Vast numbers of Protestants had been leaving Ireland ever since the death of Charles II., but many remained because they could not get away or because they had no means elsewhere. Many placemen stood their ground, for patents could not be voided without some process of law, and the depositaries of official knowledge might reasonably hope to be found indispensable. Among them was the accountant-general, James Bonnell, who took up the active duties of his office in 1685. Clarendon, while acknowledging him to be 'ingenious,' did not think him strong enough for the work, but there were trained clerks, and he soon learned the business. He had travelled, and saw that Versailles was sucking the life-blood of France as clearly as Arthur Young did more than a century later. He was a remarkably good and religious man, and his Anglican orthodoxy is certified by many bishops, and by the fact that his familiar friend was the Rev. John Strype. Bonnell was, nevertheless, willing to meet the Presbyterians half-way on the question of orders. He spent his salary and his spare time in relieving the wants of others during the time of Tyrconnel and James II. The doctrine of passive obedience weighed heavily with him, but he 'could not but secretly wish success to King William,' and accepted the result gladly. When Bishop Cartwright, of whom historians have little good to say, died in Dublin in April 1689, Bonnell gives him credit for fidelity to the Church of England, and a sort of disinterestedness--'he was buried decently from the Bishop of Meath's house, and at his charge, for he had no money.' On July 3, 1690, Bonnell saw his fellow-Protestants 'congratulate and embrace one another as they met, like persons alive from the dead.' Later on, when Aughrim had been won and Limerick taken, Bonnell wished to have a parliamentary union as in Cromwell's time and to make all English laws since Henry VII. applicable to Ireland. By these means the English and Protestant interests might be preserved.[258] [Sidenote: Refugees in Dublin.] [Sidenote: Case of Trinity College.]