XI. Defiderata Curiofa Hibernica: or, a Select Collection of State Papers. 2 Vols. 8vo. 125. Robinfon.

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HEN original papers relate to tranfactions of consequence, and are properly authenticated, they deferve to be confidered as a valuable addition to the fund of hiftorical knowledge; and the public is certainly obliged to the industry of thofe men by whom fuch materials are rendered more gene. rally diffufive. We are not informed of the name of the perfon who has collected the papers now before us; but though we think he has published many that are not material to biftory, it must be acknowledged that he has alfo given a place to others, which we are glad to fee refcued from obfcurity. Several of the papers in this collection, however, are attended with one disadvantage, which is, that the names of the authors are unknown; a circumftance which makes it more difficult to judge of their impartiality. Refpeding this point, we cannot avoid entertaining an unfavourable opinion of the Fragmentum Hiftoricum of Mr. Bellings, who was fecretary to the su preme council of the confederate catholics of Ireland, and whofe reprefentation of their tranfactions may therefore be fuppofed favourable to his party. We fhall enumerate the contents of the Colle&ion, for the fatisfaction of our readers.

The first volume contains a collection of fundry things, concerning inftructions for the earl of Suffex, anno 1559Inftructions to ditto, anno 1560. The combination of Gerot, late earl of Defmond, attainted for high treason, $578.-A Difcourfe of Ireland fent to Sir Robert Cecil, her majefty's principal fecretary, from Sir George Carey, 1601. In this difcourie, Sir George Carey alledges, that ambition was the cause of the late rebellions in Ireland, and not religion, as had been speciously pretended; and he mentions two events which may have a pernicious influence on that country. The one, fays he, is the coming of Spaniards to their (the rebels) aid, the other whofe days the Lord multiply ad infinitum, is her majesty's decease.-A brief memorial of inftructions for Mr. Edward Tremain, being fent to the lord deputy of Ireland by the lord treasurer, 1573.-Inftructions for Sir Henry Walloppe, knt. under-treafurer at war in her majesty's realm of Ireland; Sir Valentine Browne, kat. and the rest of the commiffioners appointed to take a furvey of the lands of fuch as have rebelled within thefe four years in the faid realm, and have no lawful pardon for the faid lands. Orders to be ob. ferved by the juftices of peace within their feveral limits throughout the realm.-Inftructions for the lord Gray, in July 1580.-A memorial for fir John Perrot, knt. appointed by

her

her majefty to fupply the place of her highneffes deputy in Ireland, delivered unto him by the lords of her moft honourable privy-council.-Inftructions given by her majesty to fir John Perrot, knt. being sent deputy in Ireland in Dec. 1583. -Inftructions to be fent to the lord deputy and council in Ireland, by Geofrey Fenton, efq. her majefty's fecretary in that realm, Dec. 1585.-A note of the benefit that may grow in fhort time, to the younger houfes of gentlemen, by this course, in perpetuity, taking the greatest portion in the plot, &c. Dec. 1585. The obfcurity of this title renders it neceflary to inform our readers, that the paper relates to her majesty's offer respecting the peopling of Munster in Ireland, Dec. 1585. -Articles to be by fecretary Fenton delivered in her majesty's name to the lord deputy of Ireland, to confider the contents of them.-The articles enfuing, that are to be answered.The heads of an inftru&tion for fecretary Fenton, to be communicated to the lord deputy, for peopling of Munster, Nov. 1585.- A copy of the compofition of 2100l. per annum, to be answered to her majefty. A copy of Sorlie M'Donnell's fubmiflion.-Copy of Neile Oge's fubmiffion.-Copy of Shane M'Bryan O'Neile's fubmiffion.-A brief declaration of the government of Ireland A chronicle of lord Chichester's government of Ireland.-Inftructions to the commiflioners fent by king James to Ireland, to enquire principally into the dif turbances in the parliament of 1613.-The commiffioners return and certificate concerning the first and second part of the inftructions.A note of the lords and recufants in the houses of parliament, that were the principal difturbers of the fame. The examination of Shane M Phelomy O'Donnelly, taken before Sir Toly Caulfielde, knt.-Ibernorum obteftatio non deferendi catholicam fidem.A true declaration of the Proteftants of what paffed the day before the beginning of the parliament, the first day of the parliament, and the Friday following, in the lower houfe of parliament in Dublin, 1614. -A brief relation of the paffages in the parliament fummoned in Ireland, anno 1613.—A difcourfe of the prefent ftate of Ireland, 1614.-Seventeen letters from king James I. and council of England, to the lord deputy and council of Ireland.

