applied generally to any English or Scotch, and to particular descriptions of Irish; but it appeared that the plantation did not go on so rapidly as the king wished; and in order to get the plantation established about the town of Derry, the king made applications to the City of London of a very urgent nature,-applications of the same description which the kings were in the habit of making to the City of London:- they are contained in a Paper of " Motives," as it was called, stating to the City of London certain reasons why they should undertake the colonization of that part of the forfeited estate about the towns of Derry and Coleraine. I had forgotten to state that, previously to that, commissioners were sent to Ireland (their names are here), who were to go through the whole of the forfeited estates, to make surveys of them, to report such parts as were fittest for the British settlers, and such as were fittest for the Irish; and to make reports upon the woods and the fisheries, and the most convenient parts for establishing parishes and churches, and every thing that was necessary for carrying into effect the plan of colonizing.

Then came the proposals to the City of London ;-they are also in this book. In page 17 of this printed book it is stated, that the late ruinated City of Derry, situated upon the river of Lough Foyle, navigable with good vessels upon the Derry, and one other place at or near the castle of Coleraine, situate upon the river of Bann, navigable with small vessels only by reason of the bar a little above Coleraine, seem to be the fittest for the City of London to plant. The situation is such, that with small charge and industry the aforesaid places, especially the Derry, may be made by land almost impregnable, “and so on." These towns His Majesty may be pleased to grant unto, not only corporations, with such liberties and privileges for their good government, &c. as shall be convenient, but also the whole territory and country between them, which is about twenty miles in length, bounded by the sea on the north, the river Bann on the east, and the river of Derry, or Lough Foyle, on the west; out of which 1,000 acres more may be allotted to each of the towns for their commons, rent free; the rest to be planted with such undertakers as the City of London shall

think fit for their best profit, paying only for the same the easy rent of the undertakers. Then these printed particulars go, in the 18th and 19th pages, to point out to the City of London the great advantage of this plantation;-the situation, from its communicating readily with the interior of the kingdom of Ireland; the abundance of the materials for building houses, ships, &c.;-its nearness to the sea, and the extent of the fisheries; and pointing out, therefore, the considerable advantages they will gain;-and His Majesty called to the attention of the Londoners, that the City of Dublin owed its prominence to the fact of its having been colonized by the City of Bristol;-that when the native inhabitants had been expelled, or put to the sword, the City of Bristol offered to colonize the City of Dublin; and they did so; and that it is to that circumstance alone it owes its distinguished place among the towns of Ireland;—and calling upon them to imitate their example.

Upon the receipt of these proposals, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London issued precepts to the twelve chartered Companies of London. There appears to be an extra sort of jurisdiction which seems to have been assented to at that day the Mayor and Court of Aldermen issued precepts to the Companies, requiring them to nominate four persons to meet and discuss this proposal of the king. The Companies nominated certain persons; but when they came to discuss, it turned out that those persons appear not to have had sufficient authority: other precepts are then sent to the Companies, and persons are appointed, with full authority to discuss these propositions. There is then a conference between a deputation of the City of London, consisting of the deputies of the Companies and of the Mayor of London, with the Privy Council; upon that, the circumstances under which this plantation is to take effect are discussed, and the City of London and the deputies are disposed to think favourably of this proposition; the effect of that is, that they send to Ireland certain persons to make survey of that part of Ireland which the king has offered to grant:-the parties go to Ireland under that authority, and make a survey of the land; and they come back and make this report, which is set out at full length in the answer.

C

They say, "that they have not for several days along debated and consulted of all things incident to so great a business; and for the better ordering of our proceeding, we propounded ourselves four general heads under; we handed every particular in his place. The four heads were these:-First, what sums of money should be expended;" — and expending the money, your lordships will see, is a very important part of the question, and where it came from.-" Secondly, what land and privileges should be demanded. Thirdly, what things should be performed. Fourthly, how all should be managed and ruled. For the first it was resolved that, though the undertaking somewhat exceeded what was first propounded, yet the sum of money to be expended should only be 15,000l. and that sum not to be exceeded; and for raising of this sum we held the fittest course to be by way of companies. That is the report then, that it is to be raised by Companies; and in Companies by the poll, according to the rate of corn set upon every Company. But some of the inferior Companies we thought fit to be spared; yet such as were known able men in those Companies to be set proportionally with men of like ability in other Companies, and for this levy and act to pass in this Court demands. For the second, touching the demand of lands, it was resolved, first, that the Derry, situated upon the river of Lough Foyle, and the town of Coleraine, situated upon the river of the Bann, should be the place where the two cities should be erected; about the Derry, 4,000 acres of ground; adjacent unto Coleraine, 3,000 acres of land to be laid; the rest of the territory and county of Coleraine, esteemed at 16,000 acres of temporal lands:" and so on. Then they go on to describe in what mode they would have the lands laid out, and then comes this: "The residue of the 15,000l. unexpended in these buildings shall be employed in bawns, trenchings, fortifications, and otherwise, as shall be found fittest."

