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GRATITUDE-A TALE.

rapidly along with the stream, and vainly endea It was in the year 1786, and on a clear and vouring to breast the current; on the bank was beautiful afternoon in the month of June, when an old man crying out for assistance, exclaimingNature seems to be in her highest perfection," My son! my son! oh! save my son!"-which when the heat of the mid-day sun is mingled with had attracted their notice. The young man, in the cool blowing zephyrs, and when everything the meantime, overcome by the impetuosity of the around can be compared to nothing less than an waters, had sunk: but in a few seconds the top of earthly paradise on such an evening, near the his head was again vsible above the water, when small but neatly built town of Sarra Louis, in it was immediately caught by some friendly hand, France, might be seen two persons walking on the and dragged to shore. It is almost needless to banks of the rapid stream which rushes by it. They state that his preserver was the young Swiss, who, were evidently not nativesof France, and carried on when he saw the young man struggling in the their conversation in a foreign language. One river, threw off his coat and shoes, bravely leaped was an old grey-headed man, with a countenance in, and brought him ashore. bespeaking kindness and generosity, and with a peculiar handsome expression of face not common to people of his age, which might be said to be over half a century. His companion, who appeared some thirty years his junior, was very tall, but at the same time well proportioned, and displayed to advantage his finely-made person; his face was in full unison with the rest of his body; and his expansive brow showed that Beauty had not forgot her favourite either in that respect; and, from the tone of veneration in which he answered his senior, left no doubt that he was his son. They were a Swiss gentleman and his son, of the name of Ramier, who were travelling through at this time, for the recovery of the health of the elder Mr. Ramier, which was very delicate, and who had been recommended by the physicians of his native place to try the effects of a change of air, by taking a trip to France, as the only means of recovering his former constitution. Mr. Ramier immediately set out on his travels, accompanied by his only son, William, to whom he was greatly attached, and, being in the possession of a good property, was not restrained from any moderate enjoyment, leaving the care of his wife and two daughters to his brother, who was curate of his native parish.

Mr. Ramier and his son continued walking along the banks of the river for about half a mile, admiring the splendour of every thing around-now and then the echo of some hearty laugh reverberating through the Eden-like silence, and the low murmuring of some adjoining rivulets as they glided along, gave additional beauty to the scene. A silence had ensued for a few minutes, when Mr. Ramier, addressing his son, asked him—

"My dear William, can anything of Nature's works be more noble or more truly grand, than what is now spread around us? Behold! with what majesty the sun is preparing to set beneath yonder hills! Observe the natural fertility which spreads itself throughout this entire country as one great garden! As much as I have seen, I can compare nothing of Nature's works to what I now behold."

"It would be impossible for me, my dear father," spoke Edward, "not to admire the beauty of Nature around; but when I contemplate my own native vales and hills, the beauty fades away by degrees. Can you, father, compare our own dear mountains when covered with one continual sheet of snow to this scene?"

William and his father suddenly stopped-cries were heard in the distance, as if from some person in distress, and on their looking to learn whence hey proceeded, they beheld a young man borne

In a short time the lad was completely restored; he was about the age of 17 years, and was strongly built; he was dressed in very poor clothes. The old man who had first attracted the attention of his son's deliverer, was better clad than his offspring, and almost fainted with joy when he saw him safe again; with tears in his eyes he thanked the young Swiss for saving his son's life, and begged of him and his father to come to his cottage, which was only a short distance away, in order that he might dry his clothes and take somer efreshment. Young Mr. Ramier and his father gladly accepted the invitation, and they all quickly set out for the cottage. The abode of the host was a small, neat house, with a few trees planted near it. On entering a young and handsome girl flung "Welcome, herself into the old man's arms, saying, father!" She was surprised at beholding the two strangers; and almost shrieked when she saw the young lad in such a trim; but her father calmed her by informing her that it was only a ducking Michael got, and that she need not be alarmed; at same time telling her to prepare something for sup per.

