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inferior to its predecessors in scientific and antiquarian value, it is much superior to them in its typography and embellishments. The respected President, the Bishop of Cloyne, whose scientific papers have been long the ornament of the Academy's volumes,has we perceive, two papers in the present one, one the precession of the Equinoxes and another an appendix to the foregoing. Dr. Robinson of Armagh Observatory, has three, one on correcting the observations made with an Equatorial, one correcting the errors of the Astronomical Circle, and a description of a new Air Pump. Mr. Hamilton, the youthful professor of Astronomy, has a very learned article on the Theory of Systems of Rays,There is a paper too by the Lord Bishop of Down. In Antiquities we remarked a curious paper by the late Counsellor Dunn on a passage of Leo Africanus, mentioning a successful attack on the coast of Africa by a British fleet in the 10th century; and an exceedingly interesting Essay on ancient Irish Architecture, with very accurate engravings of the ancient remains. This last Essay is, we believe, by a Lady, and obtained the prize offered by the Academy. We hope to call our readers attention more fully to the contents of this Volume on a future occasion.

The Academy has recently awarded the first prize of £80, and the Conyngham Medal, to an Essay on the History of Ireland, from the commencement of the Christian Era to the English invasion, the production of John D'Alton, Esq., Barrister at Law, M. R. I. A. It is arranged on the plan of Dr. Henry's History of Great Britain, being divided into four periods; the 1st from the Birth of

Christ to the arrival of St. Patrick, the 2d from St. Patrick to the first incursion of the Danes, the 3d to their expulsion, and the 4th to the English Invasion.

The

These periods are respectively subdivided, each into six sections. The first containing the Civil and Political History, as well as the Geographical Notices of Ireland during the prescribed interval; the second illustrating the Government, Constitution, and Legislature; the third the Moral and Religious opinions, (sun and fire worship, the discipline and doctrine of the early Irish Christians, their missions over Europe, &c.) fourth section treats of the Sciences Literature, and Learned Men, also of the early use of letters, the foundation of Schools, the cultivation of Annals, Writing, Poetry, Music, Navigation, Astronomy, and Medicine; the fifth, of the several arts then known, and especially of the Architecture, Era, and the use of the Round Towers, Raths, Funeral Mounts, Caves, &c. And the sixth exhibits the Commerce, Customs, and general manners of the people.

An introduction is prefixed, proving the early Colonization of Ireland from the East, the subsequent intercourse with the Phoenicians, and the influence of those events on the manners and customs of the Irish people.

The whole is evidenced by full and fair extracts from external authorities prior to the commencement of the 16th century, and the work concludes with a brief review of those Irish Annals, Poems, and other native works, of whose statements the above evidences are confirmatory.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Since our last publication Ireland has been a good deal agitated by the cir cumstances that have led to the removal of the Marquis of Anglesey from the Lieutenancy of Ireland. With the particulars of that event our readers are doubtless acquainted, and they will probably agree with us in regretting the imprudence, which by declaring in so pointed a manner sentiments decidedly opposed to those of the premier, ren

dered it essential that a change should take place in the government. Of the publication of the Duke of Wellington's letter-a letter evidently written in haste to Dr.Curtis-but one opinion can be entertained; that it was uncalled for, and a breach of private confidence ; but the maxim of the present agitators seems to found public duty on a relaxation of every private tie. Without giving an opinion upon the propri

ety of the Marquis's declarations, we must observe that it was very unsuitable to the character of a representative of Majesty to give so decided an opinion on a subject at present before the legislature, and on which the opinion of the government has not yet been declared. We lament that this has been a fresh source of discord and dissension. Each party boasts of a triumph, and in the mean time the angry spirit of faction is invigorated and extended. The state of the country is a singular union of progressive good and impeding evil. Reformation meetings for discussion held through the country, are numerously attended

by Roman Catholics; and the Societies employed in circulating the Scriptures and extending education are all apparently successful. On Friday the 2d January a second meeting for discussion was held in the Rotunda, and an immense crowd, composed very much of Roman Catholics, was addressed by Rev. Robert Daly, Singer, and Robert M'Ghee; they were listened to with the most marked attention, and the Roman Catholics present assisted eagerly in keeping order, and removing such persons as seemed disposed to riot. Such expedients, by Protestantising, will we trust pacify Ireland.

