our most authentic annalist, informs us that he quelled the Momonians in different battles fought at Bearhaven, Lough Lein, and Limerick; the Connacians at Murresk, and the Picts and Dalaradians of Ulster at Faughard in Muirthemme. In one battle the good monarch lost an eye, by which, being rendered unfit for government, according to the custom of Ireland, he resigned the crown to his son Cairbré of the Liffey, and retired to his cottage of Cletty, near the Boyne, where he devoted the remainder of his life to philosophic contemplation. During this time he wrote many works for the use of his son and successor Cairbré, amongst which may be reckoned his Royal Precepts or Instructions, which he is said to have written at Cairbré's request, and to have drawn up in answer to different questions proposed by his son upon different subjects relative to government and general conduct.

It was Cormac also that caused the Psalter of Tarah to be compiled as a depository of the records of the nation. In this the pedigrees of the noble families, the boundaries of their territories, the tributes payable by the provincial kings to the monarch, &c. were written. This was long considered as lost; but some have said, probably without sufficient authority, that a copy of it is yet extant in the British Museum.

Cormac also wrote some laws, an imperfect copy of which is to be found in the Seabright Collection in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. One tract of these laws treats of the privileges and punishments of different ranks of persons, and draws a line of distinction between undesigned injuries, such as those suffered by unavoidable accident, and those happening by neglect.

The Druids still continued his most inveterate enemies, for they saw that even though he had resigned the government, he nevertheless continued to instil his novel doctrines, (which were directed to the reformation of their order,) into the mind of the monarch his son; and finding that the conduct of Cairbré was regulated by his father's instructions, they conspired against the life of the latter; and there is every reason to believe that they effected their purpose by poisoning him.

The venerable abbot Tigernach of Clonmacnoise thus records his death:

"Cormac hua Cuinn cet-cathaigh do éc a Cleiteach dia mairt, iar leanmain cnamha bratáin ina brágaid: no as iad na siabhra ronortadar iar na brat do Maelcinn Draoi o nar cred Cormac do."

"Cormac, grandson of Con of the hundred battles, died at Cletty on Tuesday, the bone of a salmon sticking in his throat, or, (according to others,) it was the Siabra, (invisible genii) that killed him, at the instigation of Maelcinn the druid, because Cormac did not believe in him."

From this it appears that Cormac fell a victim to the envy of the Druids.

Cormac was the father-in-law of the celebrated Fion Mac Cumhail, (the Fingall of Macpherson,) general of the Fianna Eirionn, or Irish militia, and father of Ossian, the feigned Homer of Caledonia, and consequently, if the genuine poems of Ossian were extant, their language would be the same as that of Cormac's work, which is almost unintelligible to the generality of Irish readers, and perfectly so to those who know Irish only as a spoken language. The language of those poems which the Highland Society have given to the world as the originals of Ossian, is the living language of the Highlanders of the present day, and if properly spelled, and read by an Irish scholar, would be intelligible to the most illiterate peasant in Ireland. A comparison of the language of Cormac's Instructions with that of the effusions of the Scotch Ossian would go far towards proving the period in which the Highland bard was born.

The following extract of a letter from Charles O'Conor of Belanagar to Colonel Vallancey, dated 1779, will show the view which that very able Irish antiquarian has taken of this fragment of Irish jurisprudence.

I send you the enclosed abstract of the Teagasg Flatha of Cormac O'Cuinn, king of Ireland at the close of the third century. That monarch was a Filea, (philosopher,) and professed himself a pious theist, in opposition to the pantheism of the Druids, whose order he attempted to reform, not to abolish.

"The copy you gave me I have compared with the one now before me, transcribed in the year 1396. In both I find some variations and transpositions, all owing to ignorant transcribers; and the difficulties thrown in our way by bad copies are not greater than those occasioned by the complex terms and the mixed modes used in the third century. Glossary for explaining those obsolete terms; and yet as I proceeded, I believe that my translation will be found just.

We want a

"This piece should not be considered as the composition of king Cormac, but as the epitome of some writer of an ulterior age. The cast of the phraseology shows that the work is very ancient."-Stowe Catalogue, p. 97.

We shall give a few specimens of a composition ascribed to Ossian's maternal grandfather, for the consideration of the literati of Caledonia; and we hope that they will take the trouble of comparing them with the effusions of their immortal Ossian, and draw a logical conclusion as to the blundering forgeries of Macpherson. The original is in the Book of Lecain.