"For the fourth"-Now I beg your lordships' particular attention to this, because this is the origin of the Irish Society, this is the first mention that is made of it. "For the fourth,-how all shall be managed and ruled: it is thought best that a Company be constituted here, in London, of persons

to be selected for that purpose; and Corporations to be settled in the two cities of Derry and Coleraine. But all things concerning this plantation and undertaking to be managed and performed in Ireland, by advice and direction from the Company here in London." Now it is very important for your lordships to consider this. My learned friend appears here to-day on the behalf of the Irish Society, and contends, in some mode or other, I know not how, that the Irish Society are not acting on behalf of the Companies of London, but have some control in some way or another. Now, your lordships will observe, that the proposal for the formation of that Society does not come from the Crown; but it is a report of the surveyors of the City Companies, who recommend that, for the benefit of the persons who are to advance the money, an association of that sort shall be founded; that is the origin of that Society.

Now, after that proposition was made, and before this Society was constituted by the City of London out of persons selected by the twelve Companies of London; before that was done, articles of agreement were entered into between the City of London and the Crown. Now upon those articles of agreement it is that this question must mainly turn; it is under the articles of agreement that the City of London, or the Companies of London, hold this property. The City of London hitherto had resolved, that the proper mode of raising the money is to raise it from the Companies of London, who, your lordships well know, are distinct and separate property from the Corporation of the City.. It is agreed so to do; it is agreed, that for the purpose of management this Society is to be formed. Then come the articles of agreement which are entered into by the City of London, representing the persons who are to advance the money on one side, and the Crown upon the other.

These articles of agreement are set forth in the book which I mentioned, at page 22. The first article is," It was agreed by the City that the sum of 20,000l. should be levied, whereof 15,000l. was to be expended on the intended plantation, and 5,000l. for the clearing of private men's interests in the things

demanded." The City agreed to raise 20,0007.; and ultimately 20,000l. was found not to be sufficient, and the sum of 60,000%. was expended by the Companies of London upon this undertaking. There was, indeed, a larger sum than that ultimately, as large a sum as 130,000l. No single farthing of money came from any other source; it all came from the Companies of London. They say, "it was agreed by the City that the sum of 20,0007. should be levied, whereof 15,0007. was to be expended in the intended plantation, and 5,000. for the clearing of private men's interests." I suppose some dormant claim.

Now hear what is imposed upon them:-" At the Derry, 200 houses should be built, and room to be left for 300 more; and that 4,000 acres, lying on the Derry side, next adjacent to the Derry, should be laid thereunto, bog and barren mountain to be no part thereof, but to go as waste for the City; the same to be done by indifferent Commissioners." Also, "that the Bishop and Dean of the Derry should have convenient plots of ground for the sites of their houses at the Derry. Fourth, Coleraine should be situated and built on the abbey side, and that 100 houses should be built thereon, and room left for 200 more; and that 3,000 acres of land should be laid thereunto, viz. 1,000 acres to be taken on the abbey side, next adjacent to the town; and that if it should please the King's Majesty, at his charges, after some good proceeding in the plantation, to erect and maintain a bridge, in perpetuity, for a common passage over the river, between the town and county of Coleraine,-then it was agreed the other 2,000 acres to be taken on the other side of the river, otherwise. the whole 3,000 acres were agreed to be taken on the abbey side, next adjacent to the town of Coleraine." Then all they undertake to do is, to build 100 houses, to leave room for 200 more, and to leave 3,000 acres of land, either upon the one side or the other; and to leave room for a bridge, according as the king may please to build one at his charges. "That the woods, and the ground, and the soil of Glanconkene and Killetrough, extending from the county of Coleraine to Ballinderry, be wholly to the city in perpetuity; the timber trees of