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racters, and in ancient vellum manuscripts, now preserved in the library of Stowe *."

Dr. O'Conor informs us, that the principal annals List of the which will compose this work are:

annals that will com

pose this

"First, The annals of Cluant to the year 1088, work.

*The Stowe collection de rebus Hybernicis was evidently as open to the access and use of Dr. O'Conor, whilst it remained his own property, as it has been since the transfer of it to the less accessible shelves of his noble patron. Co-operators with Dr. O'Conor in the wish to elucidate Irish history, have already found the access to his grandfather's collection impossible. Whatever light must in future be thrown upon Irish literature and history from this collection, will be dealt out to the public according to the liberality, openness, and communicative disposition of the noble purchaser and his representatives.

We are disposed to allow Dr. O'Conor the most generous credit for the fidelity of his proposed translation; but we are at a loss to reconcile with his reasoning his affected eulogy of Giraldus Cambrensis, and other British writers, "who have turned the attention of the learned to the ancient annals of Ireland," and his profession, that "he does not undertake, in any instance, to justify or defend any national prejudice, nor would it become him to attempt to amuse, where he could not convince. The subject he has undertaken is so severe, that the reader is relieved from any apprehension of being seduced by ingenuity of conjecture, or plausibility of declamation." (p. 6.) The wish of Mr. Burke was, and of those, who sympathize with him is, that the ancient annals should be published, as they stand, with a translation in English or Latin. We see not what conjecture and declamation have to do with fidelity of translation. That is what is promised; that is all that is expected. Whatever may be the prejudices of his countrymen, if Dr. O'Conor despairs of his ability of convincing, they will dispense with his efforts to amuse.

+ Pinkerton, vol. i. p. 260, says, "The annals of Ulster and of Tigernach are the best historical documents on civil affairs, that

better known by the name of their writer, Tigernach, who died in the course of that year. These annals Dr. O'Coner has decyphered and transcribed from the ancient Bodleian manuscript, Rawlinson, No. 488, deposited in that magnificent collection from the li brary of sir J. Ware."

"Second, The annals of Ulster to the year 1131, decyphered and transcribed from the manuscript deposited likewise from sir J. Ware's library in the Bodleian, and carefully collated, with two others, brought from Ireland by the earl of Clarendon, and now extant in the library of the British Muscum."

"Third, The annals of Innisfallen, decyphered and transcribed from the original autograph, written in 1818, and deposited from sir James Ware's library in the Bodleian."

"Fourth, The annals of Boyle, decyphered and transcribed from the manuscript in the Cotton library, Titus A. xxv."

"Fifth, The annals of Donnegal, commonly called of the Four Masters; the first volume of which in the. original autograph is in the Marquis of Buckingham's library at Stowe, and the second in that of Trinity

the Irish nation can produce; it appears they are accurate by the eclipses they mention, which, in comparison with the chronology of eclipses in L'Art de verifier les Dates, I have never found to differ above one year. These, with the annals of Innisfallen, form the real ancient history of Ireland after the introduction of christianity, A. D. 432. They agree with the Saxon chronicle and old English histories, as well as latterly with the Icelandic and Danish, as to Scandinavian affairs in Ireland, and with the Chronicon Pictorum."

College, Dublin; but of which a faithful copy transcribed by the late Charles O'Connor, esq. is likewise in the Stowe library."

Sixth, Certain metrical and other ancient compositions written on vellum in the Irish language and characters, some of which precede the age of Tigernach, being quoted by him, and belong to the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh ages, forming a chain of traditional history to the days of Tigernach. Of these, some very ancient copies, of various dates, are extant in the Bodleian, and others in the Stowe library."

able manu

the O'Con

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Besides these historical documents or annals, which Other valuDr. O'Conor has promised the public a faithful and scripts in exact translation of, there is in his grandfather's col- or collec lection, now buried or lurking in the library at Stowe, a most curious manuscript poem attributed to king Alfred, who travelled through various districts of Ireland in the ninth century, and who commemorates in it the most extraordinary things he there met with. The character is ancient and very obscure. It commences with the words, Roidheat in Innis Finis Fail. There is also in this collection at Stowe an Irish poem called Duan written in 1056, of which Pinkerton * thus speaks: "This is beyond question the most ancient monument of Dalriadic history extant; a translation of a part of it is given in the Ogygia Vindicated, published by Mr. O'Conor. Without this old Gaelic Duan, no series of the princes of Dalriada could be

*Pink. Scotl, v. ii. p. 106.

given; for many of them are not found in the Latin lists or in the Irish annals. Both however concur to certify this Duan, and lend it every degree of historic faith. Indeed, as the most ancient piece of Dalriadic history preserved by two centuries, this Duan would, by every rule of historic authority, have merited the preference. O'Flaherty, and others most skilled in the Irish language, have ever regarded its authenticity as unquestionable. Besides its historical merit, it is valuable also for its curiosity, as an ancient specimen of these metrical lists of kings, which supplied the place of history in illiterate times."

Besides the pieces of ancient Irish history promised to the public in an intelligible language, the O'Conor collection contains several other interesting and valuable documents such as, a Collection of Ancient Poems, 157 pages 4to. The Leabhair Gabbala, folio, a fair copy; and a fragment of the Leabhair Gabbala of Lecan, from the Milesian conquest to the end of Tighernas, the chronology of which differs not above two years from that of Ballimote. The Rein Rioghrindhe, containing catalogues of the monarchs of Ireland from the Scottish conquest, and of the provincial kings from the days of St. Patrick. A poem giving an account of the kings of Meath. A poem on the succession of the kings of Connaught. The wars of Corn and

*Having intimated in a former note, that this collection is now inaccessible to those who wish to anthenticate and verify matters in Irish history, it is fitting to inform the reader, that whatever is here said of it, is upon the authority of the reverend grandson, ere yet Vendidit hic auro patriam.

Mogha Meadhet. The battle of Moy Muirounhe. The expedition of Ceallaghan Cashil. The expeditions of Brian Boiromhe. An abstract of Teasusg Flatha, attributed to Cormac O'Cuinn, king of Ireland, and transcribed in 1996. Mr. O'Conor collated this with an ancient copy in General Vallancey's possession; and the cast of its phraseology shews, that it is very ancient. The Torna Ligios in rhyme, 4to. 83 pages. And a great number of other manuscripts, of which the title pages are so obscure, that it would seem as if time had forbidden a discovery.

However tender the reverend grandson of the patriotic Charles O'Conor may be of countenancing national prejudices, his countrymen have his solemn earnest for co-operating in proving their descent from a Scythian colony, and a long succession of princes of that race, and in verifying the fact of St. Patrick's existence, and of his having preached and propagated the christian religion throughout their island in the fifth century. The person who professes with such manly confidence, that nothing but dishonor can be derived from falsehood, never can be supposed to employ the flower of his life (however invigorated and cheered by the warm beams of munificent patronage) in the patient and laborious investigation of ancient facts, the only guides to truth in historical research, for the purpose of bringing before the public documents which contribute to render more interesting several traditions and monuments hitherto of dubious date, which will be hereby placed beyond the reach of controversy, unless he act under the strongest con

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