"A ua chuinn a Chorbmaic, ol Cairbre, cid is dech do righ? Ni innsamh, ol Corbmac. As dech do, emh, ainmne cin debhaidh, fosdad cin ferg; so-agallma cin mordhacht; dethide senchusa; frithfola fira; fir confuilledh; trocairi condluthyghadh recta; sit do tuataibh; ratha écsamla bretha fira; geill inglasaidh; sloighedh fri detbere; troscadh for coicrichaibh; moradh cech nemhedh, airmide File; adradh De Mhair.

"O grandson of Con! O Cormac! said Cairbré, what is good for a king?

"That is plain, said Cormac. It is good for him to have patience without debate; self-government without anger; affability without haughtiness; diligent attention to history; strict observance of covenants and agreements; strictness mitigated by mercy in the execution of the laws; peace with his districts; lawful wages of vassalage; justice in decisions; performance of promises; hosting with justice; protection of his frontiers; honouring the nemeds, (nobles); respect to the fileas; adoration of the great GOD.

"Almsana ile; mes for crannaibh; iasg in-inbera; talamh torthach; barca do thochur: allmuire sed; edach sirechda; drong-cloidhomh bemnech fri coiméd cech tuaithe; forran tar chricha; torramha lubhra; lesughadh triúna; teacta fir; oirgeadh goi; biathadh cech naé; caradh firinne; dingnedh omhan; uaidhedh sith; imad medha sceó fina; adhradh a mhair Dhe; aisnededh reilbhretha; canadh cech fir; ár is tre fir flatha do bher Dia in sin uili.

"Boundless charity; fruit upon trees; fish in rivers; fertile land; to invite ships; to import valuable jewels across the sea; to purchase and bestow raiment; vigorous swordsmen for protecting his territories: war outside his own territories; to attend the sick; to discipline his soldiers: lawful possessions; let him suppress falsehood; let him suppress bad men; let him pass just judgments; let him criminate lying; let him support each person; let him love truth; let him enforce fear; let him perfect peace; much of metheglin and wine; let him pronounce just judgments of light; let him speak all truth, for it is through the truth of a king that God gives favourable seasons.†

A ua chuind a Chormaic, ol Cairbre, caidhe coir recta Righ? Rect fallnatur for talmuin tuinn atathum ad cuas duit; marbhadh mar ulca; troethadh foghla, móradh maithesa, urghoiredh goid; corughadh coibhnesa; comfuaidhedh sith; clanuighedh dlighedh; ni faemh aindlighedh, daéradh biodhbhadha; saeradh eannga, aincedh iodhna; coindredh aniodnna, &e, "O grandson of Con, O'Cormac !" said Cairbré, "what are the just laws of a King?

"I shall relate to thee my knowledge of the law by which the world is governed: suppression of great evils; destroying robbers; exaltation of goodness; prohibition of theft; reconciliation of neighbours; establishing peace; keeping the laws; not to suffer unjust law; condemning bad men; giving liberty to good men; protecting the just, restricting the unjust," &c. &c,

A ua chuind a Chormaic, ol Cairbre, cid is dech lesdo tuaithe?

Ni innsamh, ol Cormac,-Turcorac n-degh-dhainedh dala minca; meanma atchomarc fochmare do ghaethaibh airdhibhach cech uile; comall cech maithesa; secim senchusa; senad recta; rectge la flaithi; taisigh firéna cin forbhrisedh truagh; comad cairdine; trocairi fri deghbhésuib; dluthûghadh coibnesa; fiana cin diumas; indire fri naimde; innracus fri braithribh;

*Forran tar cricha,

Tigernach informs us that the large fleet of Cormac Mac Art cruised in the Tyrhenian sea for three years: Loingeas mor Cormaic Mic Airt tar Magh Hein fri re teora bliadna."

Under this passage Dr. O'Conor writes the following note in Latin: "What sea is meant by Ren I know not. That part of the German Sea into which the Rhine flows might have been so called by the Irish, as they called Muir n-Ict, from the Ictian Harbour." +Teige Mac Daire in his instructions to Donagh IV. Earl of Thomond inculcates this Doctrine:

Teirce, dairse, dith ana

Plagha, Cogtha, conghala
Dimbuadh catha, gairbshin, goid

Tre ainbfir flatha fasoid.

