It was an image of Protestant ascendency in rural
affairs, with the many unhappy and evil effects. The
chief peculiarity, however, of the Irish system — and
nothing analogous was to be found in England — was
the establishment of the County Grand Jury, invested
with great local and fiscal powers, and of enormous
influence in Irish county government. This body,
composed, in the different counties, of the principal



362 MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS OF A LIFE

local landed gentry, and practically appointed by the
Central Government, had much of the authority of
the English parish, which in Ireland had scarcely any
power, and additional rights of many kinds ; and it
had this special privilege, that it could impose local
taxes almost at its will and pleasure for county ad-
ministration in all its branches. The Grand Jury, in
fact, became the chief instrument of county govern-
ment throughout Ireland ; and, constituted as it was,
it was, of course, a part of the Protestant ascendency
supreme in the land.
