hear the doctor say, “This cannot be the Ruvigny of last century.” And so he is introduced as “the Earl of Galway, a general in the army.” Nevertheless it was our old friend. Another old friend, Lord Tyrawley, was the Commander of the Forces in Ireland. The Viceregal speech artfully made use of the rising in Scotland, as implying that the Jacobites regarded their cause to be hopeless in Ireland. Several regiments were sent to North Britain, and their place was supplied by militia, as “a singular instance of the great confidence His Majesty places in the fidelity and good affection of his loyal subjects in Ireland.” The speech from the throne requested “all reasonable despatch.” The desired quickness of despatch was shown. On the 25th of the same month, the Lords Justices were enabled to pass several Acts of the Parliament, particularly one for recognising King George’s title to the throne of Great Britain, France, and Ireland; and another Act for attainting the Duke of Ormond. The next business was the subjugation of the Phipps faction. On the nth December a military pension of £500 a-year was granted to Lord Galway in addition to his civil pension of £1000.
Having earned and spent their Christmas holidays, the members of Parliament resumed business in January 1716. Some ready writer had found time to compose and publish a review of their recent proceedings, under the title of “A Long History of a Short Sessions of a Certain Parliament of a Certain Kingdom.” This account or fabrication was censured by the Commons. About the 30th instant, the Irish Parliament entered into an Association to defend King George’s title against the Pretender and all his adherents. And in February, Trinity College, Dublin, chose George, Prince of Wales, to be their Chancellor. The Princess of Wales had presented to the French Church of Portarlington “rich and massive plate for the communion service, and a finely-toned church bell, which preserve to the present day the memory of that royal lady’s generous piety.” The inscription on the bell states that the giver is the Princess — “Promovente illustrissimo Comite Henrico de Galloway.”
The Viceregal speech strongly recommended unity among Protestants. In Ulster, however, the jealousy of some Episcopalians was constantly ready to boil over. On the ground that the house of one of their clergymen, who was generally suspected to be a Jacobite, had been searched, and also two houses where reverend gentlemen were visitors, the Archbishop of Armagh and the Bishop of Down and Connor complained to the Lords Justices that the clergy of the diocese of Connor were vexatiously visited by officers of justice, and that the Presbyterians were the main instigators and actors in this persecution. The memorial was referred to the Judges of Assize for the north-east circuit of Ulster on the 22d March 1716 (n.s.), who placed it before the Grand Jury at Carrickfergus. The Grand Jury expressed their surprise “that matters of so public a nature should happen in this county without the knowledge of any of us;” nevertheless they went into the inquiry thoroughly. And the Judges reported to the Lords Justices that no clergyman’s house had been searched before the 1st of February 1716 — that all searches were with warrants and by authorised officers — that no Dissenting teacher was concerned in promoting or executing the warrants — that, as to the Established clergy, only the Rev. Geoffrey Fanning’s house was searched for arms — and as to the houses of the inhabitants of the County of Antrim, those baronies alone were searched which joined the sea-coast opposite to Scotland, and in or near to the estate of the Earl of Antrim, then a prisoner in the Castle of Dublin, and after the Pretender was landed in Scotland. Parliament adjourned from the 9th to the 20th of February.
The Lords Justices and the Commons strained every nerve to obtain the legal toleration of the Presbyterians, whose loyalty and bravery were uniformly so conspicuous and serviceable. They were vigorously encouraged by Secretary Stanhope, but the Lords Spiritual of Ireland defeated them. I may here mention that at the end of the session the House of Commons passed two resolutions on this subject. The first was unanimous, and the second was agreed to without a division. First, that such of His Majesty’s Protestant Dissenting subjects as have taken commissions in the militia, or acted in the commission of array, have done a seasonable service to His Majesty’s person and Government, and the Protestant interest in this kingdom. Secondly, that any person who shall commence a prosecution against any Dissenter, who has accepted or shall accept of a commission in the army or militia, is an enemy of King George and the Protestant interest, and a friend of the Pretender (5th June).
During the existence of this Viceregal Board, the authorized edition of the English Book of Common Prayer, adapted for Ireland, was issued. The following was the Royal Order:—