In a short time, having dried their clothes, they sat to a comfortable repast, consisting of fruit, cheese, and delicious wine--the host apologising After having for not having anything better. partaken of the refreshment, they sat round the fire, when Mr. Ramier begged of the old man to relate to him how the accident had happened to his son that evening.

have rendered us this day prompts me to speak to The host said "My dear sir, the service you you rather as a friend than a stranger. I am a poor man, living by my own exertions, and trying to support as well as I can my humble family. I possess a few acres of land, which has descended enabled to keep this little cottage. I have but to me from my grandsires, and by which I am two children, those you see before you-my daughter Maria and son Michael. My wife died about three years ago, leaving them to the care of a maiden sister, who lives close by us. My son I have not yet put to business, and indeed I must confess that he is little assistance to me: the only thing in which he takes pleasure being to ride and practice on all the horses about the village, and riding those horses has been the cause of the acci dent which befel him to-day; for while watering a spirited animal, he was cast from his back into the river, and being unable to oppose the stream, would have been drowned, but that I fortunately saw him; and it was my cries that attracted your gallant son." The old man, with tears, concluded by thanking them for preserving his son's life.

Mr. R. and his son shortly after took thei

departure, highly gratified with their evening's adventure. They paid several other visits to the cottage of their old friend, and at last the day approached when they determined to take their departure for home, the health of Mr. Ramier being now quite recovered. The evening previous they paid a farewell visit to the cottage, and after spending a few agreeable hours, rose to go away. Mr. Ramier and his son having taken an affectionate farewell of their host and his young daughter, approached Michael, who was engaged mending an old bridle: he shook Mr. Ramier and William by the hand, and said he would never forget their kindness; at parting, he bestowed upon William, as a gift, an old-looking mechanical figure, with the letters M. N. rudely engraved upon it.

Next morning Mr. Ramier and his son set off in a carriage, drawn by four horses, for home.

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In 1798 war was declared by the French Directory against the little republic of Switzerland, and the charge of the army was given to one of the ablest generals after Bonaparte himself. The brave resistance of this small state against one of the most powerful countries that existed, drew on it the silent admiration of all Europe; and while they wished success to the Swiss, were themselves afraid to interfere, lest they should be the next victims of so arbitrary a power. They, therefore, kept quiet, and left the gallant republic to contend single-handed against its destructive enemy. The issue of this unjust war is known to every reader of history it is sufficient to say, that the Swiss, unable to cope with their adversaries in the open plains, betook themselves to the fastnesses of their native mountains and other inaccessible retreats, while the French laid waste the entire country.

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It was on a dark and cold day in September ; the snow descended thickly, and the French soldiers, unaccustomed to such severe warfare, were smarting under the cold. The troops were suddenly halted, and orders given by an old veteran officer to a party of cavalry that stood near him to advance and reconnoitre, as he feared there was an ambuscade some distance before them. This command was given to a fine young officer, who immediately set out with twenty troopers; they continued at a quick pace for about an hour when suddenly a sharp report like a pistol-shot was heard, and the horse of an old trooper plunging forward, fell dead at the same instant about forty men, armed with guns and swords, rushed forth from all directions, and commenced an attack on the cavalry, who galloped forward, and a short time dispersed their assailants, taking six of them prisoners, together with their leader, in capturing whom two of the cavalry were severely wounded. The cavalry, with their prisoners, then returned to the encampment, which they reached a little after nightfall.

The following morning the sun shone brilliantly upon the French army. Here and there parties of officers were conversing a person in a military undress, apparently about the age of thirty years, the stars on his breast denoting that he held high rank, approached, and inquired of the officer in command of the party of cavalry the preceding evening if any prisoners were taken? The officer replied there were seven, who were yet untried. "Well, gentlemen," said he, "we will set about

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that at once." They all then repaired to the place where the prisoners had been confined. Being brought before them, the prisoners were asked by the president what they had to say in defence for attacking the French cavalry? They all remained silent except the chief, who answered that he gloried in the deed, and all that he was sorry for was that he could not live to see the day of his country's freedom. They were then sentenced to be shot two hours after night-fall.

