Sufferings of the Irish and Extent of the Settlement
It will readily be understood that official carelessness and official blunders were not likely to be less flagrant when only the transplanted Irish were concerned. Many of the exiles died of want while waiting for the judgment of the Commissioner on their cases. Others discovered, when they desired to take possession of the Connacht lands assigned them, that these had already been granted to others. People of the highest rank were reduced to utter destitution. Viscount Ikerin wandered about .” a miserable object of pity.” ” Viscount Roche’s daughter died for want of requisite accommodation.”
To ascertain the amount of land actually confiscated under the Cromwellian Settlement Scheme and the number of persons actually transplanted, is rendered extremely difficult by the evasions, frauds and mistakes already alluded to, as well as by the fact that many decrees were made which were never carried out. The latest authorities consider that some 11,000,000 acres—somewhat more than half the acreage of Ireland—was confiscated, including the Connacht lands “setout” to the transplanted. Of this, however, much was subsequently occupied by Irish tenants.
The transplanted are said to have numbered about 50,000 persons ; whilst those banished, sent to the plantations, or who left the country of their own accord, were about 40,000. This then accounted for 90,000 out of a population of something over three quarters of a million. These figures can, however, be considered only as rough approximations.
It had been originally intended that, of the Catholics unable to fulfil the almost impossible conditions required for proving their ” constant good affection ” to the Parliament, only those whose valuation was under £10 yearly should escape transportation ; while, in a large district on the east coast—that bounded by the Boyne, the Barrow and the sea—no Irish whatever should be allowed to remain, nor should any be suffered to reside in the towns.
Subsequently it was found necessary to considerably relax these regulations. The planters in the reserved districts complained that they could get no labourers to till their lands. The town-dwellers implored that the Catholic traders might not be disturbed.
