Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-07


The following account of the ancient Fe-
mans of Ireland is from Morley's "Writers
before Chaucer:'
Irish tradition says that the Fenians were
an ancient militia, or standing army, employed
only on home service for protecting the coasts
from invasion. Each of the four provinces.
says the tradition, had its band: that of Lem
ster, to which fionn and his family belonged,
being called the Clanna Baoisgne. This mill
TIA IS SAID to have been paid by the King, bill
ieted on the people in the winter, but to have
lived In summer by the chase. And these are
imagined to have been the qualifications OF
tenian: Every soldier was required to
swear that, without regard to her for
tune, he would choose wife for her
virtue, her courtesy, and her good man
ners; that he would never offer violence
to woman; that as far as he could he would
relieve the poor; and that he would not re-
fuse to fight nine men of any other nation No
person could be received into the service un-
less his father and mother, and all his relatives
gave security that none Of them should revenge
his death upon the person who might slay
him, but that they would leave the matter to his
felloW-soldlers. The youth himself must be
well acquainted with the twelve books of poe
try, and be able to compose verses. He must
be perfect master of defence; to prove this
he was placed in field of sedge reaching up
to his knees, having in his hands a target
and hazel stick as long as a mans ARM
Nine experienced soldiers, from distance of
nine ridges of land were to hurl their spears
at HIM at once; if he was unhurt he was admit
ted, but II wounded he was sent off with a
reproach. he must also run well and de-
tend himself when in fight; to try his ac-
bn Voc Ha 20, L
having start of trees breadth, the whole
of the Fenians pursuing him; if he was over
taken or wounded in the wood he was refused
as too sluggish and unskillful to fight with
honor among such valiant troops. Also, he
must have strong arm and be able to hold
his weapon steadily. Also, when he ran
through wood in chase his hair should not
come united; if it did he was rejected. He
must be SO swift and light of foot as not to
break rotten stick by standing upon it: able
also to leap over a tree as high ashis forehead
and to Stoop under tree that was lower than
his knees. Without STOPPING or lessening his
speed, he must be able to draw thorn out of
his foot. Finally, he must take an oath of
fidelity.
''The Rev. Geoffry Heating, who wrote a
History of Erin in the year 1880, gravev
says: so long as these terms of admission
were exactly insisted upon, the military of Ire
land were an invincible defence to their
country, and terror to rebels at home and
enemies abroad Coll M'Morna had slain
Fionn's father, Cumhaill, in battle. and was
Flonn S mortal enemy in early life Afterwards
he made peace with him. and fought under
him as a chieftain of the Connaught Fe
mans. But the supremacy of the Clanna
Baoisgne led to teuds, and at last Fionn
and his clan, detying the throne itself, were at
tackled by all the forces Of Erin except those
OF the kng OF Munster who took part with
him, and suffered carnage in that battle of
Gabbra, wherein Oisins son Oscar and the
King Cairbre fell by each others hands,
flonn, who was absent, arrived only in time
to close his grandson eyes, and after this de-
feat peace had no sweets for him and war no
triumphs. Fionn died at last it is said, by the
lance of an assassin.
1T IS noticeab e. however. that the Fenians
were not conhne d to Erin. In the ancient poem
on the battle OF Gabbra we read of the bands
OF the tlonns of Alban' (Alban being the old
name OF Scotland north of the Firth of Forth
and Clyde J, and the Supreme King of Breatan
lBreatan being southern Scotland, of which
Dunbr'4atan, now Dunbarton, was the chief
seat, belonging to the order of the Feinne of
Albdn;' and also that the Flans of Lochlan
We're powerful. Now Lochlan was an ancient
name of Germany north of the Rhine: but
when the Norwegian and Danish pirates ap-
peared IN the ninth century they were called
Lochlanoels, and the name of Lochlan was
transferred to Norway and Denmark. 1t has
been argued from this that the Fenians were
not militia Of Gaels, but that they were
distinct Celtic race, connected with the only
two races who were spoken of as having come in
oldest time from LOchlan-namelv, the Tuatha
de Denann and the Cruithne. These are
thought to have been some of the Celts who
preceded the Germanic peoples now occupy
ing the North German shore and Scandina-
via.
REPoET OF COMMISSIONERS OF AGRIcuI.
TURE.-The report of the Commissioner of
the Agricultural Bureau at Washington for the
month OF September urges that the dairy in
terest OF this country, now rapidly increasing
in value, and likely to be influenced by the
cattle-plague of Europe, should meet with
greater encouragement in this country. He
also insists that, in order to keep the plague
from America, every agency in the power Of
the Government should be employed. The
harvests of Europe have been deficient. The
United Kingdom fails short IL, 900, 900 bushels
of wheat, which, added to the $4,000, 900
bushels usually consumed above the annual
production, will make the demand y, GOO. 900
wheat crop of the United States is also less
than in previous years, and is defective in
quality. The immense crops of Indian corn
may, however, cause the shipment of larger
quantity of wheat to Europe, and so meet the
demand. In relation to wool growing, the
Commissioner suggests that the rearing of
long -wooled merinoes should be encouraged
GENERAL Couch ACcEPTs.-The following
letter from General Couch, accepting the Dem
ocratic nomination for Governor, is published:
TAUNTON, Oct. 2, 1865
Dear Major: have the honor to acknowl.
edge the receipt of your note of this date, ten
dering me the congratulations of the United
Service Club upon my being nominated by the
Democratic party for the Office of Governor of
Massachusetts,.
Please say to the Club that shall accept of
this trust offered with such unanimity by nv
fellow Democrats Of the State, and express to
the society my deep emotion upon having
been commended by those with whom share
the honor and glory of having belonged to the
Army of the Potomac.
With many kind wishes for the success and
well being of your noble organization, and
personally my sincere regards to yourself,
| am, truly, your obedient servant,
D. N. CoucH,
Major S. Herbert Lancey,
United Service Club.