Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/328

After Limerick financial corruption and abuse. In England, where the House of Commons was really powerful, it was often hard enough to resist the influence of the Crown and ministers; in Ireland it was impossible. Very often, indeed, the Irish Commons made a good fight, and on a few occasions they made themselves so tiresome that Government thought it wiser policy to retire from its position. But, as a rule, the direct efforts of the Irish Commons to thwart Government were unsuccessful, and they had to submit to see the pension list swell and the most lucrative offices given to Englishmen resident in England. The Irish Parliament had to content itself with interfering indirectly whenever it seemed possible to obtain an advantage, and it is certain that the terrible abuses connected with expenditure would have been still more widespread, had it not been for this policy of the legislature. It is hardly necessary to observe that during the first part of this period, the members of the Irish House of Commons were not always animated with a sense of patriotism; but they were animated with a sense of the humiliation of their position and with a rapidly growing resentment at their want of financial control. Later on this feeling of patriotism came, and when we reflect on the constitution of 316