66

POETRY.

LINES

WRITTEN FOR MY FRIEND,"

AT HER REQUEST,

On Hebrews ii. 18.

Oh! ye cold followers of a faith,
Which tramples on His name;

Who bowed the heavens, and came on earth,

And took on Him our frame !

Ye, who can tread in your own strength,

And uprightness of soul,

Pure-as that "Man of Sorrows" trod

On-to the glorious goal;

Who want no

blood of sacrifice,''

But have trampled that too down;

And will win, and grasp, with your own arm
The everlasting crown:

Who could go to dark Gethsemane,

Could stand beside his grave,

Nor weep, nor wonder-'twas for you,
No God who came to save :-
Ye, whose compassionate mockery
Would pour the "light of truth"
In a bright flood, to blot out all

The fables" of our youth!
Fables! those fables that have lit
The brow uplifted high,
Triumphantly through torture lit,
The calm, yet kindled eye!
Fables, for which the crimson tide
Of martyrdom hath poured,

O'er this our green and goodly earth,

Its offering to the Lord!

For whose sake, the young and fond have lef

Kindred, and earthly home,

And in the strength of love and faith,

Gone forth o'er surge and foam :

Caring not, though their grave were made

Not where they once had thought,

So they might bear to human hearts
The peace at Calvary bought.

Away ye dreamers! not to us
Breathe your heart-deadening creed ;
But come and bend in meekness down,
Be silent whilst ye read.-
Hath he no power to heal even yet?
Sits he at God's right hand,
Unknowing of our lonelier tears,
As even the angel band?

Must we stem, in our own righteousness,
The torrent that sweeps on,

Bearing God's likeness from our souls,
'Till every trace is gone?
When our unholy lips are seated,

That they dare not even sigh
The incommunicable Name,
Written in light, on high!

Is it vain to plead with Him, who once
Was tempted even as us?

Is His Cross, (our trust,) a broken reed?
Ye tell us it is thus.-

Sinners believe it not, lift up

One faintest prayer to Him

Were thy" sins as crimson" saith our God,
Their death-stain shall grow dim!

And thou, whose struggling spirit, would
But cannot soar from earth,

Even though thine earliest youth was taught,
Bitterly taught, its worth!

Pause on these words, (their tenderness

Cometh deathless from above,) One drop in the vast boundlessness Of dimly-shadowed love! Mysterious, fathomless, they are,

As the depths of the deep sea;
Yet there is refuge for thy soul
In even their mystery.

They have a torch to guide us down,
With firm, unshrinking tread,

Intrepidly, and calm, to take

Our place among the dead.

They tell us, that whate'er it be,

On our pilgrimage of tears,

That would woo us earthward, back again

To the dreams of earlier years;

Whate'er the young tie, hard to break,
He knows it;--and his eye,

Is not his mercy still the same?

Can its love ever die ?

Looks it not down in gentleness,
On the spirit that has tried,

The truth of this world's fairest hopes,
And seen them how they died?

Jesus of Nazareth! the despised-
Let others seek some name,

One, not of lowliness, nor linked
With agony and shame ;

Some God, to whom grief must kneel far off,

At the foot-stool of his throne;

The weary and the aching heart,

Must turn to Thee alone.

E. M

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Communication from Sligo, came too late for insertion this Month.

"Y."on" Inconsistency in Religious Professors," shall appear.

"X. Y." has been received-we feel grateful for his good opinion, but suppose he did not write his letter for publication.

We have inserted Mr. Faber's Letter with great pleasure, and deem that he asks from his Theological adversary but an act of common justice.

"C. A." and "J. M. F." in our next.

The following have been received, and are under consideration-" C. D." "K. W. M." "Politelos."

We regret that we cannot give the Poetry of a " Rural Shepherd" a place in our pages.

Some Poetical favors have been unavoidably postponed.

The Lines on "Early Death," in our next.

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