Journal

of a rough Index of places to Irish part, loosely written, and not bound, but tied together in blue wrapping paper; they are folio leaves. III. The antiquarian letters are comprised in two 4to. volumes. Vol. I. comprises 324 closely-written pages, having a well-arranged Index prefixed to them. There are thirty-four letters in it. The following twenty-three are written by Mr. O'Donovan, and thus headed, with respective dates:-Athlone, August 30th, 1837, and September 1st, 4th, 6th, 9th, 1837; Ballymore, Lough Sewdy, September 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 1837; Mullingar, September 20th, 21st, 22nd, 25th; Newpass, September 30th, and October 10th, 12th; Castlepollard, October 3rd, 4th, 7th; Castletowndelvin, October 5th. The following eight letters are written by Mr. O'Connor, and thus headed, and dated:-Mullingar, September 27th, 28th; October 1st, 3rd, 6th; Kilbeggan, October 8th; Tyrrellspass, October 10th, 11th, 1837. There is a letter written by Bryan Geraghty, and dated Dublin, September 30th, 1837. There is another, written by George Petrie, and dated Dublin, No. 21, Great Charles-street, September 25th, 1837. There is likewise a fragment of a letter undated, and the writer's name not affixed, but it seems to be in Mr. Petrie's handwriting. Vol. II. contains 347 closely-written pages, with a well-arranged Index prefixed. There are twenty-six letters in it; and of these the following fifteen are written by Mr. O'Donovan, thus headed and dated-Newpass, October 13th, 18th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 25th, 30th, 31st; November 1st, 5th, 7th, 9th, 1837; Tullamore, January 1st, 1838. A letter dated October 13th, 1837, without name of place whence written. Mr. O'Conor writes seven letters, and dates from Mullingar, October 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th; Maynooth, October 29th, and Edenderry, October 30th, 1837. Mr. Petrie has a note dated October 17th, 1837, and another undated. Neither has the name of place given. There is also a note undated, written by a tailor, named Gaynor, living at Rathowen. There are some valuable diagrams and drawings, illustrating Dr. O'Donovan's letters'. IV. There are seventy-nine Name Books, like those alluded

the contents, have been lately added to these volumes, in which they had not been hitherto found. These Indices are most creditable to the caligraphy, industry, and sound judgment of Mr. O'Lalor, of the Ordnance Survey Office. The Extract and Antiquarian volumes, when fully completed by the binder, will be transferred to the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, where they will be rendered more accessible to investigators of the history and archæology of the different districts in Ireland. All the other volumes and papers will be retained in the Irish Ordnance Survey Office, where they will be required for constant reference, incident to the various corrections that must be made hereafter in the names and divisions found on the maps already engraved. The new and beautifully contoured and engraved map of Ireland, on the scale of one square inch to the square English mile, is fast approaching completion, and it is supposed will be ready for

circulation during the year, 1861. I have never seen any like engraving equal to it, in point of scientific accuracy and artistic finish.

It must be remarked, that these tracings are the work of Dr. O'Donovan himself, and in all cases serve to convey a more accurate idea of the various antiquarian objects illustrated, than could be attempted by mere description in writing. At a future day, the letters written by the learned doctor will furnish abundant materials for his biographer, regarding that portion of his life and invaluable services, devoted to the illustration of Irish History and Antiquities, whilst employed on the staff of the Ordnance Survey. It is truly wonderful how he could find time to write the researchful and comprehensive letters preserved, within the brief period allowed him for excursions through the various localities, not to speak of his being obliged to visit the several objects of interest, in an

to in former communications. V. The Barony and Parish Names are comprised in one volume 4to. of seventy-nine numbered pages, with an Index page besides; a great number of the numbered pages are unwritten, and those written on are pretty closely lined by the scribe. VI. The memorandums are contained in one 4to. volume of 261 numbered pages, closely written. There are maps and tracings bound up with this volume. Like all volumes of corresponding name, it contains many interesting and detached local notes. It has an Index of six pages prefixed. VII. The County Index to Names, on the Ordnance Survey Maps, is comprised in one folio volume. The leaves are not numbered, but they contain 116 written pages. Each page has three distinct columns, in the order of, 1stly, townlands of the County Westmeath, alphabetically given, with, 2ndly, the Barony in which situated, and, 3rdly, the Parish. On an average, each page contains about seventeen or eighteen lines. There are no artistic drawings or sketches for this county, nor special Memoir Papers."

The Rev. James Graves, on behalf of a Member of the Society, communicated an interesting local tradition, to the effect that one of the Purcell family, a colonel in the Second King James's army, and who was accounted one of the best swordsmen in Europe, was married to a lady named Eleanor Grace, who was the pride of the old, and envy of the young at King James's Levee at Kilkenny Castle, where all the ladies kissed the royal hand. When Eleanor approached, his Majesty arose and said, "So fair a cheek deserved a buss." This Colonel Purcell's daughter was married to Kelly of Gowran.