Plague war and blood, disaster and defeat,

The rage of elements, the crush of fate,

The bane of anarchy, destructive train,

Sprung from the monarch's crimes assume imperial reign.

ratha fiala, aithe slana; bretha fira, fiadhoin innraca; taithisc michair; mes ar dilmuin; foghluim gach ndana; eolus cech mbérla; tagra go b-fasuighibh; brethenmas co_rosga, tabhairt n-almsan, trocairi fri bochtuibh; geill fri brethoibh, nadmana innraca; eistect fri Sruithibh, buidhre ri daescar-shluagh; esughadh crichi ar cech n-olc, &c. &c. Dech do les tuaithe ind sin uili.

"O grandson of Con, O'Cormac," said Cairbré, “what is good for the welfare of a country?"

"That is plain," said Cormac :" Frequent convocation of sapient and good men to investigate its affairs, to abolish each evil, and retain each wholesome institution: to attend to the precepts of the elders; let every Senad (assembly of the elders,) be convened according to law; let the law be in the hands of the nobles; let the chieftains be upright, and unwilling to oppress the poor; let peace and friendship reign -mercy and good morals, union and brotherly love; heroes without haughtiness-sternness to enemies, friendship to friends; generous compensations, just sureties; just decisions, just witnesses; mild instruction; respect for soldiers; learning every art and language; pleading with knowledge of the Fenechas (the Brehon law ;) decision with evidence giving alms, charity to the poor; sureties for covenants; lawful covenants; to hearken to the instructions of the wise, to be deaf to the mob; to purge the laws of the country of all their evils, &c. &c. All these are necessary for the welfare of a country."

;

A ua chuind, a Chorbmaic, ol Cairbre, caidc edha Flatha acos cuirmthighi?

Cosda um Deghflaith la Samna do lochranduibh, luthbhas im sochuidhe; samhughadh suidhe; soichlidhe do dhailemhnuibh; dianlamh ic fodáil, fochruibe ic timthiracht, mesrughadh senma, sgélughadh ngairid; gnuis failidh, failte fri damhuibh ; coigelta binne, &c. Itiad sin edha Flatha sceó cuirmthighi.

"O grandson of Con, O'Cormac," said Cairbré, "what are the duties of a prince at a banquetting house?"

A prince, on Saman's day, (1st of November,) should light his lamps and welcome his guests with clapping of hands; procure comfortable seats; the cup-bearers should be respectable, and active in distribution of meat and drink; let there be moderation of music; short stories; a welcoming countenance; failte for the learned; pleasant conversations, &c, These are the duties of the prince, and the arrangement of the banquetting house."

Cid as a n-gabtar Rig for Tuathuibh sceó clandaibh sceo cindeluibh?

A febh crotha, sceo cineóil sceo ergna; a gais, a h-órdán, a h-irlabhra, a nert imgona, sceó sochruide.

"For what qualification is a king elected over countries, and tribes, and people?

From the goodness of his shape and family, from his experience and wisdom, from his prudence and magnanimity, from his eloquence, bravery in battle, and from the numbers of his friends.

Caidhe techta Flatha?

Rob' sobuidh, rob' sogés, rob soagalmha, rob' bega, rob' mora, rob' dian, rob' fosaidh, rob fili, rob feini, rob gaeth, rob gartach, rob sognuidhe, rob sochruidhe rob' maéth, rob cruaidh, rob carthach, rob coinirclech, rob' feigh,r ob feidil, rob ainmnedhach, rob firén, rob' aintech torgbhaladh lubhra; beiredh firbhretha, biathadh cech n dilecht, misgnighedh goi, caradh firinne, rob' dermadach uilc, rob' cuimhnech maithusa, rob' sluaghach indalaibh, rob' uathadh sanuise, rob' soirche fri gnais, rob' grian Tighi Midhchuarta; rob' dála sceo airechta; rob' sercach sceo ergna, rob' cuimrectech uilc; rabdar midhe cach iar na miadh; rob' dluthech nadmann, rob' aithe etroma a bhretha sceo o choighrtha. Ar is trias na techtuibh si midhlghter Righ sceo Flaith.

What are the qualifications of a prince?"

