the French in 1713. When the island thus came into possession of its new masters, it contained a not inconsiderable French population, to whom freedom of worship had been guaranteed by treaty 'as far as the laws of England permitted;' and so successfully did the Governor of the day take advantage of this dangerous proviso, that the disgusted French Catholics and their clergy sold their property and 'abandoned' the questionable protection of the conquerors. The French Catholics having been effectually god rid of, their Irish brethren became the objects of special proscription. The following order was issued by several Governors down to so late as 1765. It shows the spirit against which the Irish Catholic had to contend:
For the better preserving the peace, preventing robberies, tumultuous assemblies, and other disorders of wicked and idle people remaining in the country during the winter, Ordered
That no Papist servant, man or woman, shall remain at any place where they did not fish or serve during the summer.
That not more than two Papist men shall dwell in one house during the winter, except such as have Protestant masters.
That no Papist shall keep a public-house, or sell liquor by retail.
That the masters of Irish servants do pay for their passage home.
Another order, addressed to the magistrates about this time, exhibits the fierce spirit of persecution in a manner still more striking.
Whereas you have represented to me that an Irish Papist, a servant, a man without wife or family, has put up mark posts in a fishing-room within your district, with an intent to build a stake and flakes thereon, and possess the same as his right and property, which practice being entirely repugnant to the Act 10 and 11 Wm. III.
I do therefore authorise you to immediately cause the post marks abovementioned to be taken down, and warn the person so offending not to presume to mark out any vacant fishing-room again as his property, as he will answer the contrary at his peril. You are also to warn other Papists from offending in the like case, as they will answer to the contrary.
(Signed) T. BYRON, Governor.
