Parliamentary and Prerogative Law; and such as are well versed in the history of the wars of Ireland, and in all the transactions between the Phelym O'Nealians, Owen O'Nealians, Rinuccinians, and Clanricardians of the one side, and the Ormondians, Inchiquinians, and the Oliverians of the other side; or in other words between those who changed the Government, rebelled against the same, and would have extirpated the English name and Religion—whom we may in one word call "Rebells"—on the one side, and those who endeavoured to avenge the wrongs done to their King, countrymen, and religion, under the best Captains and conductors, which they could from time to time find, in direct pursuance of the Act made 17 Car. prim, for that purpose; whom in one other word we call "Patriots" of the other side.'

He was, however, ultimately prevailed upon to write a memorandum in reply to Fitz-Gerald and Gorges, which he developed into a small book called 'Speculum Hiberniæ,' the