Ireland was 'in the custody of England,' just as much before the Union as during the last sixty-seven years.

Even during the few brief years of her spasmodic 'independence,' the mass of the nation formed no part of the 'Commons of Ireland.' It was still, as it always had been, a sham parliament--a body representing the colonial aristocracy--acting as undertakers for the Government of England, for whose interest exclusively this island was to be ruled.

Provided this result was secured, it did not matter much, at the other side of the Channel, how the Irish people were treated.

Indeed, they were not recognised as the people of Ireland, or any part thereof.

Even philosophic liberals, like Lord Charlemont, were shocked at the idea of a Papist getting into the Irish House of Commons; and the volunteer system was shattered by this insane animosity of the ruling race against the subject nation.