While the president was reading the sentence, the leader of the Swiss seemed struck with a suddon thought, and begged a private audience of the president. This being granted, the Swiss drew forth a round piece of wood, which was suspended by a riband about his neck. The president looked at it for a few moments, and grasping the Swiss prisoner by the hand, tears trickled down his weather-beaten cheeks.

There stood young Mr. Ramier, the leader of the Swiss-and by his side the once poor and illiterate lad whom he had saved from drowning, but now the leader of the French cavalry, and the giver or taker away of his life-it was Marshal Ney!

That night Mr. Ramier and his six compan.ons escaped, uuder disguise of French soldiers, by the interference of the poor French boy whom he had saved years before!

Enough has been told. From that day forward Ney behaved with the greatest humanity to the unfortunate Swiss; and when we consider his own unjust death, (whatever were his faults,) we cannot help thinking how different a fate would have befallen them if the good fortune of the "Bravest of the brave" had triumphed. O'G.

THE GREEN FIELDS OF ERIN!
Let us stray, let us stray,

Nature's choice gifts to share in,
Where the sun's latest ray

Lights the green fields of Erin! Where the pure waters spring

From the clear crystal fountains, And the low valleys ring

'Neath the cloud-kissing mountains!
Let us stray, let us stray, &c.
There the bower and the brake
Are with blossoms teeming,
And the calm lucid lake

In the sunshine is gleaming!
There the rose tree and pine
Shade the moss-mantled towers,
And the tall tendrils twine
In the green myrtle bowers!

Let us stray, let us stray, &c.

In our own native isle

Ev'ry heart throbs with gladness, And the fond maiden's smile

Frees the dull soul from sadness.
Then away, let us go

Where the dark ivy's creeping,
Where the mild breezes blow,
And the night owl is sleeping.
Let us stray, let us stray,

Nature's choice gifts to share in,
Where the sun's latest ray
Lights the green fields of Erin!
F.

LAUGHING AND SMILING.-We seldom laugh a cut and dry sort of thing ready at command. A without having something to laugh at, but a smile is laugh will never shake the sides of any of the darker passions-a smile is often seen to play upon their lips,

HEROISM REWARDED.

In the year 1539, when London Bridge was covered with houses overhanging the pent up turbulent stream as if the ordinary dangers of life were not sufficient, that men should, out of their ingenuity, invent new ones, desert terra firma, and like so many beavers, perch their dwellings on a crazy bridge-Sir William Hewitt, citizen of London and cloth-worker, inhabited one of those temptations of Providence. His only child, a pretty girl, was playing with a servant at a window over the water, and fell into the rapids, which even now-a-days it is counted a kind of feat to shoot. Many a one beheld the fearful sight, in the helplessness of terror, without dreaming of venturing into the stream. But there was one to whom the life of the perishing child was dearer than his own, and that was the apprentice of Sir William Hewitt. He leaped into the water after his youthful mistress, and, by the aid of a bold heart and a strong arm, bore her in safety to the shore; and he had his reward. Years rolled on, and each succeeding one brought wealth to the father, and grace and loveliness to the noble-minded daughter. Such was the fame of her beauty, that, even in that aristocratic age, the gallant and far-descended chivalry of the land were rival suitors for the hand of the merchant queen of hearts. But fairer in her eyes was the 'prentice cap of the daring youth who had snatched her from the whirling waters, than the coronet of the peer; and, with the singleminded disinterestedness of a genuine woman, she gave to her entitled preserver, Edward Osborne, the hand and the heart which the Earl of Shrewsbury, the heir of the lofty house of Talbot, had sighed for in vain. Well did her lover vindicate her choice! Edward Osborne was a nobleman born-of God's creation, not man's: he rose, by successful industry, to the highest honors of that city, whose merchants are the paymasters of the rulers of the earth. And from the city-beauty, to whom faith and love were dearer than titles and wealth, and the merchant'prentice, who perilled his life as frankly in the cause of the hepless, and for the sake of humanity, as ever did high-born youth for fame and glory, and golden spurs, descends George-William-Fredrick Osborne, Duke of Leeds!

"CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL."-At a recent meeting in Manchester, one of the speakers gave the following account of the circulation of this periodical :-"I was the other day in Edinburgh, and had the opportunity of going through the establishment of those excellent and meritorious men, William and Robert Chambers, the publishers of Chambers's Journal; and William Chambers told us that they sold 60,000 copies per week of that circular, and that for 59,000 they found customers in the manufacturing districts, not more than 1,000 being sold in the agricultural districts of Great Britain and Ireland; and that in the districts around Liverpool and Manchester more than half He said that those 59,000 copies were consumed. Manchester itself read more of Chambers's Journal than the whole of the population of Ireland." MR. BARRY, THE ARCHITECT.-The members of the Academy of St. Luke, at Rome, their last meeting, elected Mr. Barry, the architect of the new houses of parliament, as one of their members; he is the only English member of this ancient society.

DISCOVERY OF ISLANDS.-The captain of the Hamburgh schooner, Paradise, in a voyage from Valparaiso to Manilla, on July 18, 1841, discovered a group of six islands, thickly studded with cocoa-nut trees, and supposed uninhabited, in lat. 9 S. long. 172 W. of Greenwich, (supposed not to be laid down in the charts.) The captain named them “Paradise Islands."

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Those gentle eyes!-those gentle eyes!
Whose hue is of Italian skies;

The softest, clearest, sweetest blue
That sunshine ever glistened thro';
At times so grave-oh! can it be
That grief ere dimm'd their radiancy,
Or flung one taint of earthly care
Athwart a brow so young and fair?
Ah, no!-those dewy orbs are fraught
With all that shade of pensive thought,
Which early nature oft imparts

To youthful and to feeling hearts—
The look to pitying angels given,
When gazing on this earth from heaven.
Many an eye of liquid light

Has past before my dazzled sight!
Many an eye, whose starry glance
Brought back the days of old romance!
When beauty's simplest smile would be
The guerdon bright of chivalry:
But never yet I look'd upon

An orb which half so sweetly shone,
Whose looks reveal, untouch'd by art,
So much of gentleness of heart;
The sunshine of a brow, whose calm
Comes o'er the fevered soul like balm,
And whispers peace and placid rest
Are inmates of thy quiet breast.
Few moments hence, and I shall be
In other scenes and far from thee,
To tread a path not free from thorns,
And mix with those my spirit scorns;
Yet, ere I turn upon my way,
Oh! gently hear my parting lay :-
Fair be thy lot, and bright and blest
Still be the fairest and the best ;
Long shall my lips repeat thy name,
And still a minstrel's homage claim;
No matter where his steps may roam,
Unmark'd, unnoticed, and unknown,
Still cherish'd in his heart with sighs
Shall memory paint those gentle eyes!

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "M. E."-The MSS. have been received, and will be made use of in accordance with the author's views. "T. O'B."-We regret being obliged to answer in the negative. Any communication with which we may be favoured shall receive due attention. To draw forth Irish talent is our chief object.

"E. V. B."-The "chapters," when completed, shall adera our pages, if the author should favour us with the MS. We accept thankfully your kindly proffered assistance. A communication awaits you at our office.

"M J. R."-In our next. Several Cork friends have written to us, stating that Nos. 14 and 15 of our Journal arrived to our agents in that city together the former No. being a week late. Our respected publisher has adopted measures to prevent a repetition of this irregularity. Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Second Volume have been issued-our agents will supply them.

Printed for the Proprietors, at the Office, 32, Lower Sackville-street, Dublin, where all communications (post-paid) are to be addressed, to the Editor.

Published by T. LE MESSURIER, (late T. TROG and Co.) 8, Lr. Abbey-street, Dublin; and all Booksellers.

THE DUBLIN JOURNAL

OF TEMPERANCE, SCIENCE, AND LITERATURE

No. 17.-VOL. II.

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY.

