Good morning, dear colleagues It's Sunday on the planet I inhabit. [#L: Here is more ancient manuscript regarding the destiny of your forebears. Now the Irish House of Lords (a bit like the Senate, only sillier) is putting in it's cautious fourpennyworth of the home revenues for the benefit of the Palatine refugees. DO remember it is money from the coffers of the IRISH Treasury that is being dispensed at the behest of the good Queen Anne.....] ***START HERE*** Journals of the Irish House of Lords printed page 312 Vol 2 We your Majestie's most dutifull and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, most humbly beg leave to lay before your Majesty, the Case of the poor Protestant Palatines, which your Majesty has been pleased to order to be sent into this Kingdom, whose circumstances we have at heart with all possible compassion and Christian charity, and whom we are ready according to our ability to assist and relieve. But we humbly at the same time represent to your Majesty, That this Kingdom is greatly impoverished by decay of trade and a great scarcity of provisions, That many thousands who formerly kept houses and were able to relieve the poor are themselves become objects of charity, That great numbers of the Nobility and Gentry and of such as have the most beneficial employments civil and military live out of the Kingdom, who were best able to contribute to this good work. And many of those who remain in it, have contracted debts, by the hardships put on them by the late Trust for Forfeitures, being put to vast expenses in defending their claims and purchasing the estates [left they ?] paid for. All which being considered, We humbly beseech your Majesty, to be pleased to allow them a subsistence out of your Revenues of this Kingdom, as has been done by your Majesty and your glorious predecessor to the French refugees, till such time as these poor people, by their industry and the better circumstances of this Realm may be settled and put in a way of subsisting; Which seasonable and Royal Charity will add to the glories of your Majestie's reign induce your Parliament here to make good to your Majesty that shall be expended, and bring down the Divine blessings on your Majesty your Government and people. Agreed to on 29 August 1709 ***END HERE*** [I was unable to read the fuzzy copy at the point where I have put a question mark. Does anyone have a more readable page, please? The "Trust for Forfeitures" was a swingeing piece of legislation passed under the previous King William of Orange relating to land settlement which penalized the aristocratic landlords - I think that's the story anyway. Must investigate further. Don't worry, like you I'm learning every day.] More of the same later. The next refers to the 39 men (note the gender) appointed to provide for the relief of the Palatines. Heigh-ho. Bye bye (still Sunday here). Terry