American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-08-03

gal.antand costly pageant, while he empties his
pockets to satisfy the lhrong of beggars who pray
him In the name OF God to give them penny.
You win not wonder that my interest was soon
excited Tor Ireland alter Witnessing these scenes
II such scenes prevail in Dublin where more chart
table societies exist for the purpose of meoratinp
the condition Of mankind, than in any other city in
the world, what must be the state of the more re-
mote parts OF Ireland? From my own observation
and the uniform testimony Of intelligent people here.
| think may safely affirm that there is not as
wretched community on the globe as that of a
great part OF Ireland. How, indeed can it be other
wise. All the lands in this island belong TO rich
proprlelors who live out Of the kingdom, and spend
abroad all that they can scrapc from the soil What
else than poverty can be the lot of country thus
situated! And when you examine the subject more
IN detail, you Ind things still worse than, from
general statement, could have been imagined.
Many OF the proprietors employ agents, who re.
side in England, and let the lands to sub agents cal
led land pirates middle men, who monopolize the
soil, and exact what is called rack-rent from the
peasants. Nor is rack-rent the most serious burhen
which this devoted people have to bear. Every
tenth part OF the produce of the soil is wres,ed from
them by the ministers OF the church of England in
whose religion they do not believe while they are
sill obliged to support their own minister's in whom
they do believe
do! Watched by military of twenty four thou.
sand men; hunted, shot, and gibbeted, if they do
not silently submit to the grinding heel of oppres-
sion; despised on account of their faith even the
professionals OF their own country, who know and &C.
knowledge the oppression of the government, are
sill reconclled to that government and its oppres
sion, because directed against hated papacy desert
ed by their rich and powerful countrymen, who
should protect them; and their men OF talents con-
verified into traitors and abetors of the government,
by that g universal SOLVENT British gold what
repeat can hive millions Of people, thus situated do?
Shall they turn Pedestrians? II is against human
nature TO embrace the faith Of those we hate to a.
dept the religion oil those who, to fathers and
ourselves, have held the relation of oppressors
Shall they petition? Petitions are unheard. What,
again, shall they do? hesitate not to say tina. re-
beon Is the duty OF Ireland, there is the
least chance that they far succeed as to obtain
entire religious freedom, and such provisions as
shall make their country desirable residence to the
rich, and not degraded, scorned province.
That things are strongly tending TO great
change in Ireland, cannot doubt. The subject of
tythes In England, Notwithstanding the clergy insist
that they are OF divine ordination, and that the Quar-
Ierly Review maintains that they are only part of
The rent OF land, the clergy being copropretors with
The landlord, Is one which exctes extensive disap-
probation. With respect 10 Ireland, the system of
yheS Is eit 10 DC Sill more liable 10 apprehension.
hat so poor people should be obliged to pay 1000
dollars year, which is stated 10 be the average of
Irish benehces TO ecclesiastics, many of whom, in
stead OF living among the people, and ministerng to
heir spiritual and temporal welfare, betake them
selves to the fashionable pleasures of Bath and Chel
enham needless OF their duty, and careless that they
ire reveng on wealth wrung out by blood, is
hing certainly no, to be praised. But that the few
Spiscopalians in Ireland, not amounting 10 more
han one tenth of the population, should be the esiab.
lshed church, and tythe the for its support be-
gins to be considered, in these days Of growing light
md federation, too monstrous to be defended. Add
o this another consideration, that the Catholics are
apidy increasing, that they are growing more and
more deeply conscious of their rights. more settled
their series of redress, and you glance at my rea.
ons Tor surprising some change must ere long take
lace in Ireland, either by concession or forces
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