. fortification, at Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, now part of the eftate of lord vifcount Courtenay; this houfe was of confiderable extent, the walls and fome of the works are now ftanding. Within them is built the house of the rev. Thomas Lock, and outfide is a fhrubbery and well improved demefne. The TRINITARIAN FRIARS, HAD a priory at Adare, founded in the thirteenth century, by Thomas Fitz-Gerald, the feventh baron of Offaley, father to the first earl of Kildare, and the firft earl of Defmond; this house was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and was founded for the friars of that order for the redemption of chriftian captives. It has been afferted that thefe religious houfes have been founded prior to the time we have mentioned, but this is a mistake; for all the celebrated writers on this fubject, agree to the above periods of time. The order of Dominicans which is antecedent to the other mendicant orders, was not confirmed by the Pope's bull, until the year 1216. APPILY for the greatest part of Europe, the ages- of monkish fuperftition and ignorance are paft. Mankind has become more enlightened and more tolerant. May HE who has wrought this change, continually inspire the people of Ireland, with the spirit of truth, unity and concord; and grant that all who confefs his holy name, may live in harmony and godly love. Irishmen in general are extremely anxious to have their children taught CC 2 reading reading and writing, from whence proceeds a knowledge of good and evil, a regard for religion, and a refpect for the laws; but unfor tunately they are not always able to defray the expence. If religious houfes have been fuppreffed in Ireland, the number of religious perfons has increased. There is lefs bigotry, lefs ignorance, and lefs wickednefs, than in former barbarous times. When the penal laws were relaxed in the year 1778, the Roman Catholicks of Limerick, with a laudable defire to promote the interests of their religion, erected feveral chapels, which are an addition to the public buildings, but the old ones must be mentioned firft. ST. MUNCHIN's CHAPEL, WAS built in the year 1744, near Thomond bridge, on the north ftrand. A few years after St. Patrick's chapel was built at Pennywell, chiefly at the expence of Mr. Harrold, they are both plain buildings, and contain nothing remarkable. ST. MARY'S CHAPEL, In the little ifland, was finished in the year 1749, and is dedicated to St. Mary. It is built in the form of a cross, near an hundred feet in length. The altar is placed northward, the fituation of the ground not permitting it to be placed eastward. In the year 1760, a good altar piece, confifting of different orders of architecture, was erected in this chapel, with a painting of the crucifixion, done after the celebrated one of Michael Angelo, by one of the beft best artists in Italy, which with the altar piece, was erected at the fole expence of Mr. John Kelly merchant, and coft near two hundred pounds. ST. JOHN'S CHAPE L, NEAR John's gate was finished in the year 1753. The building is a handfome one in the form of a crofs, and has a very good painting' of the Crucifixion, done by Mr. Collopy a native of Limerick. ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL, Is fituated at Mardyke, and was opened for divine fervice (on St. Michael's day,) the 29th of September 1781. The building is a good one, and the clergyman has a neat house and garden near the chapel. Befides these parochial chapels, THE AUGUSTINIAN HERMITS, HAVE a house in Creagh-lane, which is built in good modern tafte, and was opened for Divine Service on the 6th of December 1778. Over the altar is a large picture of the Afcenfion, done in 1782, by Mr. Collopy, who has left two paintings to the public in his native city, which we hope will be well preferved, as they must be long admired for the colouring, the drapery, and the animated expreffion of the figures. THE DOMINICAN FRIARS, HAVE a small, convenient chapel in Fifh lane, lane, which was opened for Divine Service, on the 26th of October 1780. THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS, HAVE a house in Newgate lane, which was opened for Divine Service, on Chriftmas Day, 1782. This is a well built fpacious chapel, and has a piece of ground annexed to it, on which it is intended to build houses for the friars. It must be obferved, that feveral of the religious orders have remained in Ireland, fince the fuppreffion of their houses, and the four laft mentioned chapels have been built, fince the late relaxation of the penal laws. The plain handsome ftile of their building, and the expedition with which they were finished, reflect great credit on the pious perfons, who promoted them. Nor were thefe houfes built entirely by Roman Catholics; Proteftants, Quakers, Diffenters, Methodifts, contributed to the expence, a ftrong proof that religious prejudices are dying away very rapidly. The NUNS of the Order of St. THERESA, HAVE a houfe on Sir Harry's mall in the county of Limerick, of which Mrs. Catherine O'Brien is abbefs, and never was a fifterhood more defervedly celebrated for piety, charity and all the virtues that conftitute good chrifftians. divinely wash'd from ev'ry stain, " No |