"Let him be vigorous, easy of access, and affable; let him be humble, but majestic; let him be without (personal) blemish; let him be a (Filea,) a hero, a sage; let him be liberal, serene, and good-hearted; mild in peace, fierce in war; beloved by his subjects; discerning, faithful and patient; righteous and abstemious; let him attend the sick; let him pass just judgments; let him support each orphan; let him abominate falsehood; let him love truth; let him be forgetful of evil, mindful of good; let him assemble numerous meetings; let him communicate his secrets to few: let him be cheerful with his intimates; let him appear splendid as the sun at the banquet in the house of Midhchurta, (Meecoorta i. e. the middle house at Tarah); let him convene assemblies of the nobles; let him be affectionate and intelligent; let him depress

evils, let him esteem every person according to his honourclose sureties let him be sharp but lenient in his judgments and decisions. These are the qualifications by which a King and Chieftain should be esteemed."

JOHN O'DONOVAN.

COPY OF A LETTER

FROM CHARLES O'CONOR, ESQ., TO JOHN PINKERTON, ESQ.
Ex autog: penès J. WEALE, Esq.

We have great pleasure in presenting our readers with the following interesting and important letter of the venerable Charles O'Conor, of Belanagar, to John Pinkerton, the celebrated Scottish historian, which has been given to us by a valued and respected friend. The opinions expressed in it, are those of his most mature age, and we consider it as one of the most curious and valuable critical documents we have met with on the ancient history of our country-a subject which is still open to and well deserves the investigation of the learned.

From Belanagar, near Roscommon,
April 4, 1786.

SIR,-Through the kindness of my Lord Bishop of Dromore, and the conveyance of my learned friend, Mr. Walker, an officer in our Irish Treasury, I this week received your letter of the 13th of March. It gratified me to find a gentleman of your candour and abilities employed on the antiquities of the ancient Scots, a distinct people, among the other various tribes inhabiting our Britannic Isles; and it would add highly to my gratification if I could supply you with any useful document on the subject-a subject of importance, but long under a cloud, thickened by prejudices from your country, as well as from our own. Luckily those prejudices begin to subside here a circumstance which encouraged me to draw up a Prospectus, on the Origin, Civil Government, and Manners of the ancient Scots in their heathen state. How it will be received in the Committee of Antiquities, belonging to our Royal Irish Academy, I know not. It may fail of giving satisfaction from such hands as mine; but I doubt not of its success when the subject falls into better hereafter. This I am bold to assert, for some materials of authentic information are still preserved among us. I say some materials, for most of our historical details are irrecoverably lost. Our archives, deposited in the monasteries of Ireland, have been consumed in the fires of the heathen barbarians of the North, who, in frequent incursions despoiled France, Britain, and Ireland, in the 8th and 9th centuries. They demolished our nurseries of learning; and it was only on the reduction of their power here, that some Irish patriots have set about collecting as much of our historical wreck as escaped. A collection has been made; but some of the collectors wanted critical skill in their choice, they, however, wanted not the art of flattering the vanity of a declining nation, by following such documents as gave the Scots too high an antiquity in this island. In consequence, they published genealogies, with redundant generations, and gave us a corresponding catalogue of kings, who only obtained their titles by the courtesy of their several factions. They are confounded with the few monarchs who had a legitimate election from the concurrence of the majority of the nation; and these injudicious publishers have put our titular kings in succession to each other, as a son would succeed to a father in modern monarchies. Such was the art employed to gain the Scots a high antiquity, thoroughly inconsistent with the state of affairs in Europe before the commencement of the Persian Empire. This fabric, therefore, of technical genealogies and technical succession of 90 kings before the Christian Era, cannot stand; and your countryman, Mr. Innes (a priest of the Scotch College in Paris) has sufficiently exposed its weak foundation, though in other respects a very mistaken writer. To Giolla Colman, and Flan, of Bute Abbey, we owe the publication of the Regal List I mentioned. They were esteemed as able antiquaries by the majority of their contemporaries, in the eleventh century; and the majority since their time (even our learned O'Flaherty) have adopted a popular error. I have done so in my youth, but, on meeting with better guides, I am not ashamed to retract.

