DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, ss. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of November, in the thirty-sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, ISAAC RILEY, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "Speeches of John Philpot Curran, Esq. With a Brief Sketch of the History of Ireland, and a Biographical Account of Mr. Curran. In two volumes. VOL. 1." IN CONFORMITY to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies "of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, "during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an act, entitled, "An "act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of "learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors "and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and "extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and "etching historical and other prints." CHARLES CLINTON, Clerk of the District of New-York. 019 Her 19 S. S ADVERTISEMENT. IN the present volumes there are comprehended, not only the whole of the London edition of the Speeches of Mr. Curran, but also many additional speeches, by the same orator, including, as it is believed, the whole that have been hitherto published. Of the claims to public attention to what has fallen from the lips of this distinguished speaker nothing, even in this country, is necessary to be said. New-York, November, 1811. Trial of A. H. Rowan, Esq. for the publication of a Libel, 49 the Rev. William Jackson, for High Treason, an action of Adultery, brought by the Earl of Westmeath against the Hon. A. C. Bradshaw, 163 A brief account of the Trial of William Orr, Trial of Peter Finerty, for a Libel, Mr. O'Connor's Address to the Irish Nation, Trial of Patrick Finney, for High Treason, A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. IRELAND is an island in the Atlantic ocean, situate between the 5th and 10th degrees of west longitude, and the 51st and 56th of north latitude-in length it is about 300 miles, with a medial breadth of 150 miles, giving an area of nearly 27,500 miles. The name IRELAND is said to be derived from the word Eir, in the Celtic language signifying west; whence the names Ierna, Iverna, Hibernia, and Ireland. In poetical descriptions, it is sometimes called the Green, or Emerald Isle. Much difference of opinion has arisen concerning the peopling of this island. The Irish writers strenuously assert, that the first inhabitants came from Spain, under a leader of the name of Golam Milea Espaine, i. e. Golam the Hero of Spain; hence the native Irish are called Milesians. But the British writers contend, that Ireland was first peopled either from Wales or Scotland. The latter idea seems the most probable, as the language of the Scotch Highlanders, and the native Irish, are radically and essentially the same.* * This question has excited much national pride, and even animosity amongst the historical critics of the two islands.-Pinkerton, in his poor and partial account of Ireland, endeavours to throw some light on the subject. But those who are inclined to look for a portion of rational information on VOL. I. A 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. |