, 1843-10-21

of the trelsc men trial by jury, the
buIwark Of ireedom.) and that equiia-
bic social law, The Law OF GAvIL,
which the free people Of America
have stamped with their estimation
by ENGRAVING in their Jurisprudence.
1t is thought by some that ALFRED Of
England Invented the trial by jury;
but this is a mistake. 1t is an irish
law. known in Ireland even before
the introduction of Christianity. Ac-
cerding to !e!a..i, a. Easi;sh @!;s;C-
rian, OHalleron and oilers. K was
found by ST. Patrick on his examna-
ton of the Brehon and Druid records,
to have been N of their leading
laws, in the arbitration OF the dis
putes about land. Alfred, who was
educated in the Irish College ofTuam
in Ireland, in the ninth century, made
himself acquainted with the whole
fabric Of Irish Jurisprudence AID gov
eminent. and by that model framed
the Constitution of England. which
was continued exactly after the Irish
model until the Norman conquest, 10
the tenth century. when the Federal
laws and primogeniture were into
duccd in 10 the British system.
Mr.. Mooney then proved that tie
Caledonians sent representatives to
the Irish legislature Of Tara. fer 1900
wears; that it was in fact the scat Of
Western empire in government. laws.
literature, arts. sciences. music. cl,iS-
airy, &c. The laws of ireland. from
the beginning. provided for the regu-
lariiv and exactitude. Of Irish histo-
~. An Office was established in each
Of the four provinces, OF Ireland,
called SeaGchio. or "Recorder.'
whose business II was to present eve
~ third year IN the National Assem-
biv Of Tara a faithful transcript OF
all that took place in his district % a
public character. This was read. and
ordered TO lie enrolled in the Seadchie
more. or Boof Of Antiquity. which
formed the commencement of the his
tory Of ireland. and was that model
which Edward the Coniessor of Eng
land followed in the construction Of
his blooms day Book" which is u
thoriiy with Iawgivers 10 the present
day. Tie office OF recorder" IS
now one of administration OF law
beth IN the English and American
system.
Mr.. Mooney then read several au-
thorities, all English. TO prove the L
bove and many ether slmi ar traits OF
ancient power and wisdom OF the
Irish nation. Amongst these. War
ncr, the English historian, says:-
"WiII any critic in this country Eng
land any longer confidently assert
that the Irish had not the Use CT let
tiers till after the arrival of ST. Pat
rick and the conversion OF the island
10 christianity? Ought We English
men rather not take shame TO our
selves that we have hitherto always
treated that ancient gallant people
with such Liberal contempt-Tho.
had The start Of the BritonS for many
ages in arts and sciences, in learning
and laws"
Sir James Macintosh. speaking OF
Doctor O'Conner'S hearers may hesl-
tate to admit the degree of culture
and prosperity he claims for his coun-
try. But no one, think, cdn deny,
after peruSing lis proofs. that the
Irish 1rere q LErTERED PEOPLE, whlle
tic SGrons uerc still immersed an
darkness and ignorance Another
English writer, I'UIand, IN his hlsto-
~ Of the British Druld,, says,-"at
this era the Irish were the most en-
lightened c~uIiivators Of letters IN Eu-
rope, and SO great was the respect IN
which their learning was held by tile
Saxons and North Britons, that the
Drulds Of these countries, for ages,
were Initiated INTO their arts, kuowl-
edge, and mysteries by the lrlsh
Druids." Camden another English
man, says-"Saint Patrick found the
Irish Druids, who contended with
him 4, Tara, emlnenlly veIsed IN
Grecian literature and astronomy"
The lecturer. after reading these
and other proofs. glanced at the IN
PRODUCTION of Christianity into Ire
land, which wss principally effected
by the ministry OF st. Patrick. 1t
appeared that by the close alliance
ever preserved between the Caiedo-
mans and IMrisi,. who were IN fact one
people, in language, government, us
toms and race, they we're enabled by
their combined legions 10 resist the
Roman arms: and though Rome sub
iected all tie then known world to
=