Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/264

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166
The Political Anatomy

There is also an Hospital for Sick, Lame, and Old Soldiers, but without Endowment, and standing but at discretion and pleasure.[1]

There are in and near Dublin, three Publick Prisons, and one House of Correction.

Lastly, I must intimate, that the Footmanship for which the Irish 40 years agone were very famous, is now almost quite lost among them, every man now keeping a small Garran to ride on, unless in such rocky and craggy places, where 'tis easier to go a foot than to ride. |42|



[CHAPTER VII.]

Of the Militia and Defence of Ireland.


THERE be in Ireland, as elsewhere, two Militias; one are the Justices of Peace, their Militia of High and Petty Constables; as also the Sheriffs Militia of his Servants and Bailiffs and Posse Comitatus upon extraordinary occasions.

Of these all together there are in Ireland near 3000; all of which are bound within their several Districts, there to act, and not elsewhere.

There is, or hath lately been an Army in Ireland, of about thirty Troops of Horse, and sixty Companies of Foot,

    appear in the list of "Benefactors or Subscribers for the Hospital," of that date, printed by Gilbert, Calendar, iv. 492—494.

  1. This paragraph may have been inserted after the completion of the Polit. Anat., which occurred in 1672 or 1673. An Account of the Founding of the Royal Hospital of Charles II. near Dublin for the Relief and Maintenance of Antient and Infirm Officiers and Soldiers Serving in the Army of Ireland. [By Thomas Wilson.] Dublin, 1713, says that from the example of Louis XIV. in establishing the Hôtel des Invalides 'first sprung the Notion of Building the Like in this Kingdom, which was happily Entertain'd at first by the Earl of Granard...... in or about the Year 1675.' Granard communicated with the Lord Lieutenant, Essex, but nothing came of the matter until the arrival of Ormond in 1677. On 27 October, 1679 Ormond wrote to the King in favour of the proposed hospital, and an order for its endowment was accordingly given at the Council Chamber, 27 February, 1680. The building was erected 1680—1686. Pp. 4—15.