Vol. II. contains, Inftructions for the lord prefident and council of Munfter, 1615.-The copy of a patent for mustering and training the undertakers, or militia, in Munster and Connaught. Inftructions for fir Oliver St. John, lieutenant deputy of Ireland.-The heads of the caufes which moved the northern Irish, and Catholics of Ireland, to take arms, anno, 1641. This paper is anonymous, and appears to be

written

written by a friend to the Catholic caufe.-The humble remonftrance of the northern Catholics of Ireland, now in arms.

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The humble apology of the lords, knights, gentlemen, and other inhabitants of the English Pale of Ireland, for tak ing arms. The humble proteftation of the Catholics of the English Pale of Ireland, againft a proclamation dated the 8th of February, 1641.-A remonftrance of the earl of Caftlehaven, and lord Audley.-A letter from a Proteftant in Ireland, to a member of the houfe of commons in England, upon occafion of the treaty in that kingdom, 3d O&. 1643. This letter is also anonymous, but contains fuch juft and liberal fentiments that we fall lay a part of it before our readers. That all the proteftants in Ireland join in a petition to his majefty, or to both houfes of parliament in England; for you say you have not yet determined to whom the petition shall be directed, that may be done when it comes to London, againft making a peace with the rebels in Ireland; an excellent evidence and teftimony of our religion. Have the proteftants with fo much acrimony and bitternefs differed amongst themselves fo long about forms and circumftances? and can there be no expedient found out to reconcile us, but a peremptory diflike of peace? Good fir, let fuch petitions be framed and preferred by Turks and Infidels, who have no reverence of the precious image of their Maker, but with the fame temper behold the flaughter of a man and of a horse, who have no principles of charity and brotherly compaffion, or apprehenfion of future punishment for the want of them. Let those whofe religion, you fay, is rebellion, and whose doârine you accufe to be inconfiftent with peace, prefer petitions against peace; God forbid the Proteftants of any kingdom fhould confent to fuch a petition. If your reformation of reEgion must be made by blood and defolation, and your propagation of the gospel by the extirpation of nations, call it a progrefs to any religion, rather than of the Proteftants, whofe glory and cuftom hath always been to give up their own, ́not the lives of other men, a facrifice to the truth they profefs. What are the arguments in religion or policy which you can give us, or that we can give his majefty, to perfuade him, that a speedy peace and accommodation is not good for this miferable diftra&ted kingdom?

You fay they are Papifts, and ought not to be fuffered to live amongst us.. I hope I may with more freedom speak in this argument than other men, for you know I have been always paffionately inclined against the growth of that religion, and concurred with you in any propofition for the fuppreffion thereof. I would to God you had virtuously used the advan

