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 20,000l. should be levied, whereof 15,000. 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

those woods to be converted to the furtherance of plantation, and all necessary uses within Ireland, and none to be made merchandize." I believe that is important. The City is to have the patronage of the churches; that the 7,000 acres shall be in fee farm; then, 14th, "That the salmon and eel fishing of the rivers Bann and Lough Foyle

Sir C. WETHERELL.-What city is that mentioned just now?

Sir W. FOLLETT. Your city. Our city, I should rather say; for I believe I have the honour of appearing for the City of London in this case; in fact, that is for the Companies of the City. Then the 14th is, that the salmon and eel fishing of the rivers of Bann and Lough Foyle, and all other kind of fishing in the river of Lough Foyle, so far as the river floweth, and in the Bann to Lough Neagh, should be in perpetuity to the City. That which I now call your lordships' attention to, has become one of the most important parts of the property, viz. the fisheries

Mr. KNIGHT. I think that is only a figure of speech, that you appear for all the Companies, because I believe you appear only for the Skinners' Company. The bill has been amended several times.

Sir W. FOLLETT. Then comes the part imposing a burthen upon the City of London, which is not a burthen to be performed immediately, but a continuing burthen; and that is, "that the City shall have the castle of Culmore, and the land thereunto in fee farm, they maintaining a sufficient ward of officers therein." Your lordships will see, by and by, the mode in which that has been altered; but one of the conditions was, that they should have the castle of Culmore and the land thereunto in fee farm. That was acceded to, the Company undertaking to keep up the ward in the castle. Then the 27th article is the only one which imposes any other burthen upon the City, that is this: "that the City should with all speed set forward the said plantation in such sort as that there should be sixty houses built in Derry, and forty houses in Coleraine, by the 1st of November then next following, with convenient fortifications; and the rest of the houses