which he hoped would ultimately be a source of both private profit and national wealth.[1] These estates were principally on the north and south shore of the Bay of Kenmare, in the baronies of Iveragh and Dunkerron, and lay in a district famous from the earliest times for the interminable feuds of the heads of the Irish tribes which inhabited it, conspicuous among whom were the O'Sullivans and the McCartys, whose lands were bounded south and west by the sea, and to the north and east by the territories of the descendants of earlier settlers, the so-called 'degenerate English:' Fitzmaurices, Sarsfields, Barrys, Boches, and Fitzgeralds, many of whom had fled, but whose head, Patrick, the principal representative of the rebellious houses of the great insurrection of the Earl of Desmond in the reign of Elizabeth, had somehow succeeded in proving constant 'good affection,' and in thus retaining his large territories on the Bay of Tralee, near Listowel and Lixnaw.[2]
The peace and material improvement which Clarendon noted as having begun in Ireland immediately after the resettlement has already been mentioned. 'Yet in all this quiet,' he goes on to say, 'there were very few persons pleased or contented,' and so stormy was the outlook at the Restoration, and so intricate was the whole situation, that when created Chancellor and practically First Minister of the Crown, 'he made it his humble suit,' as he himself records, 'that no part of it might ever be referred to him.'[3]
Four parties at the Restoration were eagerly pressing their claims. The first and largest was the English party, the 'settlers,' as they called themselves, the 'usurpers,' as they were termed by others.[4] Owing to the energy with which the survey and distribution had been carried out by Dr. Petty, this party was now in possession of the lands assigned to them. They held the reins of government; they filled the army
- ↑ Bodleian Letters, ii. p. 484; Wood's Ath. Oxon., iv. 215. See also Sir William Petty's Will, which says his intention was to 'promote the trade of lead, iron, marble, fish, and timber, whereof his estate was capable.' And on the subject generally, see Smith's History of Kerry, pp. 65, 85, 86, 90.
- ↑ Smith's History of Kerry, p. 217.
- ↑ Life of Clarendon, pp. 106, 116.
- ↑ The latter phrase is frequently used even by Sir William himself, probably as the current Irish expression.
