owners within the various qualifications their proper proportion out of their former estates. In 1684 a "Commission of Grace" was issued, for securing defective titles, and for disposing of lands still in the King's possession. The number of grants under this Commission was 223 and some Catholic landowners at least were included among the grantees. The recipients of grants were to pay a fine which was intended for the benefit of such of the nominees and innocents transplanted to Connaught for whom as yet no compensation had been found. The money however, found its way into the pockets of the Duchess of Cleveland.[1]
Although James had always shown himself ill disposed to the Irish, yet towards the end of the reign of Charles II. his own interest began to point towards the utility of conciliating and strengthening them as a balance to the probable hostility of the more fanatical among the colonists. Still more was he urged towards a policy of conciliation when after his accession he entered on a course destined to lead to a breach with his English subjects.
Talbot, now Earl of Tyrconnell, was first given command of the army, then in 1687 made Viceroy, the only instance from the time of Elizabeth to the present day of a Catholic holding that post.
The King was determined to uphold the Act of Settlement, and instructed Clarendon, Tyrconnell's predecessor, to oppose all efforts to have it reversed. The same policy was maintained after Talbot's appointment. Early in 1688 Nugent and Rice, two recently appointed Catholic judges,
- ↑ Bonn: Vol. II., p. 118, quoting the Carte papers.
