The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-06-22

lec Those wishing information on subject should consult
the late Eugene Curys book entitled Manuscript Materials
for Irish History published years ago by JAS Duffy, of
Dublin No other country in Europe perhaps in the world
possesses treasures ancient interesting. These
scripts scattered literally all Europe. There is very
large collection in Trinity College, Dublin and another very
large collection in the Bodan Library at Oxford and in the
British Museum They in vast quantities the Vatican at
Rome other continental libraries WHITTIER
suppose they had been carried old preachers reu
gees and learned The first volume of the Brehon Laws
has only been translated few years 1t is entitled the Seaus
Nor No is The of these titles the Great Book
and the other the knowledge of Nine, for told
that it the joint work of nine persons of whom
St Patrick This perhaps the most curious and interesting
book of the kind brought before modern eyes, Very
many of the English periodicals have noticed it. and have
been amazed the Of civz ,ton shows existing in
Ireland fifteen hundred years ago Not long most inter
esting article appeared in Chambers Journal periodical
by the way notorious for its enmty against everything Celtic
The amchu Nor gives clear insight of domestic life
in Ireland in those ages 1t is in fact book of statutes and
leaves hardly any oensea could possibly commit without
1t deals with the most minute Offences and
the punishment attached every crime
killing of to the unreasonable stripping of piece of
bark pair of brogues One of the curious
it treats of is the law Of dsant Selling the property of
debtor 1t appears that ancient Ireland before could
make dstrant the property owing him money
he should first fast hmthat is go his house
whole day without tasting food drink If the expra-
ton of the due me the debtor still refused pay the
tor could then seize his goods 1t is probable that if this
force now the collection of debts would more
difficult than it is under the Homestead Exemption
The Seanchs Nor is only part of the Brehon Laws IF
they all translated they would make eoeny large
1t will naturally be asked y these books have
not long ago been translated The principal because
the British Government does encourage the translation of
them of course for the old reason namely donation
aze the Irish people, and keep all records of their old civil
zaon in the dark forever AS proof of this have only
English Lord-Lord Ashburon-has in his
library and valuable collection of manuscripts
which he will not allow to be either translated removed
with great difficulty that the late Professor Curry was al
lowed examine ew of them. Mr.. Curry offered to give
bonds for twenty times the intrinsic value of the manuscripts
if permitted examine them, but refused Here the
old story of the dog in the mange with a vengeance 1t
that the British Government did thousands of
pounds deay the expenses of ansang the Brehon Laws
but the voted entirely inadequate, and believe
has been all spent in the publication of the Seacs Nor 1t
may asked how the translation of manuscripts that exist
in living language could be expensive The fact is that
they are strictly speaking in living language, and
written in dialect different from the modern language
person knowing only could hardly line of them
There also difficulties to be encountered in the
of those very old manuscripts formidable than the
oboeteness of the language in which they written
Amongst these may be enumerated the conacons which
crbes adopted for sake of shortening their task and the
urave expressions that frequently in the law
To translate those manuscripts only thorough
knowledge of the classical languages necesary-fo Latin
quotations and phrases abound in hembut also thorough
knowledge of Irish history and topography. People cannot
and will not undertake such tasks unless good inducements
the shape of remuneration for their trouble held
them The work would be almost much accomplish
ed by private enterprise and the misfortune that tenth
of the rich Irish do about rescung the old
and history of their country from oblivion English
uence and English teaching has almost completed its work
with them Their prototypes may be found in Judges Keogh
Fitzgerald and they hardly for yhing except
gorify the English Government and deny their country
The deaths of ODonovan and Curry left blank Irish schol