The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-12
Letter from New York.
THE EFFECT OF THE NORMAN INVASION ON
IRELAND AND THE IRISH.

This work which l found in library OF this city, Is
notable not only for its splendid description OF an event OF
such magnitude form turning point English desnles
but for the incidental view which affords of the antecedent
and contemporaneous history of Ireland and the
quences of the conquest that country. The situation OF
the former island taken by the historian it was left
by the Romans These conquerors who held 1t tor tour
hundred years. and until the egons recalled to meet
the tide of barbarc invasion rolling upon Rome did not
their supremacy established harrass the natives or
drive them of the country after the fashion of the subse
quent invaders On the contrary they endeavored to re-
claim them from the savage life of the woods by introducing
among them the refining of the Roman civilization On
this point language of the Roman Tacus be cited
proof all readily considering the celebrated ad
dress he puts into the mouth of the Celtic chief Gagacus
against his counrymen which occurs the expression
that finds its application against the English-hey
would make solitude and call it peace From his life of
Agricola take this passage:
"To wean them the natives) from these habits Agricola
held forth the bats of pleasure encouraging the natives
we'll by public assistance by exhortatlons to build
temples of justice and commodious dwelling houses
He bestowed encomums on such as cheeruy ooeyed he
slow and branded with reproach and thus
spirit of emulation dused ITSELF operating like sense of
duty To establish plan of education and give the sons of
the leading chiefs tincure of letters part OF his
policy"
1t is singular that the Romans should have extended
their conquests the neghboring sand but they
did, although is clear their chief officers discussed that
project often. Again quote from lacltus:
In the fifth summer "a. D. 82) Agrcola made
petition by He embarked in the first Roman vessel that
crossed the estuary he gulf Dumbarton in Scotand
and having penetrated into regions till then unknown he
defeated the inhabitants several engagements and lined the
which lies opposite to Ireland with body OF troops
much from apprehension of danger with view
future projects Hesays that Ireland lying between Britain
and SPAIN and at the time to the ports OF
Gaul might valuable acquisition capable OF giving
early communication and, of course strength and union
to provinces disjoined by nature.
Ireland is less than Britain but exceeds in magnitude all
the islands of the Mediterranean The SOIL the climate the
manners and genius of the inhabitants differ little from those
of Britain Since then there has been good deal of
change By the of merchants resorng thher for
the sake of the harbors and approaches to the
declare that single legion with moderate band of auxi
are would be sufficient complete the conquest of Ireland
Such event. he sad would contribute greatly to bride the
stubborn spirit of the Brtons who in that would see
with smay the Roman armies triumphant and every spark
of liberty extinguished around their coast
On this passage patriotic commentator has the following
remark
Some Of the historians of Ireland seem to be much
offended with Tacitus of the opinion here ad
vanced namely, that legion with body of auxaries,
would be sufficient for the conquest of Ireland and perhaps
they right Courage has been in every age the distinguish
ing quality of that country The Roman general would have
found people fierce and independent than the Gale
domains and it is probable that among the chiefans there
would have been Gaacus to stand forth in the cause
of liberty"
The withdrawal of the Romans left the Brtons exposed
their old enemies the Pcts and Scots and they forwarded
mplorng messages Rome for single legion
sent back them which after routing their enemies furnish
ing them with arms and nstructng them in their use left
finally for Gau and in Britain The forts
and strong walls they constructed in the north for the
ton of the natives altogether insufficient to keep out
the enemy that quarter to stem the successive tides
of conquest which follow and which rushed in from
the German
After this period a. D. 4o4 the Angles the saxons, the
Danes and finally the Normans make their appearance
the scene and it is from this point of departure that NJ
Thierry proceeds his history of the Norman Conquest
The Ango-Saxons drive the Britons and in turn
subjected and tramped under foot by the Normans And
the profound policy of Christian Rome which substituted
the of frreacng diplomacy for the conquerng arms
the egonares moved the actors entire