In the Annals of Tigernach, and other ancient documents, I found that our more authentic notices are to be deduced from the building of Eamania, in Ulster, about 200 years befor the Christian Era. The seven generations of Ultonian princes mentioned in the interval, prove the calculation to be pretty exact. Of what passed in Ireland before this Eamanian

era, little is known, except a few capital facts, such as the expedition of the Scots from Spain to Ireland, about 500 years before the birth of our Saviour; the legislation of Ollamh Fodhla, and his erection of apartments for the College of Fileas at Teamor, where they continued undisturbed under every revolution, and from thence spread with equal immunities through the neighbouring provinces. These were facts which were too big for oblivion in any country where the elements of literature were cultivated. These elements were imported from Spain, where native Scytho-Celtes held intercourse with the Phenicians, and their Carthaginian posterity. It was in memory of these intercourses they took occasionally and ostentatiously the name Phenii. Hence the dialect among them called the Phenian (the language of their jurisprudence, preserved to this day, but not understood by me or any other Irish scholar in this kingdom), and hence the number of Phenician terms discovered by Coll. Vallancey in our old intelligible writings.

Through the lights obtained by the Scots (in a part of the continent where the Phenicians had lasting settlements), they learned the art of sailing on the ocean, and imported into this island the 17 cyphers they used in their writings; and thus insulated on a remote island, and cut off from any intellectual intercourse with the polished people of Greece and Rome, they were left to the improvement of their own stock. In such a situation their improvement must have been slow as well as gradual. It took them time to form their barren Scytho-Celtic dialect (first used in the greater division of Europe) into a nervous and copious language, stripped of its original consonental harshness. It is still preserved in our old books, and discovers to us the corruptions of our common people, who are corrupting it more and more every day, even in places where the English language is not yet used. By the way, how could the language of the third century in your country be preserved pure to this day in the Highlands of Scotland? How could the poems of Ossian be preserved by oral tradition through a period of 1,500 years? In our old written language, we discover that the speakers were a cultivated people, but their cultivation was local; and on that score the discovery of what it was, among this sequestered people, is an object more interesting to us than one offered to investigation from a bare principle of curiosity.

To you, Sir, and to disengaged writers like you, it is left to bring this subject of Scotish antiquity out of the darkness spread over it. The lights which the revolution under, our Tuathal (surnamed the Acceptable) afford will be of great use to you. At the close of the first century, the Belgians of Ireland revolted against their Scottish masters-expelled the old royal family, and set up a monarch of their own blood. Tuathal, the presumptive heir of the Heremonian line, was conveyed to your country his mother, Ethnea, being the daughter of the king of the Picts, he was protected there under his grandfather. Grown to maturity, he returned, and after subduing all the enemies of his house, he mounted the throne of Teamor. Soon after, in a convention of the states, the crown of Ireland was by a solemn law declared hereditary in his family, and from this epocha, which commenced A.D. 130, to the establishment of Christianity, we have a series of authentic history productive of great men and great actions.

I shall owe much to your indulgence if you pardon all this before I come to the chief subject of your letter. Of all that I could find relating to your country, I shall in my next send you transcripts and literal translations; but I must confess that I have not hitherto met with much that has not been published in the last age by Mr. O'Flaherty. In the book of Balimote, I find our antiquaries concurring with Bede in the establishment of Carbry Riada, as the leader of the first colony of Scots in Britain, supported there partly by the indulgence of the Picts, and partly by the negociating power of the wisest of our monarchs, Cormac Ulfada, Carbry's cousin-german. The second great colony was established by Carbry's posterity, the Sons of Erk about the year 503. The succession of the Dalraida kings from that period, with the years of reigns down to Malcolm Canmor, has been preserved in the poem quoted by Mr. O'Flaherty, a copy of which I possess and the original, with a translation, shall be remitted to you, as soon as I recover a little from my present languid state, bound by rheumatic pains. That the Tuatha de Danan arrived in Ireland from North Britain, and subdued the Belgians

all our documents aver.

Be assured, Sir, of any service I can render you in your present undertaking. The more it is agitated by able writers the more the truth of history will appear. The motto of your

The scarcity of fuel which prevails in many parts of this country, is a source of great misery to the poor. In France, where in many parts timber (the general fuel) is so dear as to be one of the most expensive articles in housekeeping, the ingenuity of the people has suggested many expedients for extending the beneficial effects of a single fire. One of these, as extremely simple, we lay before our readers, and as its expence is very trifling, we have little doubt but that humanity will cause its adoption by every gentleman and farmer building labourers' cottages. We suppose that the chimney is placed in the middle, as it ought to be in every two-roomed house. In building the fire place, a small chamber about fifteen or eighteen inches in length, about eight inches in depth, and about twelve or fifteen inches in height, it is to be left in the wall behind that part of the hearth where the fire is generally placed. From the top of this to the second room, a tube about an inch in diameter passes through the wallthis may be a piece of an old gas pipe. The front of the chamber we have mentioned is formed by a plate of wrought or cast iron from a quarter to half an inch in thickness. Against this the fire is made which heats the air in the chamber, and the heated air ascending, passes through the tube and warms the second room. The chamber behind the fire may be supplied with cold air by a smaller tube passing horizontally from the second room into the bottom of it. It may be necessary to have a small flue passing from the top of a room thus heated through the chimney. We furnish a section of such a fire place as we have described, which will enable any mason to build it.

