180

HIS TORT OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIX.

1693 .

The Kingrefusesto passthe

Triennial

Bill.

Those whom he had lectured withdrew full of resentment.The imputation which he had thrown on them was unjust. Theyhad a strong feeling of love and reverence for the land fromwhich they sprang, and looked with confidence for redress tothe supreme Parliament. Several of them went to London forthe purpose of vindicating themselves and of accusing the LordLieutenant. They were favoured with a long and attentiveaudience, both by the Lords and by the Commons, and wererequested to put the substance of what had been said intowriting. The humble language of the petitioners, and theirprotestations that they had never intended to violate thePoynings statute, or to dispute the paramount authority ofEngland, effaced the impression which Sidney’s accusationshad made. Both Houses addressed the King on the state ofIreland. They censured no delinquent by name: but theyexpressed an opinion that there had been gross maladministra-tion, that the public had been plundered, and that the ltomanCatholics had been treated with unjustifiable tenderness.William in reply promised that what was amiss should be cor-rected. His friend Sidney was soon recalled, and consoled forthe loss of the viceregal dignity with the lucrative place ofMaster of the Ordnance. The government of Ireland was for atime entrusted to Lords Justices, among whom Sir HenryCapel, a zealous Whig, very little disposed to show- indulgenceto Papists, had the foremost place.

The prorogation drewnigh; and still the fate of the TriennialBill was uncertain. Some of the ablest ministers thought thebill a good one; and, even had they thought it a bad one, theywould probably have tried to dissuade their master from re-

whereas others thought it was necessary to keep them safe from the pro-secutions of the English, who hated them, and were much sharpenedagainst them. . . . There were also great complaints of an ill administra-tion, chiefly in the revenue, in the pay of the army, and in the embezzlingof stores."