The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-07-19

of former statutes, and guard every possible
access by which Papists" might still at
for example, had secretly purchased annui-
ties-by this statute, therefore, q Papist is
declared incapable of holding or enjoying
an annuity for life. It had been found, also,
that paternal authority or flial affection
had prevented from its full operation that
former act of 1904, which authorized q child,
on conforming, to reduce his father to q
tenant for life. Further encouragement to
children seemed desirable, therefore this
new law, upon the conversion of the child
of any Catholic, the chancellor was to COM
pei the father to discover upon oath the full
value of his estate, real and personal; and
thereupon make an order for the independ-
ent support of such conforming child, and
securing to him, after his fathers death,
such share of the property as to the court
Popish wives who should desert their hus-
bands faith. Thus distrust and discord
and heartburning i'll every family were we'll
provided for. One clause of the act pro-
hibits Papist from teaching, as tutor or
usher, even as assistant to Protestant
school-master; and another offers n salary
of ESQ to such Popish priests as should con-
form. But one thing was still wanting; it
was known that, notwithstanding the previ--
Gus punishment of Catholic archbishops,
bishops, etc., there were still men in the
Kingdom exercising those functions, coming
from France and Spain, and Drawing the
terrible penalties OF transportation and
death, in order to keep up the indispensable
connection of the Catholic flock with the
Head of the Church. 1t was.knOwn that this
was, indeed, an absolute necessity, at what
soever risk; and that to pretend a tolera-
tion of Catholic worship while the hierarchy
was banished, was as reasonable as to talk
of tolerating Presbyterianism without Pres
byterians, or courts without judges, or laws
or jtiries. Therefore, this act for {" explain
nd linz naIc or tod orrc
to informers for the discovery of an arch
bishop, bishop, vicar-general, or other per-
son exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
For such prize the informer was to have
any secular clergyman not duly registered,
EGO; for discovering Popish school
teacher or tutor, flO. Any two justices are
also empowered to summon before them any
Papist over eighteen years, and examine
=, him upon oath as to the time and place he
last heard mass, and the names of the par
: ties present, as well as concerning the resi-
dence of any Papist priest or schoOl-master;
and in case of the witness refusing to tes-
tify, there was penalty of EGO, or twelve
months imprisonment. The infOrmers were
expected, after this, to be more diligent and
devoted than ever; and a proclamation of
the same year, ordering all registered priests
to take the abjuraton oath before the 25th
of March, 171O, under the penalty of prGmu-
nire, gave additional stimulus and oppor-
huntingN now became distinct branch of
the profession and many a venerable cler-
gyman was dogged by these bloodhounds,
through various DISCUSSES, and waylaid by
night on his way to baptize or confirm or
visit the dying. The captured clergy were
sometimes brought in by patches of four or
five; and the laws were vigorously put in
force; if it was first offense they were
transported; but if any bishop who had
once been transported was caught in Ireland
again, he was hanged.
Such is the main substance of the act for
i" explaining and amending" generally
called the second act :" to prevent the
further growth of Popery." Lord Wharton,
by commission, gave it the royal assent;
and for the zeal he had shown in recon-
mending and Fastening the act, the House
of Commons voted his 1ordship an address,
gratefully acknowledging Her Majesty's
most particular care of them in appointing
his excellency their chief governor, and
earnestly wishing his long continuance in
the government" etc. His excellency de-
sired the speaker to inform them " that he
was extremely well pleased and satisfied"
Than this Lord Wharton no more profligate
politician, no more detestable man, had
ever been sent over to rule in Ireland. 1t
is true that the well-known character given
by Dean Swift must be taken with some
allowance; because Wharton was q Whig,
had been q Dissenter, and was still favor
able to the relaxation of the code against
Dissenters. These circumstances were
quite enough to rouse all the furious ire of
the Dean of st. Patrick's, and draw from
him torrent of his fou1est abuse. Be-
sides, if the dear was enraged against Lord
Wharton, it certainly was not for his ty
ranny to the Catholics, but rather for his
partiality to the Dissenters whereby, in
deed, as we shall see, Wharton soon got
into great disfavor with that very Parlia
ment which had lately praised him so highly.
Jonathan Swift had already lived many
years in Ireland, first as vicar of Kilroot,
near Carrickfergus, and afterward lin 1699)
as rector of Agher and rector OF Laracor
and Rathbeggan, in the diocese of Meath.
He did not become Dean of st. Patrick's