In such a sketch as this, it would be improper to enter into all the fabulous accounts of the Irish bards and poets, the only historians of those dark and barbarous ages. One thing, however, is certain, that the Romans never got the length of Ireland; and that when the empire was tumbled into ruins by the Gothic hordes, Ireland enjoyed a long peace; it became the refuge of the learned and virtuous, who fled from other countries to enjoy tranquillity in that beautifully sequestered island.

We shall therefore pass over all the fabulous narrations, the contentions of the different septs or clans, and the wars of the provincial kings, and come at once to what appears to be founded in truth.

The order of priesthood had hitherto been in the hands of the bards and druids, and like other priests, they exercised an unbounded sway over the minds and actions of a rude and ignorant people, till about the middle of the fifth century, when christianity was introduced into Ireland by Patricius, a Scotchman by birth.*

For some time, the bards endeavoured to maintain their influence, but the principal king of the island, and some others. of the great men, being converted to the true religion, and St. Patrick establishing his ecclesiastical residence at Ardmacha, (now Armagh,) christianity at length obtained the ascendancy.

The christian religion, so excellent in its principles, and so benignant in its doctrines, instead of bringing the glad tidings

a question of not much importance, will consult the elegant, the sceptical, and the deep-searching Gibbon, in what he calls "a distinct image of the Roman Empire, under Valentinian and Valens," chap. xxv. sec. 2.

* St. Patrick is said to have been born in the year 373, near to Dumbarton; he was first a soldier and then a priest; he landed at Wicklow, in 441, converted the Irish, became Bishop of Armagh, and died on the 17th of March,. in the 120th year of his age.

of peace and good will to men, unhappily, in too many instances, seems rather to have been the cause of strife, hatred, wars, and persecution. But history and experience show us, that this was the work of selfish and designing men, who perverted religion from its original intention, in order to gratify their avarice or ambition. The establishment of christianity, therefore, it appears, did not better the condition of the Irish The order of priests, under a new name, were as fond of power and emoluments as the order of the druids; and petty wars and clannish broils continued to divide the people, and weaken the country as formerly-when, about the end of the eighth century, Ireland was invaded by the Danes, or Normans. Against this enemy, the Irish contended for a number of years, till 845, when Turgesius the Dane was proclaimed King of all Ireland.

But no sooner did Turgesius get all the power into his own hands, than, as usual, he abused it, and became a tyrant. The Irish rebelled against their oppressors, and massacred a great number of the Danes; but these receiving reinforcements, the war continued with alternate success, when the country was invaded by Magnus, King of Norway. Both parties uniting against this new invader, Magnus was defeated, and driven from Ireland.

After this event, several monarchs, it is said, arose in Ireland, who deserved the name of king by their good actions. These were Malachy I. and II. and Brian Boromy. This latter monarch is celebrated above all for his wisdom and bravery, and Ireland, for a time, was prosperous and happy ; when, in the year 1004, at the famous battle of Clontarf, he defcated the Danes, but lost his life, in the 88th year of his age.

After Brian's death, Ireland again became the prey of party feuds, arising from the intrigues and ambition of the provincial chiefs. These destructive contentions lasted for many years, until an event took place, that forms an important æra in the history of Ireland, and for which we have

something like authentic records-This was the invasion of Ireland by the English. The first adventurers were two private gentlemen, named Fitz-Stephens and Fitzgerald. They crossed the sea from Wales with about 300 men, in the year 1171; and they were soon followed by Earl Strongbow, with 1,200 more.-Their pretext for coming into Ireland should first be explained.

In the destructive contentions of the Irish chiefs, O'Dermot, O'Connor, O’Nial, O'Rourke, &c. each claimed the ascendancy. Not content with defeating O'Rourke in battle, O'Dermot carried off his wife, a woman of singular beauty, for whom he had conceived a violent passion. A junction of parties having at length taken place, and chastity, even in those rude times, being considered as a virtue, O'Dermot was defeated, deposed, and forced to leave the island. He landed in England, and solicited the assistance of Henry II. to recover his dominions, which, when effected, he meanly offered to acknowledge Henry as his liege lord. The English king, glad of such an invitation, despatched the beforementioned party to the aid of his new ally; and, in the year 1172, Henry in person, with a considerable army, landed at Waterford.

