If, before that great and healing measure was carried, one of their political opponents,—but a native of, and well-wisher to Ireland,—could describe the Catholic population as "attached to the English laws, and desirous to maintain the political connection of the British empire *," we cannot doubt that, in the words of one of the most strenuous supporters of it, "the granting that measure will prepare the minds of the Irish people to become more tranquil; will have a tendency to produce a moral reformation in the country, from their confidence that it is to England that they are to look for relief; and that every reflecting man in that country considers its destinies bound up with those of England t." Vertuntur species animorum et pectora motus Men's minds are changed, and better thoughts arise May these anticipations be prophetic, and the hopes and expectations of wise and good men prove realities! * Speech of Mr. Leslie Foster, 1817. Virgil, Georg. I. F APPENDIX. A. A COMPARATIVE STATEMENT Of the Sums raised by Poor Rates in the Parish of Speen, Berks, for ten years previous, and ten years subsequent, to the establishment of the Select Vestry, under the provisions of the 59 Geo. III. c. 12, for the years ending 25th March respectively. Average annual difference £808 3s. in favour of last ten years, with an increased population of nearly one thousand souls, and increased County Rates. B. IN the counties of Cavan, Carlow, Kerry, Kildare, King's County, and Louth and Wexford, the number of Dispensaries is not noticed. It was generally thought that it was imperative on the Grand Juries to grant a sum to each Dispensary, equal in amount to the gross sum received from local subscriptions or donations; but a difference of opinion arising on that point, it was decided by the twelve Judges, but not unanimously, that Grand Juries were entitled to exercise their discretion; and latterly the grants have been in some instances for a lesser sum than the amount of the local contributions. It is, therefore, impossible to state the amount of the local subscriptions: those actually stated in the returns are given in the annexed Table. |