Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/376



chapter opens with Dr. Petty's suspicion, that the death of the Protector, and the design to injure his family and all dependent on them, was now added to the other causes of acrimony against himself, he being then Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, Henry Cromwell, as well as to the council.

The immediate complaint was conveyed in an anonymous letter, which fell into the hands of the Lord Lieutenant, who, desirous of giving Dr. Petty an opportunity of vindicating himself, by bringing the ceaseless complaints against him into a tangible form, made the subject known to the body of officers then in Dublin, some of whom it appears were ill-disposed already towards Dr. Petty; and in compliance with a petition signed by the principal officers, among whom were Sir H. Waller and Sir Charles Coote (which confirms Dr. Petty's opinion that this proceeding was not viewed in an unfriendly spirit by many of the officers), a committee of seven was appointed. This was composed, however, of persons strongly opposed to him. He describes them humorously while he gives their names. Their first demand was merely for the formation of a general book of the distributions, which was ordered by the council on the 24th of January, 1659, but subsequently dropped, as Dr. Petty believes, in consequence of his election to a seat in the Parliament then about to sit, the supposed object of this book being to obtain its confirmation in gross for their own exclusive interests, which he might be able as an English member to prevent, as it was apprehended the Irish members might not be allowed to sit. Dr. Petty, however, not choosing to trust altogether for reason and justice to a "Parliament like to be very factiouse," thought it desirable to state in writing what land he already held, and what claims he considered still to be his due; which he did, addressing it as a claim called an "Humble Address and Demand," to his colleagues in the commission for distribution, by whom it was laid before the council, and at Dr. Petty's instance referred to the seven officers who formed the committee. This, it must be admitted, indicates every desire on Dr. Petty's part to meet and even to invite the fullest inquiry. With perfect fearlessness he carries the war into the enemies' country; and, while his antagonists are disputing his present possessions, he meets them by preferring a claim for more.

It may be argued, however, that this was only intended to lead their attention away from the real question, but if such were the object, it failed, as the dissentient officers in their remonstrance, afterwards fell back on the original ground in nine distinct charges, and it led to a very explicit statement from Dr. Petty, as will shortly be seen.

He accompanied the address and demand with a paper, of which no copy is given, but which we may assume on examination to have been found correct, as the report drawn up in consequence, was in accordance with the Doctor's wishes.

Neither the demand nor the report are easily understood. In the report mention is made of a Mrs. Carey (who for the first time appears in the anonymous letter which led to the inquiry), on whose behalf a joint claim is set forth; and at the close of the report it is stated