obtained a charter for the appropriation of certain estates in six different counties of Ireland, for that purpose. A corporation being obtained, three grammar schools were founded, one each in Drogheda, Galway, and Tipperary. A new act of parliament having been obtained in 1724, to extend the benefits of this society, various lectures, fellowships, professorships, and exhibitions, were established in Trinity College, Dublin, as the property increased in value. Besides boarding and educating forty boys in the Blue Coat School, Dublin, training them for trade or the ministry, many schools were supported in different parts of Ireland. Great benefits were doubtless the result of these institutions; but the dignified ecclesiastics being chief governors of the corporation, many were the abuses through extensive patronage, which have been regarded as attaching to the administration of the ample revenues of the worthy alderman.

Conscious of culpability in neglecting the population, while receiving the vast emoluments of the church, and alarmed at the prevalence of popery, which threatened, by its increase, to overwhelm the endowed church, Dr. Hugh Boulter, archbishop of Armagh, patronized a new series of efforts for the education of the Irish. The primate states, in a letter to the bishop of London, the reason of this solicitude :"The great number of papists in this kingdom, and the obstinacy with which they adhere to their own religion, occasions our trying what can be done with their children to bring them over to our church." No worthy efforts were made on the principles of the Saviour's commission to his apostles, on which the founder of Christianity acted, and converted the worldfaithfully preaching the gospel in the language of the people wherever they could be found assembling. Application was made to George II, in 1731, by a petition, signed by all the archbishops, and bishops, and thirty dignitaries of the Irish church, and many nobles and gentry, praying that his majesty would grant a charter for incorporating certain persons, with power to accept gifts, benefactions, and lands, for the support and maintenance of schools wherein the children of the poor might be taught gratis. A charter was granted in 1733, incorporating the chief dignitaries of the church, the officers

of state, and others, for the establishment of schools, for the education of the popish and other poor natives.

His majesty granted 1,000l. out of the national treasury, and many followed the king's example, by liberal subscriptions. The first school was opened in 1734, at Monastereren ; and another at the close of 1737; and seven others were subsequently established under the title of charter schools. In 1745, government aid was sought, and a tax upon hawkers' licenses was made for this purpose, and about 1,100%. annually were produced by this means for the corporation. Additional grants were made in succession to a considerable amount; and in 1769 it was reported that the corporation had fifty-two schools and five nurseries, in which were 2,100 children. Reports were circulated that this charity was grossly abused, especially after the transfer of five hundred foundlings to the charter schools; and Howard the philanthropist finding so large an amount of misery in them, and such injustice in their management, urged the House of Commons in 1784, and again in 1787, to inquire into the state of the Protestant charter schools. A committee was appointed, and they found that instead of 2,100 children, the schools contained only 1,400; and that many of the schools were in a miserably dilapidated state. Mr. Howard stated, that "the children were pale, sickly, and such miserable objects, that they were a disgrace to all society; and their reading had been neglected for the purpose of making them work for their masters." In one school, he found twelve boys, sickly, and almost naked; and in another thirteen similar wretched objects. Others were induced to inspect these schools; by whom Howard's reports were confirmed, that they were receptacles of filth, wretchedness, and disease.

Parliamentary grants, however, continued to be solicited and obtained: and considerable estates were bequeathed to the corporation, by Dr. Pococke, the Earl of Ranelagh, Baron Voyhowven, and other benevolent persons. One anonymous benefactor bestowed 40,000%. in stock; and another, 56,6667.; and others sums of equal liberality. Still the management of the corporation fund was scarcely improved. Individuals profited by these large revenues: but little was gained by them in

honour of Christianity: for the commissioners testify, "It is certain, that, from the period of Mr. Howard's report, till some time after the rebellion of 1798, no considerable reformation had taken place in the state of the schools: even after that year, most of the buildings were in a very ruinous condition, and some of the schools were in a state of great neglect. These chartered schools were reckoned forty-four at the close of the century, containing 2,025 boys and girls, born of popish parents, or such as would have been abandoned by their parents: it was a rule of the corporation, that five pounds are given to every one educated in these schools, on his or her marrying a Protestant.