THE ROUND TOWERS OF IRELAND. To the Editor of the Dublin Journal. SIR-The extracts from Mr. Hall's late work inserted in a recent number of your Journal, together with certain notices of alleged discoveries concerning our round towers, having attracted considerable attention to the subject, with your permission I beg leave to offer a few observations suggested by their perusal.

The object of these modern researches, it would appear, is to point out the real uses of the round

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discussed with considerable ability, I do not mean
As each of those theories have repeatedly been
at present to contend for any one of them in prefe-
rence to another, but shall merely quote the intro-
ductory paragraph to the article first alluded to.
It commences thus :-
:-

"These structures were (according to Mr. Windele)
temples used in the system of fire-worship."
And a little farther on Mr. Hall adds, that—

"The researches of Messrs. Odell, Abell, Hackett, Wall, Horgan, and Windele, in 1841, by which nine of these structures have been examined, have established the sepulchral character of many of the Irish towers."

towers from those novel discoveries, and consequently to prove that all former speculations were erroneous. Various, indeed, have been the theories promulgated from the earliest times to the present on these ancient structures. Cambrensis, Lynch, Walsh, Molyneaux, Harris, Vallancey, Ledwich-and, in our own days, Messrs. Petrie, O'Brien, Ruxton, and Thomas Moore, seem all to have written in vain; for, notwithstanding the zeal of all those learned gentlemen to shed new light upon the often explored subject, they have wonderfully contrived to render the matter more puzzling and intricate. This much, at least, is evident that, after all the laboured disquisitions of these eminent antiquaries, the world is still considered in a state of uncertainty as to the real use for which the buildings in question were intended, the country from whence they have been derived, or the age in which they were erected. Thus we find, that, in compliance with the changeful opinions of the passing day, they have been considered by turns as ecclesiastical towers-fire towers-penitentiary towers-watch towers-belfiries-defensive retreats in time of war Bhuddish idols!—and now, at length, in the 1. Of Ardmore tower I know nothing, exceptfancies of our modern antiquarians, they have abso-ing from Mr. Hall's account, who tells us "that lutely dwindled into mere sepulchral structures for the pagan dead!

If the purposes of those buildings have been thus enveloped in mystery, the country from whence these venerable piles were originally derived is equally obscure. Like the fabled birth-place of the great prince of epic poetry, many countries have been awarded the honour. Thus these magical

Now from this deduction, with all possible respect for the opinions of the aforesaid gentlemen, I must venture to express my dissent; for if their sepulchral character be established, it would com pletely upset the hypothesis that they were originally intended as fire towers, or belfries, or for any other purpose—such an after appropriation of them forming a mere accident in their history. On the other hand, if originally designed for fire worship-as alleged on "the authority of Mr. Windele"-the "sepulchral character" becomes founded on the accidental application of them in after times, which I will endeavour to shew is the fact, from the local situation and circumstances connected with those towers which have been already explored.

in the base of the tower the remains of two skeletons were found in a bed of sifted earth, carefully covered with layers of stones, whilst the absence of any remains of coffin, or crozier, or rings, affords a fair presumption that the deceased were not Christian."

2. Of Cashel tower the Cork Reporter (July, 1842) thus speaks" Although human remains were found in that structure, yet, because they were near the surface, mixed with earth and

decayed timber, it was supposed they had been thrown in casually from the adjacent cathedral. It is also to be noted, that there was evidence of a previous delving, and that it was probable the human bones there found had been disturbed from their original resting place in the body of the old church." The Reporter adds-" It must be admitted that the Cashel researches" (made in the presence of Dr. Cotton, Dean of Lismore, and Mr. E. Odell) "cannot be adduced as a positive instance of the sepulchral character of these towers." In which conclusion I fully coincide; particularly as Dean Cotton himself informed the writer of this article that about fifteen years ago, when Archdeacon of Cashel, he had the whole interior of the church cleared of the bones, weeds, and rubbish which then overspread it; and which, it is very probable, was at that time thrown into the empty adjoining

tower.

3. Of the tower of Cloyne it is said, that "within an irregular serrated oval, 6 feet by 4, were found the bones of four human skeletons, lying in the direction from west to east, 13 feet below the door-way."

