trace an early introduction of the pointed arch, but still retaining its Saxon decorations; of which we see two good examples in the aisle leading from the transept on the right of the choir. The choir presents a sad medley of Gothic and Italian architecture combined in the most unnatural manner."

Externally this cathedral is entirely choked up by mean buildings, and the ruins of the old Four Courts, which latter, yet more anciently, were parts of an episcopal palace. The interior has an air of neatness and decency not visible in the sister cathedral, nor indeed very prevalent in the other sacred edifices of Dublin; a' peculiarity which in this instance reflects honour on the present dean and chapter. The pavement has been' considerably elevated since the erection of the building, to which circumstance it is owing that the basements In the nave, of the pillars are no longer to be seen. against the dead stone wall already mentioned, are several monuments, one of which, bearing figures said to represent Richard Strongbow and his wife Eva, has the inscription following:

THIS AVNCYENT: MONVMENT OF RYCHARD: STRANGBOWE:. CALLED COMES: STRANGVLENSIS LORD OF CHEPSTO: AND: OGNY : THE FIRST AND PRYNCIPALL : INVADER: OF: IRLAND: 1169: QUI: OBIIT: 1177 THE MONVMENT: WAS: BROKEN BY THE FALL: OF THE ROFF AND BODYE : OF CHRISTES: CHVRCHE IN AN: 1562: AND SET: VP: AGAYNE AT THE CHARGYS OF: THE RIGHT HONORABLE SR: HENRI SYDNEY KNYGHT OF THE NOBLE: ORDER: L: PRESIDENT OF WAILES: L : DEPVTY OF: IRLAND: 1570.

But doubts have been entertained whether the illustrious chieftain was actually buried in this cathedral, and, if he were, whether this has been correctly stated to be his monument. Leland mentions an epitaph, "Hic jacet Ricus Strongbow," &c. as occuring on the walls of the chapter-house in Gloucester Cathedral; but the testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis, a contemporary

historian, who expressly states that his obsequies were celebrated" in ecclesia Sanctæ Trinitatis,"* we think should prevent farther question as to the place of his interment. As to the identity of the monument, Sir Richard Hoare remarks that "though the generality of authors seem to think that Strongbow was buried in Christ's Church, still some doubt may be entertained if this effigy has been rightly attributed to him. The knight bears on his shield the following arms, viz. Argent, on a chief azure, three crosses crosslet's fitchèe of the field. On referring to Enderbie, and also to an ancient manuscript by George Owen, I find that the arms of this chieftain were, Or, three chevrons gules, a crescent for difference. How then can this be the effigy of Strongbow?"

In the nave are also an elegant monument to Lord Bowes, executed by Van Nost; another to Lord Lifford, with his arms, and the motto he chose upon being appointed to his high office,†' Be just and fear not;' and another, surmounted by the bust of Thomas Prior, the father of the Dublin Society, and bearing a scroll on which is recorded, that 'This monument was erected to Thomas Prior, esquire, at the charge of several persons who contributed to honour the memory of that worthy patriot, to whom his veracity, actions, and unwearied endeavours in the service of his country, have raised a monument more lasting than marble.'

The choir has a fine monument to Robert, the nineteenth earl of Kildare, whose son was created Duke of Leinster; and a plain white marble tablet memorializes the exemplary character of Thomas Fletcher, Bishop of Kildare, to which see the deanery of Christ Church is attached.

The transept is still in good preservation: the Chapel of St. Mary, on the north side of the choir, is also in ex

* Hibernia Expugnata, book XI, ch. 14.

+ Both these distinguished noblemen were Lord Chancellors of Ireland.

Engraved by Roberts from a Drawing by Geo.Petrie, for the Excursions through Ireland.
EARL STRONGBOW'S MONUMENT,
CHRIST'S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN.

Pub Oct 1819, by Longman & Paternoster Rew

cellent repair, and was the ordinary place of worship for.. the parishioners of St. Michael, while their own church was rebuilding. The steeple is a plain square tower, totally divested of the graces of architecture.

Christ Church was a priory and convent until the Reformation, when Henry the Eighth converted it into a deanery and chapter, consisting of the dean, a chancellor, chanter, treasurer, and six vicars-choral. The coronation of the impostor Lambert Simnel, who assumed the title of Edward the Sixth, took place in this cathedral in the year 1468. In 1554, Archbishop Brown erected three prebends here; and in 1559, as appears by a statute enacted in the reign of Henry the Sixth, the parliament sat within these venerable walls; while in Christ Church it was also, that the English Liturgy was read for the first time in Ireland on Easter Sunday, 1550. In the constitution of Henry, James the First made some alterations; from the latter reign the foundation having been composed of a dean, chanter, chancellor, three prebendaries, six vicars-choral, and four choristers.

The population of Christ-Church Deanery in 1814, amounted to 250 inhabitants only; the number of houses 23.

EXCURSION IV.

Through the Parishes of St. John, St. Michael, St. Audeon, St. Catherine, St. Nicholas Without, St. Luke, and St. Jumes.

ST. John's parish is of small extent, and contains nothing particularly interesting. Wine Tavern-street, which adjoins Christ-Church-lane, (where we terminated