The Rev. James Mease read some remarks on the ancient churches usually found in the neighbourhood of castles, in the dis

antiquarian point of view, wherever he travelled. Many, if not most of these excursions, were made on foot, as the ruins of ancient buildings were not always accessible, by public or private conveyance. The inclemency of the weather could not even damp the ardour of the then young and active antiquary. After the day had been spent in rambles through the country, note-book in hand, and perhaps, as was too frequently the case, after a thorough drenching with the rain, Mr. O'Donovan sat down to write his impressions, and quote his authorities and extracts, at which work he was usually engaged to midnight; and his labours were frequently protracted beyond the "witching hour," as we can glean from the headings of many of his letters. Here and there are jotted down some interesting personal incidents and adventures, but it must be observed they are few and far between; for Mr. O'Donovan's whole soul seems to have been centered in the effort to give as much valuable information as possible to the Ordnance

department, and, it must be added, at the lowest possible rate of remuneration for his priceless services. It would not be just to pass away from this subject, without alluding to the herculean task assigned to Eugene O'Curry. When I turn over the volumes of extracts and other papers, I find the wellknown handwriting of this gentleman meeting my eye, in countless instances. What a vast amount of Irish extracts copied in the original character! what a number of suggestive notes and observations in English! what untiring energy and industry manifested in an incredibly short space of time, whilst delving through the rich mines of our numerous antique documents! Of Mr. O'Curry, it may be said, he furnished from the public libraries that literary ammunition of the exact size and strength, which enabled Mr. O'Donovan on hill, vale, and plain, to bag the antiquarian game, which will hereafter afford a rich repast to those whose tastes incline them towards such a species of intellectual epicureanism.

trict round Freshford. The paper was illustrated by an accurate photograph of the east window of the old Church of Folkescourt, executed by Lieutenant Lyster, R. E., and was as follows:

"The larger of the old castles in the neighbourhood of Kilkenny have, in many instances, the remains of churches close to them. In one of the outhouses at Foulkesrath, used at present as a stable, the entrance door and other portions indicating the use of the building, are still carefully preserved by the present owner. Near Balleen Castle, a building may be observed, which might be taken for a barn or grange; but on examination a lancet-window will be found, which clearly shows that it was a church. Near Foulkescourt another is to be found; and for the purpose of calling attention to these buildings, the accompanying photograph is presented to the Society. It was taken by Lieutenant Lyster, R. E., and is a faithful representation of the east window of the building. There is another window in the south wall, which is exactly the half of the east window. The carving is very neatly executed; and though the window is very small, yet the care bestowed on it indicates considerable architectural skill. The date of the building I must leave to more skilful antiquarians. The castle itself is supposed to belong to the time of Henry the Seventh. Though the chapel has been much dilapidated, yet several other parts remained undestroyed."

The following paper was submitted to the Meeting:

APPENDIX TO THE PLANTATION OF IDRONE,
BY J. P. PRENDERGAST, ESQ.

No. I. (See Supra, p. 179).

THE following is a transcript from the Books of Distributions compiled between the years 1661-1676, pursuant to the Act of Settlement (14th and 15th Charles II., ch. 2, sec. 8), of the Barony of Idrone, in the County of Carlow.

In the first column are the names of the Proprietors whose estates were confiscated on account of the war of 1641.

In the second and third columns, the denomination and situation of the lands forfeited, with their extent in plantation acres, as found in the Books of the Civil Survey made in the years 1653 and 1654, by order of the Commissioners of the Parliament of England for the Affairs of Ireland.

In the fifth column, the Grantees under the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, together with,

In the fourth or preceding column, the number of acres (Plantation measure), which they were found entitled to, on investigation by the Commissioners for Executing the Act of Settlement.

The figures not ranged within the first column, which follow certain denominations, denote the amount of unprofitable land.

BISHOPS' LAND.-The Parliament of the Commonwealth seized all Church Property, Tithes as well as Lands:-These, together with the four counties of Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, and Cork, and the walled and corporate Towns, was all that was withheld from being set out amongst the Souldiers and Adventurers, and formed the fund, whence the Republican Government gratified private and public deserving friends.

MART LAND. Amongst the Carew MSS. in the Lambeth Library, No. 614, p. 197. "The Sundry Denominations of the measuring of Land in Ireland. 12th. In Leax there are lesse acres and Great acres also. 13. Catherlagh the like; but in some of the Irish Counties there are: 1st. Marts (cow or beef), or Mart land, which is bigger in reckoning, divisible into Penny land. 2nd. Grose Ese, and higher according to the quantity. Mart, a Beefe, which was paid to the Lord in times past. 22. Typperary, Capell lands containing twenty Great acres, every acre 20 English acres and Qr. meers, four whereof make a Capell land."- See "The Territorial Divisions of Ireland by T. A.L." (Major Thos. A Larcom, of the Royal Egineers and Ordnance Survey of Ireland). 8vo. p. 19. London, 1846. Not printed for publication.

The Civil Survey was, in fact, the Domesday Book of Ireland, being the account taken by order of the Government in the years 1653, 1654, of what lands they had to set out among the Army, the Adventurers, and the other Claimants whom they had to satisfy. The Commissioners inquired into the qualification or guilt of the proprietor, and by means of a jury estimated the value of the forfeiture. They had full power to call before them the agents and tenants of the proprietor, and to demand all maps, rent-rolls, and evidences. The Civil Survey of the County of Carlow is lost.

The figures in the extreme left hand margin of the page refer to the numberings in the Maps of the Down Survey. Where there are none, it may ordinarily be inferred that the lands are not mapped. The figures in the outside column to the extreme right hand-side of the page were not part of the original work, but were added subsequently for the convenience of the Auditor-General's Clerks, and commonly give the names of Purchasers at the Sales of Forfeited Estates at Chichester House, in the year 1703.