text:  By and through this neglect it is that on the inner hearths of the Roman Catholic Irish on the very altars of their _lares_ and _penates_ burns for ever a sullen spark of disaffection to that imperial household with which nevertheless and for ever their own lot is bound up for evil and for good; a spark always liable to be fanned by traitors--a spark for ever kindling into rebellion; and in this has lain perpetually a delusive encouragement to the hostility of Spain and France whilst to her own children it is the one great snare which besets their feet