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more light upon the subject. They feel that their own welfare intimately depends on that of Ireland; and that, unless the people of that country be raised from the deep degradation into which oppression has sunk them, they themselves must speedily be brought down to the same level.

Yet, interesting though the condition of Ireland be to the people of England, comparatively little is known of the sister Island by the mass of our countrymen. To most of them Irish history is as little known as that of Kamskatka or Peru. And yet it is in Irish history that the key to the present position of Ireland is to be found it is there that the secret springs of the present Irish discontentment are to be traced. We do not, however, wonder that the English people should wish to remain ignorant of the history of Ireland; for it is almost throughout one dark and damning record of English misrule, tyranny, and crime.

But the time has now arrived when the people of England can no longer be allowed to remain in ignorance of the condition of Ireland, and when they must bestir themselves to do her people justice, as a means of ensuring their own preservation. Not to aid in this great work, is tantamount to political suicide; for the liberties of the English and Irish people are suspended in the same scale, and are destined to rise and fall together. Now, in order to do effectual justice to Ireland, it is necessary that her past history, as well as her present condition, should be fully known and it is with the view of disseminating knowledge upon this subject, and of thus aiding the British people in a proper appreciation of the present position of their sister country, that the present work is`now undertaken. In its execution, we shall endeavour to state the facts of Irish history in connection with the government of England, in all their clearness and fulness; though we do not promise to restrain our own feelings and opinions on becoming occasions. It is indeed scarcely possible for the friend of human kind to glance over the history of Ireland without weeping tears like hot gall. Can we pass over burning ploughshares, and not be burnt? Can we write of Ireland, and not feel an ardent sympathy with her wrongs, and a deep commisseration for her sufferings?

To our mind, Ireland at present forms one of the most sublime moral spectacles under the sun, or perhaps that has ever been witnessed in the history of nations. There is a devotion, a selfsacrifice, and a self-denial among the people of Ireland, which

afford the strongest indications that the days of her regeneration are at hand. What other people in the world can boast of a national Temperance movement? Where are we to look for a unanimity, a devotedness, and an enthusiasm in favour of national deliverance and emancipation, such as now distinguish the Irish people!

Yes! the time is rapidly approaching, and is even now near at hand, when Ireland shall at last be free,-when, out of the blood of her ten thousand martyrs shall spring the glorious blessings of national liberty and independence, and when Ireland, long the despised and the rejected of Britain, shall occupy a front rank among the nations of the world.

THE

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

CHAPTER I.

Early history of Ireland-Introduction of the Christian religion-Saint PatrickState of Society in Ireland at the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion-The kingdoms of Ireland-Party feuds and battles-Bravery of the Irish.

THE early history of Ireland, like the early history of all other countries, is involved in obscurity. Poetry and romance have indeed told us of the early glories of Ireland-of the wisdom and wealth of her people, and of the might and power of her kingdoms. Viewed through the magnifying lens of tradition, the "Bright Isle of the West" has thus been made to shine resplendent in ancient glory and grandeur. But alas! the vision is stript of its most gorgeous hues, when examined by the sober light of reason and judgment; and we find that the early glory of Ireland, like the boasted early glory of all other countries, exists rather in the mind of the poet, than in the veritable records of the past. But the Irishman is to be excused, who, turning from the authentic records of the misery, plunder, bloodshed, and crime, so long inflicted on his country by a foreign government, seeks to refresh his saddened mind in the regions of poetry and romance, which fond imagination has peopled with images of early power and civilization.

The early history of all European countries is very nearly the same. The great mass of the people were Pagans in their religion, the worshippers of stocks and stones. They were governed by chiefs, who were distinguished by a restless thirst for aggression and plunder, and were generally at war with each other. The sword was then the only law, and might constituted the only right to govern. This state ripened into the feudal system, during which a race of chiefs grew up partially civilized, and from them spread downwards among their followers a partial refinement and civilization. Then coalitions of chiefs took place, who recognized some one or other of their order as King. This king was generally their creature: if he refused to accede to their demands, he was at once dethroned, or assassinated.* Feuds became perpetual between

In the list of 178 monarchs of the Milesian line enumerated by the Irish historians, only 47 died natural d'aths 77 were slain in battle, and 60 murdered.---TAYLOR'S HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WARS OF IRELAND. Vol. i. p. 19.