DUBLIN:

Printed and Published by JOHN S. FOLDS, 56, Great Strand-street: Sold by all Booksellers in Ireland. In Liverpool by Willmer and Smith; in Manchester by Wheeler; in Birmingham by Drake; in Edinburgh by Chambers, and R. Grant & Son; in Glasgow by John Niven, Jun. and in London by Joseph Robins, Fleet-street.

THE

Of the many fine castles or castellated houses erected by the descendants of the old English settlers of the Pale, one of the most interesting in several particulars, was that which is the subject of our prefixed illustration; for though of no higher antiquity than the reign of Elizabeth, it preserved, till lately, without change, its original form and character, a peculiarity which bad taste and love of change has rarely permitted our ancient buildings of

this class to retain.

This very interesting specimen of Elizabethan architecture is situated in the county of Meath on the AshBourne new line of road, about 17 miles from Dublin and 5 from Drogheda. It consists of an extensive mansion and a lofty castle, united together, and of co-eval erection, presenting in every point of view a picturesque variety of outline, rarely to be found in modern domestic architecture. The pleasing little river Nanny-water, which nearly washes its base, lends its beauty to the ancient mansion, whch is also adorned by traces of equal antiquity and venerable appearance.

From inscriptions which appear over several of the doorways, we find that Athcarne Castle was erected for William Bathe and his wife Janet Dowdal, in the year 1590. This William Bathe was a person of much distinction in his day, and a younger branch of the ancient and respectable family of the name of Knightstown, in the same county, now represented by the worthy Sir William Plunket de Bathe, Bart., who still is in possession of that place, being a part of the orig inal grant to his ancestor in the year 1172, and who has re-assumed, by his Majesty's sign manual, the ancient family name of De Bathe, after its having ft upwards of three hundred years fallen into disuse. The Athcarne branch of the family is, we believe, represented by Mr. Joseph Henry Bath of Gal

way and Dublin, who also represents the Baths' of Bremore Castle, which, to the discredit of the present proprietor, has been recently taken down; but neither of those places are now in the possession of the family. The history of the Athcarne property is, we believe, as fol

lows:

By the act of settlement, vol. ii. sec. 225, p. 347, A. D. 1662, it was provided that Luke Bath of Ackarne, (Athcarne) amongst several others, "who, or their respective fathers, have eminently suffered for their adhering to the authority of his majesty, or his late father of blessed memory, in this kingdom, against the Nuncio and his party, shall be forthwith restored to their former respective estates, and whereof they, or any of their said fathers were dispossessed by the late usurped power, and be therein settled and quieted in possession to them, and to their heirs respectively, as fully, finally, and beneficially, and with the same advantages, benefits and assurances to all intents and purposes, as the Lord Viscount Netterville, and the Lord Viscount Galmoy, and the rest with them in the Declaration herein before mentioned, ought, by virtue of the said Declaration, and this present act, to be restored to their respective estates, anything to the contrary notwithstanding." This Luke Bath was immediately afterwards created a baronet; but notwithstanding all this great favor towards him, it appears by a record in the Roll's office, that on the 10th of February, 1663, (the very next year after the above enactment) by an inquisition post mortem, the jurors, after finding that Athcarne, and several other towns and lands, were the property of James Bath of Athcarne, (the deceased father of Sir Luke,) " and who being of the said lands possessed, was since indicted and outlawed of high treason by him committed against his majesty Charles I., in his kingdom of Ireland, by reason whereof, the jurors aforesaid, do find the said premises to be forfeited to the king's majesty, his heirs and successors, and are

era, little is known, except a few capital facts, such as the expedition of the Scots from Spain to Ireland, about 500 years before the birth of our Saviour; the legislation of Ollamh Fodhla, and his erection of apartments for the College of Fileas at Teamor, where they continued undisturbed under every revolution, and from thence spread with equal im ties through the neighbouring provinces. which were too big for oblivion in any cou ments of literature were cultivated. T imported from Spain, where native Sey course with the Phenicians, and their It was in memory of these intercours and ostentatiously the name Phe among them called the Phenian (t' prudence, preserved to this day, any other Irish scholar in this ki ber of Phenician terms discove old intelligible writings.