tages

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tages which have been offered you to that purpofe; at least, that you had not so much played with religion in your votes and declarations, and totally excluded it in your actions. Be. lieve it, fir, good works which comprehend loyalty and obe dience, will be never fo much difgraced under the imputation of Popery, as not to be thought an effential part of Chriftian religion, into what opinions foever diftinguifhed. I may, without oftentation, tell you, no man hath spent more hours in prayer, that it will please God to ftrike the hearts of this nation with the true knowledge of his worship, that we may be all of one mind both in the fubftance and circumstance of religion; but you must pardon me, if I do not believe the way to remove the errors is to deftroy the men; that the way to people Ireland with Proteftants, is to cut the throats of all the Papifts. Religion can never be fruitful in that foil which is tainted and overflowed with rivers and ftreams of blood. Admit there were no confideration of juftice or Christianity in the cafe, no motion of thofe bowels which must yearn at the murdering and maffacting of mankind; do you not think it were a molt prudent, a moft politic pofition for his majesty to publish, that he is refolved to have no Papift to live in any of his dominions? If he were in a condition to execute fuch a fentence, and all men ready to give obedience to it, would he not rob himself of an invaluable treasure and ftrength in the lofs of fo many fubjects? You feemed to take' great care at the beginning of this rebellion, that it fhould not be thought a war for religion; you would not provoke all of that profeffion to think themfelves concerned in it; and you did wifely. The earl of Clanrickard hath as much reafon to expect that religion fhould be magnified in his loyalty, as to find it suffer in the defection of my lord Maguire; but you must take an equal care, that as you will not have it thought in them a war for religion, fo they must not think it a war in you against religion, that will produce the fame danger. We that have. enjoyed that full meafare of profperity and plenty in this kingdom, cannot doubt of enjoying the fame in the fame company. Let the laws of the land be judge of their actions, and God in his good time will rectify or pardon their opi

nions.'

Fragmentum Hiftoricum, or the Second and Third Books of the War of Ireland. Containing the tranfactions in that kingdom, from the year 1642 to 1647, by Richard Bellings, efq;. This hiftory, though not written with elegance, is related diftin&ly; but we have already intimated our opinion of the credit due to the author.

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A Journal of the most memorable tranfactions of generat Owen O'Neill, and his party, from the year 1641 to the year 1650.-A Survey of the half-barony of Rathdoron, in the county of Dublin, 1654.

We believe there are many more manufcripts (not legendary) relating to Irifh affairs, than thofe printed in this collection; but if they ever fhould be revifed for publication, we could wish that the editor would be a little more fcrupulous in regard to the importance of what he seleas.

XII. Iohannis Davidis Michaelis, Prof. Ordin. Philof. et Soć. Reg. Scient. Goetingenfis Collegae, Epiftolae de LXX. Hebdoma dibus Danielis ad D. Ioannem Pringle, Baronetum: 800. 55% feed. Cadell.

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N our Review for December 1764, we mentioned fome objections, which we had to the common interpretation of the Seventy Weeks, in the 9th chapter of Daniel; and applied the words WP to the holy of bolies, or the temple. We have now the pleasure of feeing this interpretation fupported by the learned Mr. Michaelis, who has entered into the fub jea very minutely, and given us many excellent obfervations. and mafterly criticisms on this difficult chapter.

The greatest part of the angel Gabriel's prediction is fuppofed to have been accomplished in our Saviour. But it is very extraordinary, that Daniel (when he prayed for his people, for Jerufalem, and the fanctuary) fhould receive an anfwer relative to the Mefliah, whom he had not once mentioned in his prayer, and whom the Jews did not at last think proper to: receive. It would furely be much more natural to expect, that the angel's anfwer fhould principally relate to the great objects of his interceffion, his countrymen, who were at that time in captivity, and the city, which was then in a state of defolation. But commentators have presumed, that the feveral periods in this prophecy terminate in the Meffiah, and therefore they have previously fixed upon the time of their completion, and carried their calculations backwards, instead of forwards. While they have, in this manner, employed their attention upon chronological investigations, they have paid very little regard to the text, or the philological interpretation of the terms and phrafes: not confidering, that the paffage in queftion abounds with obfcure expreffions, and various lections, and is tranflated very differently by almoft every ancient interpreter. If by this procedure they have difcovered the true import of the prophecy, they have been rather fortunate than judicious.

The