kingdoms. Turbulence pervaded the entire frame of society. Arms was the only noble profession; and the most successful destroyer of his fellow-creatures was lauded as a hero, and almost worshipped as a god. A fierce and ruling animal will was the great characteristic of this period. The mass of the people remained sunk to a great depth in civilization. While the kings and chiefs of the time occupied the page of history, we find that the people who fought and bled for them passed away unnoticed. But thus has it ever been. The units have always monopolized the ear of society. While they have made the world clamorous with their deeds, their achievements, their joys, and their sufferings; the "dumb millions," doomed to pine on in thick obscuration, have toiled, suffered, bled, and died for others, and then passed away into silent oblivion, without a record.

memory

Such was the general condition of European society prior to the introduction of the Christian religion. This was a new element thrown into social mass, which was yet destined to germinate and bring forth abundant fruits. By degrees, the teachers of the new religion obtained an immense influence over the people; and even chiefs and kings themselves bowed down before them in awe. Then learning was diffused, and knowledge was extended, and the arts and sciences flourished. Ireland still holds dear the of the Apostle who first carried the glad message of the gospel among her people. This was about the middle of the fifth century, and from this time it is that the authentic history of Ireland may be traced. Saint Patrick is said to have laboured for thirty years with immense success among the Irish, demolishing Druidism, and establishing in its place the religion which Ireland fervently cherishes down to the present day. After him, a succession of pious and faithful men arose, who, ere long, made Ireland famous for its learning throughout the civilized world. Civil communities were formed in various parts of the country by the monks, which in course of time became well-policed cities, and thither youths, not only of the island, but of the neighbouring nations came to be educated. From these seats of learning emanated the men who founded most of the celebrated monasteries and colleges of the time, in France, Switzerland, Italy, and England: many of which flourish down to the present day. And thus did the priesthood continue to exercise an increasing influence, until they became the arbiters and almost the lawgivers of the people, down to the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century.

The state of society in Ireland, at the time of the English invasion, merits some notice here, as explanatory of certain future passages in the history of the country. At an early period, Ireland was divided into the five kingdoms of Ulster, Leinster, Munster, Connaught, and Meath. The four kingdoms first named were each ruled over by their independent king, and the whole were governed

by one paramount sovereign, who, while he reigned, claimed the smaller but more central and abundantly fertile kingdom of Meath as his peculiar property. These kingdoms were again subdivided into principalities, which were inhabited by district clans or septs, each ruled by its own chieftain (or carfinny.) Each chieftain was independent in his own domain, administering justice, and exercising the right of making war and peace with his neighbour, at his own pleasure. The power and government of each provincial king were thus similar to those of the monarch himself: he also received tributes from inferior chiefs, paid for their services when he wanted their aid in war, and was entertained by them in his progress throughout the country. The same system extended downwards among all the ranks of society.

The obedience of the chieftains to their provincial king, and of these again to their lord paramount sovereign, depended solely on the physical powers which the superiors possessed of enforcing their authority. And often these were of a kind so inefficient as to render the name of sovereign a mere empty sound. Occasionally the central and sovereign power was completely overthrown by the subordinate kings,-as, for instance, in the eighth century, when the ancient dynasty of Tara was overturned by the throne of Munster; and, at all times, was it in an enfeebled and inefficient condition, from the want of power to enforce obedience to its authority among the provincial governments. The king paramount was looked upon with jealousy by the inferior kings, who watched and seized upon every opportunity of weakening his power and diminishing his resources. Thus the regal system of Ireland was, from the beginning, productive of insubordination, feuds, and warlike contention.

The monarch as well as the provincial kings, were also elective, which was another source of confusion and weakness. The manner in which the kings were elected was another pregnant source of mischief. This was regulated by what was called the law of Tanistry, which confined hereditary right to certain families, but not to individuals. Thus the chiefs and kings could only be elected from royal houses; but then there was not an individual of a royal or noble family, no matter how numerous it might be, who might not become a candidate for the office of tanist, or chieftain-elect. The custom was to elect this tanist immediately after the accession of the chief, and to assign to him a portion of the mesnal land. When the chief died, the tanist succeeded him, and another was immediately elected in his room. This practice was found productive of the greatest mischief. The accession of a chief or a king was generally the signal for party-feuds, and often pitched battles, to determine who should be the tanist to succeed him. The chiefs also looked with suspicion on the person thus elected, who often eagerly longed for their death, to attain the rank of prince; and the tanists too often gave them room for this suspicion, by openly making war on them, or secretly assassinating them.

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