4. "The Roscrea tower was opened three weeks since, (last summer,) at the request of our society, by Mr. E. Wall of that town, who discovered human remains all through, from the door-way downwards, in a depth of over ten feet."

5. "The correspondence of Sir W. Betham with the Marquis of Downshire shews what success has attended the opening of the tower at Drumbo. In it, several feet below a deposite of rubbish, earth, human bones, horns and stones, partly vitrified, and a concrete floor, was reached."

6. "The tower of Maghera has also been opened, in which also were found human remains." 7. "Similar results attended the opening of the tower of Ram Island."

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skulls and bones and there was also discovered an urn. Having thus, as in candour and justice bound, laid the entire evidence on which these alleged discoveries rest, before your readers, we may be allowed to examine a little further into their extent, and how far the inference drawn, that those nine towers were ever intended as tombs for the dead, can be supported

The first inference is, that because human bones have been found in them, they were solely intended as tombs for their interment. The next is, "that because several layers of large stones were placed over the remains with some care and precaution, it thereby indicated the rank and importance of the deceased;" and thirdly, "that the absence of any remains of coffin, or crozier, or rings, afforded a fair presumption that the defunct was not christian!" "But what beyond all question decides the paganism of these buildings is the discovery of an urn of green clay (or perhaps a portion of a broken old pitcher) in one of them."

After all, may not these accidental accumulations of bones, and horns, and rubbish, be more easily accounted for by a much simpler hypothesis?

The tower of Cashel, we have seen, has been

completely abandoned by our explorers; but let us take for example the tower at Cloyne, where these excavations and discoveries have been made. The road from Castle Martyr towards Cove passes through the village of Cloyne, leaving the old church and cemetery on the left hand side, and the round tower on the right. It is evident, from a comparison with other burial grounds, that this tower was originally situated in the grave-yard; and when at some former period it was found convenient to cut the road directly through it, the graves which might have occupied that portion became dug up and disturbed.

The veneration of the Irish peasantry for the remains of their friends is, I believe, generally acknowledged: and they would naturallyseek outa place wherein to deposit the bones of their ancestors, and thus to rescue them from further profanation. Such a receptacle was presented in the bottom of the adjoining tower, where they had only to build up the rude flight of external steps to the doorway, which remain to the present day.

The tower at Roscrea is similarly situated. The road from Mountrath to Nenagh passes through Roscrea. On the left side of it is the facade or front of the very ancient church, and on the right the round tower. That they were both originally situated in the church-yard, though now dissevered by the road, is very evident, until public convenience suggested the advantage of passing the road directly through, instead of winding round either the tower or the church. Here also the former building presented itself as a secure retreat against future disturbance to the remnants of mortality thus disinhumed. A similar secularising of a grave-yard occurs nearer home, at Clondalkin, county Dublin. The modern parish church, and some remains of a former one, are on the left side of the road from the Grand Canal to the Rathcoole road. The tower stands on the right hand exactly opposite the church. Like the before-mentioned examples, graves may have occupied the space thus thrown into the public way, while their contents, still reverenced, were deposited in the bottom of the adjoining tower as a final resting place-thus, by this addition of materials, raising the floor ten or twelve feet to the level of the door-way, which is also accessible, like Cloyne tower, by a flight of external steps; and within which, no doubt, were the inhabitants of Clondalkin as curious as those of Cloyne, the bones of some of their forefathers would still be found.

At Rathmichael, also in the county Dublin, there is the stump of an old round tower, which the country people call the "skull hole," from the circumstance of depositing in it all the skulls dug up on opening old graves.

At Aghadoe, near Killarney, the stump of another round tower still remains, and is filled up to the height of five or six feet, which, if excavated, would probably present similar results.

At Maghera, county of Down, near Dundrum, the upper portion of the tower is said to have fell down in an almost entire state in the year 1714. This immense tube of stone (if the circumstance be correctly stated) has, in the lapse of 130 years, completely disappeared: the remaining portion or stump in the interim may have been filled up with

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