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island the 17 cyphers they insulated on a remote isl intercourse with the poli were left to the impro situation their impro gradual. It took th dialect (first used nervous and copio tal harshness. covers to us th

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7

Earth's bosom, and the mansions of the graves Of men, are graves of cities. Such of late From its long sleep of darkness disinterr'd Pompeii, with its low and buried roofs, Rose dark upon the miner's progress, like A city of the dead! A tomb perchance Where living men were buried! Tyrant Death! How didst thou triumph then!-thou us'd'st to steal Behind thy sallow harbinger, disease,

Or take thine open and determinate stand In battle's ranks, with danger at thy side, Forewarning gallant breasts prepared to die; But there thy spectral visage darken'd forth Amid the joyous bosom scenes of life, From its invisible ambush! There-it found The myriad fantasies of hearts and brains; Young loves, and hopes, and pleasures, all abroad, Spreading their painted wings, and wantoning In life's glad summer breeze, from flow'r to flow'r, And, with the fatal spell of one dread glance, Blighted them all! How sunk the tender maid Then silent in the chill and stiff'ning clasp Of her dead lover! Echo had not ceased To catch love's inarticulate ecstacies, Strained in a first embrace--for ever then Fix'd statue-like in Death's tremendous arms, A hideous contrast !-one fell moment still'd Lovers and foes alike ;-workers of good, And guilty wretches;-then the statesman's brain

The parish of Braid-island in the county of Antrim, which contains 5,000 acres Irish plantation measure, was the first Presbyterian parish of the Plantation in the reign of James I. which had a Presbyterian Minister. Since that period-namely, for more than two centuries there have been but four ministers! the first was the Reverend Edward Bryce, appointed in 1611, and died in 1636, the second, Mr. Cunningham, appointed, 1645, died, 1697; the third, Mr. Cobham, appointed 1700, died, 1759; and the fourth and present is Mr. Bankhead, appointed, 1763, who is ninety-four years of age and in perfect health and spirits. There is but one inhabitant of the parish who is not a Presbyterian.

When I was young, priest and minister were hand and glove. It seems to me but yesterday, when Father Patt Joyce, the Lord be good to him! lent Mr. Carson a congregation.

"Eh! what, Antony," said the Colonel. "A congregation appears rather an extraordinary article to borrow."

"Well," said the otter-killer, "it's true. I was there myself, and I'll tell you the story. It was in the time of Bishop Beresford, that beautiful old man,-many a half crown he gave me, for I used often to bring game and fish to the palace from the master's father. He was the handsomest gentleman I ever laid my eyes on; and, och, hone! it was he that knew how to live like a bishop. He never went a step without four long-tailed black horses to his carriage, and two mounted grooms behind him. His own body-man told me, one time I went with a haunch of red deer and a bittern to the palace, that never less than twenty sate down in the parlour, and, in troth, there was double that number in the hall, for nobody came or went. without being well taken care of.

Well, it came into old Lord Peter's (grandfather to the present Marquis of Sligo,) head, that he would build a church, and settle a colony of north-men away in the west. Faith, he managed the one easy enough; but it failed him to do the other, for devil an inch the north-men would come; for, says they, "Hell and Connaught's bad enough, but what is either to Connemara ?"

Well, the minister came down, and a nice little man he was, one Mr. Carson. Father Patt Flyn had the parish then, and faith, in course of time the two became as thick as inkle-weavers.

Every thing went on beautiful, for the two clargy lived together. Father Patt Flyn minded his chapel and the flock, and Mr. Carson said prayers of a Sunday too, though sorrow a soul he had to listen to him but the clerk; but sure that was no fault of his.

Well, I mind it as well as yesterday, for I killed that very morning two otters at Loughnamuckey, and the smallest of them was better to me than a pound note. It was late when I got down from the hills, and I went to Father Patt's as usual, and who should I meet at the door but the priest himself. "Antony," says he, "ceade feal