The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-27
I'm Historical Essay on the Character and
.Antiqfity IF Irish Songs,
By JoKN D. BuRK.

By JOHN D. BURK
THE world is disposed to consider as fictions
the accounts ofthe antient literature and glory OF
Ireland. The modern traveller iii exploring the
runs or Troy, looks Ill vain for the classic Hoods
OF the Simois and Scamander and questions The
authority of Homer: aud 10 this loo is it owing
That Scotland country, which, properly speaking
has no music of her own, has contrivcd to .pplo
priaie tn herselfin what she calls Z GaEec.ia. Z
ScoftiSh R.nSic, some of our sweetest melodies
the names of whose composers are dear and IA
miiar to every lrishman. They were considered ms
unclaimed and unappropriated stock; the neglect
OF the original propretors had suffered the right
TO lapse, and the theft sanctioned, by the &c
MUS of Burns.
In justice hewever to the Bard whose tune
iu tongue is fot silent in his ,,.iy.4gy house
Ii should be told that he advanced his Drct,.ns;
ons with doubt and hesitstion, and III his frank
and gurleless manner lie acknowledges the diff
Guilty q osoeyt7ining the tyuth Respecting gcotcA
foeSy and music Like justice is ,iuc 10 tic ncc
NOUS editor of this admirable collection.
Unaffected by ali the n.tinna .enthms aq1., Of tn.
Dard repeatedly urged on him with Ill the various
powers of persuasion with which he was SO emf
nently gifted himself too perhaps not wholly free
rom National Prejudices, he had tie courage and
honesty topreserve throughout the inpart;.lity of
All author. He does not during the whole of his
correspondence countenance in single Instance
the b.sScd suggestions of the Bard: on the con-
trary, when speaking OF Irish airs, he Saws in repl,
to some OF his observations on tiiis subject W.
have several true born ir;s!mcn ON The Scotch
list but they are now naturalizcd and reckoped
our own good subjects. Indeed we have none
better''
But there is no need of resoring to evidence of
tins kind AS the admissions Of n enemy. tl,cv
nl;'y indeed serve to strengthen our position
There IS higher evidence arising from the his.
tory OF the two countries from facts, which
leave no room for conjecture or analogy.
Scotland, after the destruction of her antient
historical records by Edward ia. first, was com.
Pollcd to resort to Ireland, ut cuau6ua qe,xis"
10 supply The chasm in her national annals. The
universal OPINION at chat time prevailing of their
descent from the Irish, founded on the broadcast
base ofhstoricai certainty s attcsted bvthc speech
of (a) James l. of Scotland 20 his Parliament
wherein he boists I" that the Scottish DYNASTY
IS descended from that Of Ireland.'' That part of
the scottish history then, previous to the reign
VI Edward list. rests altogether on Irish autbori
ty, and during the whole of this ara thew are not
once spoken of either by their own historians. bv
;hoSc os ;Tcia;, Ci 5y 0to, Nations d, distinguish
ed by musical excellence or taste. During the
whole OF this time, the name of a Scotch bard
ballad or musical composition, has moi been nre
served nor is there single fact or analogy TO
countcnance tue opinion that they had either one
or the other, IT we except that as an Irish COLONY
they would probably take with them some OF the
arts and improvements OF their founders. Now
during the Whole OF this ara, FROM the first mo
nents indeed Of the Milesian settlement, the
irish were distinguished Tor their superior excel
leJice IN music and poetry
II has been regarded by posterity as one of the
nobiest proofs OF the passion for taste aud esters
Distinguishing the Greeks, that at the Olympic
and other games and festivals in the midst of the
sweat and dust of Athletic exercises, the pro.
ductiOns OF genus held an honorable place. Thu.
Guides and = ndar sever.tiiy recited their compo.
sittots To assembled Greece. But what shall we
say OF u People, VINO, long before the era of Greek
refinement, held (b) trIcnnial convention or as
scmbly OF states when, after d days oflnagni6ceut
entertainment, accompanied by Athletic and Mar.
tsl exercises, tive bards and historigrp piers brot
down the series OF historical events recount
ed the exploits Of particular warriors, and their
compositions at tie close of the festival. having
undergone the revision Of select committee
were 1T length recorded in thc national archives,
Ca II was cOrs;dcrcd,as an historical fact, un.
doubted and uncontrovertcd SO late as tic reign
ot James tie first Of England, IS appears by his
aiIswert 70 the. agents Of the Lords Of the Pale
~ Council. There is 4 double cause, said he, !"
why should be careful Of tie welfare Of that
people first, as king Of England, by reason Of
the long possession tie Crown of England il ,th
h.sd of that land and also as king Of Scotland
r the antienf fiags If Scotland are descend. of
.ke Kings Il Iyela0d.-Plowden's ..eI~aI, Vel
Appcrdix. p. 81.
- P.L.s.igI,. Vol :. d. -