ignorant of the fraud that for many years had been practised on the Society, began to reflect whether it would not operate for the interest of the Corporation to disclose the whole affair to the Society, and oppose the Bishop's pretended right; and, accordingly, they soon afterwards disclosed the whole transaction to the Society, who engaged to allow them £90. 10s. a year* for this piece of service, if they succeeded in establishing their right.

23 March. It was ordered, that before any leases be made, there be a survey of all the perches and acres belonging to each house, and that the same be numbered in every lease. It was agreed also, that a certain number of tenants should have freehold life interests created in their leases for years, so that if the freeholders should happen to die before the expiration of the term of years, then the executor or administrator should have the benefit of the lease, for the remainder of that term.

May, 1693.-A letter was sent to the Lord Lieutenant, relative to the election of officers in Londonderry, and the re-building of the place, and re-establishment of that Corporation, of which letter, the following is a copy.

"Lord Lieutenant,

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May it please your Excellency, when some of us had the honour of waiting upon you, when you were about to leave this place, you were pleased to command us to mind you of any thing wherein you might be helpful to the poor desolate city of Londonderry; we therefore presume to lay before your Excellency, the hardship of that poor City's case, about the election of their chief officers. Their charter binds them to choose, when there are vacancies, within three days, and some general regulations since of Corporations, require your Excellency's approbation of those

This sum is still paid to the Corporation of Londonderry, by the Society.

that are chosen; and, if by any suggestion the allowance be suspended, the distance of this City from Dublin, makes the election impracticable. We doubt not your Excellency will have a great regard to the approved fidelity and good affections of those citizens, that have survived so much misery for the sake of their religion and country, and will not suffer any to discourage them in the choice of such officers, as shall be most serviceable to the re-building and re-establishing of that Corporation; and, therefore, we most humbly recommend all their concerns to your Excellency's prudence, care, and kindness, and remain,

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May it please your Excellency,

"Your Excellency's most faithful and obedient Servants, (Signed by)" ROBERT CLAYTON, Governor,

"ARTHUR BARON, Deputy Governor, "And twelve others."

22d June. Various sums were directed to be paid to officers who had served at the siege of Londonderry.

24th May, 1694.-It was ordered that a letter should be written to the Corporation of the city of Londonderry, to acquaint them, that the Society would assert their right to the fifteen hundred acres, and directed them to retain possession of them; and Mr. Moggridge was sent for from Ireland to advise the Society how to act thereon; soon after which, the Committee were directed to prepare a case for the opinion of Counsel on the subject of the right to the fifteen hundred acres, and the following letter was accordingly written (1st June) to the Corporation.

"Gentlemen,

"Yours of the 30th of January last, we received, and are sensible with the hardships you are threatened with, about the fifteen hundred acres; we would hope when your lease expires, the Lord Bishop will see cause to take other measures. And we however have the matter under our consideration, and resolve to adhere to

our right, and in order thereto, have sent to Mr. Moggridge to come over prepared to assist us therein, before Michaelmas Term; and in the mean time we desire you to keep in possession.

"We are, &c."

18th July, 1695.-It was ordered, that an ejectment should be brought against the Bishop, for the remainder of the fifteen hundred acres, and other lands, comprised in the Society's letters patent, then in the possession of the Bishop, or his tenants.

13th August. The whole history of this suit, and the Bishop's pretended title to these lands, was set forth at length, in a work composed whilst the suit was depending, by Mr. Moggridge, for the information of the Society.

4th February, 1696.-The Lord Chancellor and Justices of Ireland were invited to dine with the Society, at the Governor's house.

23d November.-The Society resumed the possession of the fifteen hundred acres.

1st October, 1697.-The Bishop of Derry appealed to the House of Lords in Ireland, from an order of the Chancellor respecting the fifteen hundred acres.

An order was obtained for re-establishing the Bishop in his possession, which was opposed by the Sheriffs and other inhabitants of Londonderry, in consequence of which, an attachment was issued, and the Sheriffs and others were taken into custody, and carried to Dublin. The Bishop's conduct on this occasion appears to have been most highly disgraceful.

23d November.-The Society, not being satisfied with the determination of the Lords in Ireland, in favour of the Bishop's claim to the fifteen hundred acres, appealed from their decree to the House of Lords in England.

25th February. It was ordered that a Society should be summoned to attend the Committee of the House of Com

mons, on the petition presented, relative to the sufferings of the inhabitants of Londonderry.

1700.-Mr. Moggridge was appointed solicitor to the Society, by a commission under the Society's seal; and he was allowed a salary of £20 a year, exclusive of his bills of charges for professional services.

18th June, 1702.-Mr. Brace elected secretary.

1703.-The Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was invited to dine with the Society, and the entertainment cost £234. 17s. 6d.

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3d and 4th Anne.-An Act of Parliament was passed, intituled, " An Act for settling the right of several parcels of Land and other Tenements; and of several Fishings, and Tythes of Fishings, in the Society of the Governor and Assistants, London, of the New Plantation in Ulster, within the Realm of Ireland, and their Successors; and for settling a Rent-charge of £250 per annum upon the Lord Bishop of Derry, and his Successors, for ever.

"WHEREAS several disputes have formerly arisen, between the Bishops of Derry and the Society of the Governor and Assistants, London, of the New Plantation in Ulster, within the realm of Ireland; and the same are still depending between Charles, Lord Bishop of Derry, and the said Society, concerning the right of certain parcels of land, and other tenements; and concerning the right of several fishings, and tythes of fishings, in the rivers of Bann and Loughfoile, in the county of Londonderry, and in the counties of Antrim, Tyrone, and Donegall, in the kingdom of Ireland; which have caused great trouble and charge to the said Bishops and Society, and been the occasion of great heats and animosities among several of the inhabitants of the said counties. Now, for the settling and quieting all differences between the said See and Society, and for remedying the said inconveniences, and for preventing the like for the future, the said Lord Bishop of Derry, and the Governor and Assistants

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of the said Society, do most humbly beseech your Majesty, that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said Governor and Assistants, London, of the new Plantation in Ulster, within the realm of Ireland, and their successors, shall and may, for ever hereafter, have, hold, and enjoy, to their own proper use and behoof, all those several quarters or parcels of land, called or known by the names of Termonbacco, Mollenam, Ballygan, alias Ballygowan, Ballywirry, alias Ballyougry, Creevagh, and Killeigh alias Killeagh, and sometimes known by the name of the Fifteen Hundred Acres, and by some called or known by the name of Termonderry, or by what other name or names the same, or any part thereof, be called or known; situate, lying, and being in the county of Londonderry, in the county of the city of Londonderry, or one of them: and, also, all that fishing called the Gull or Gutt, near Ballynass; together with the wear and mill of Ballynass, with the appurtenances, and the small piece of land thereunto adjoining, and heretofore enjoyed with the same, containing, by estimation, two acres and a half, more or less; and, also, all the fishings, and rights of fishing; and, also, all and all manner of tythes of fishing belonging to the said Bishop, or see of Derry, of what nature or kind soever, in the rivers of Bann and Loughfoile, within the county of Londonderry, or of or in any other rivers, waters, or fishing places, within the said county of Londonderry, or in the counties of Antrim, Tyrone, or Donegall, and which have at any time heretofore been claimed or enjoyed by the Bishops of the said see of Derry, for the time being; and that the said lands, tenements, fishings, tythes of fishing, and all other the premises, subject to all former charges, issues, and payments, charged or chargeable upon any of the premises, or upon the said Bishops of Derry, for or in