Looking back in time

Europe is the grip of an economic crisis, businesses are failing, unemployment growing and reports of poverty and distress widespread. Ireland has been given a bail-out by a foreign power.

It appears that the sum which is to be granted (£250,000) is intended for the benefit of Ireland. We observe this has drawn an observation from Sir Fredrick Flood, (he) approved of the grant, but complained of the short measure dealt to Ireland, whose population was patient under their suffering, whilst other parts of His Majesty’s Dominion were disturbed by meetings to subvert the constitution.

The above is an extract from The Freemans Journal, 3 May 1817. Historians might look further back in time than the current trend of studying the events of 100 ago, to a period which far more accurately mirrored contemporary events.