Auxiliary as these schools and their large revenues might have been made under a wise direction, in promoting the cause of scriptural Christianity, the prelates, spending their time in England or on the continent, and the principal beneficed clergy of Ireland being pluralists and non-resident, they were of little advantage, and nominal protestantism scarcely retained its ground; while the papists continued to increase, abhorring a system, which seemed created only to enrich the chiefs of the established hierarchy, by the fruit of the labours of the whole nation.

Protestantism thus pernicious, provoking the papists, led to the cherishing of infidelity in those who were at all educated, and prepared them for the reception of revolutionary principles. Having witnessed the successful struggle of the Americans for independence, and equal liberty being denied to the people of Ireland, "The Society of United Irishmen" was formed in 1791, professedly to seek "an equality of civil rights among all religious professions; " the members being "bound by oath to obtain a complete reform in the legisla ture on the principles of civil, political, and religious liberty." Many gentlemen of the first rank enrolled their names as members of this association; and, in opposition, "Orange Societies" were formed by the political Protestants, to prevent the extension of any privileges to Roman Catholics. Popish superstition having generated infidelity, which had produced the bloody revolution in France, the same principles inflenced multitudes in Ireland, and partly under French

excitement they rose in rebellion in 1798, in which it was computed thirty thousand persons lost their lives, besides several thousands who were transported and wounded. These calamities led to the introduction, the following year, of the consideration of a union between Ireland and England, which was at length determined by act of parliament in 1800, and commenced January 1, 1801, as "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," and the Episcopal establishment was incorporated with that of England, as "The United Church of England and Ireland."

Deplorable to a proverb as was the state of the Episcopal Church in Ireland at the close of the eighteenth century, vital godliness was not absolutely dead in that communion. God had graciously shed forth his Spirit upon some of its ministers, and they arose, amid serious discouragements, labouring to bring souls to Christ. Dr. Haweis speaks of this rising of new life among his clerical brethren in Ireland, in the following terms:- "God has of late also graciously raised up a precious band of clergy in the established church, though few indeed in number comparatively, and of small reputation among their fellows, yet they are earnestly endeavouring to revive a spirit of zeal and true Christianity; to make the name of Jesus more precious, and his authority more respected. Many, I trust, by their labours, will, in the day of God, be written among the righteous; and when the Lord shall collect his redeemed, be found to have been born there." Impressed, however, with the affecting condition of Ireland, the doctor adds, "It is to be lamented, that ignorance and popery still spread their thick mists over the bulk of the common people; and that the Protestants maintain but little more than their name, and immortal hatred to popery, the general profession of their fellow-subjects. Some change must shortly take place. The crisis approaches. May the God of all grace give a prosperous issue *."

* Impartial History of the Church of Christ, vol. iii, p. 287, 288.

CHAPTER XXI.

DISSENTERS IN IRELAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

Parties in Ireland-Royal Grants to the Presbyterians - Missionary spirit-Increase of their congregations Presbytery of Antrim Arianism - Presbyterian Synod of Ireland - Reformed Presbytery Synod of Munster Regium Donum -Independents-Baptists- Moraviars-Quakers Methodists-Their persecutions Their increase Roman Catholics Maynooth College-Prospects of Ireland.

WHILE "the church by law established" in Ireland was episcopal, and the great mass of the population was popish, a considerable portion of the more serious inhabitants, especially in the north, continued Dissenters. Being early trained by their ancestors in scriptural knowledge, they retained in Ireland their superior habits of industry, sobriety, and regard for the divine ordinances of Christianity. Prosperity in a high degree distinguished them; and Ulster consequently remained through the century, by far the most civilized province in Ireland.

Orthodoxy and piety flourished generally in this body: but the purity of their religious principles and zeal became marred in the reign of George I, with the errors prevailing in England.

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William III, had not only manifested his respect for the rights of conscience, which allowed the Presbyterians the liberty of worshipping God according to their accustomed mode, but bestowed on them 1,2001. per annum towards the support of their ministers. Queen Anne acceded to a request for a renewal of the grant under these limitations:Upon trust nevertheless, that the money which shall be received thereupon, shall be distributed to and amongst the said Presbyterian ministers, or such of them, and in such proportions, as shall be appointed from time to time, in lists to be approved of and signed by our lieutenant deputy, or other chief governor or governors, of our said kingdom of Ireland for the time being." In the reign of George I, 8007. per annum were added, to be divided in equal shares between the ministers of this synod, and those of the southern asso