The rape of Helen, and the destruction of Troy, have conferred immortality on the Grecian bard. The siege of Troy, it is said, lasted ten years but the infidelity of O'Rourke's wife hath caused Ireland to groan under innumerable evils for more than six hundred years.

It was not long before Henry contrived to obtain possession of a considerable portion of the eastern part of the country.The Irish chieftains, for some time, were pleased with having a powerful prince among them; he gave them entertainments, flattered their vanity, and even gave them the title of king *—Henry and his immediate successors called

The wild Irish of the 12th century did not differ from the civilized men of the present day. It is a grand and prevailing systein in all the Courts of Europe, from George's Knights of the Garter to Napoleon's Legion of

themselves only the Lords of Ireland. The despotic Henry VIII. was the first who assumed the regal title.

Well satisfied with his expedition, after establishing his power and influence over a great part of the country, Henry left Ireland after a residence of only five months. Such was the first settlement of the English in Ireland, which they sometimes called a conquest, an acquisition, or an alliance, as their power or their weakness happened to preponderate.

Henry's immediate successors did not pursue the design of conquering Ireland. Satisfied with having their power introduced into the island, and recognised in certain districts and portions of it, they made no attempt to extend it farther. The colony was left to thrive by its own resources, and the occasional accession of new settlers. The colony did not, for a long time, much extend beyond its original limits; rather the reverse. The land occupied by the English colony (or The English Pole, as it was then called) reached only a few miles around Dublin, in the time of Edward III. that is, 150 years after the first settling of the colony.

This narrowing of the English Pale arose from two causes: First, from the hostilities committed by the settlers against the districts by which they were surrounded, and from which arose a general alarm, and a powerful confederacy against them. Secondly, the successors to the first English settlers

Honour-Flatter a man's vanity, put a riband on his shoulder, a gilt star on his breast, and call him Sir or my Lord, and what may you not make of the great baby?

"Behold the child!

"Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw;

"Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight,

"A little louder, but as empty quite:

"Stuck o'er with titles, and hung round with strings,

"Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper years;

"And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age!”—POPE.

"Men are but children of a larger growth."-DRYDEN.

who became possessed of lands in the interior of the country, had gradually renounced their dependence on the primary settlement; and, in process of time, had adopted the laws, the dress, and even the language of the natives.

These English families, now transformed into Irish inha bitants, were moreover particularly inclined to oppose the extension of the Pale and English law. They held their lands under the Brehon or Irish law, which totally differed from the English law. And in order to secure themselves still farther, and more completely to disclaim any connection with the English, they even assumed Irish surnames, such as Mac-Yorice, Mac-Morice, Mac-Gibbon, &c.

Owing to these circumstances, a new class of inhabitants arose in Ireland, distinct from both the English and Irish. It was formed of those English families who had, from time to time, renounced subjection to the English government. The English called them The Degenerate English; they formed numerous tribes and clans, and were formidable enemies of the English colony.

At length, in the 36th year of, Edward III. A. D., 1361, a new expedition was projected to Ireland. Lionel, Duke of Clarence, the King's second son, was the leader of the enterprise. He had married the only daughter of Bourke, the Red Earl, and claimed all his lands in Ireland as her dower; But an Irish clan of the name of Mac-Williams had taken possession of the lands. The Duke's expedition, therefore, was both to recover his lands, and punish the degenerate English; but as he brought with him only a small force, and received no support in the country, he was obliged to relinquish his enterprise.-But before he left Ireland, he held a parliament in Kilkenny, in the character of Lord Deputy, and got a law passed, known by the name of the Statute of Kilkenny.

This statute shows, that oppressive laws are an old evil in Ireland. It recites, "That the English of the realm of Ireland were become mere Irish in their language, naines, dress,