The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-06-06
GheGnteIli4enoer.
FROM WHEELING TO IRELAND.
Concluding Remarks about Ireland.
OK BOARD STEAHER PALNrRA,
AT SEL-MAY 2Sth, 1870.

! sent Tue appearance W lluuil1Alu AtiN 'S'
ley, hill and dale. The hills and noun
tains generally rise gently, and seldom
have wild or PERCEPTIONS aspect. Bold,
rugged and even grand scenery may be
found in ireland, but not abmdantly. The
mountains and high hills are destitute OF
trees, but have thick covering Of coarse
grass, heath, fern and other mountainous
vegetation. The fields are usually enclos.
ed by drystOnc walls or bitches. The lat
ter are q kind Of carthGn cmbankments
about four feet high, with an open drHin Of
corresponding dimensions. The bottom
and side OF the ditch are thickly planted
with firIe or hawthorn, most generally
the latter, which spreading thickly It's
prickly branches, forms hedge, impene-
lrable to nlan or beast
The cottages so abundantly seen over
the whole land-all so much alike, SILL
substantial and comfortable in appearance,
ore more the memorials OF former ages,
than the style OF rural architecture belong
ing TO the present day. These cottages
are for the most part built OF stone, rough
casted and whitcwashed, and covered or
matched with straw. They arc about six
or seven feet high, about twenty feet wide,
and as long rs need be, say from forty 70
two hundred and forty feet. One building
of this kind generally contains in one
range, the dwelling house, barn, Stable,
COW houses and cart house Of the Jarm.
They seem TO be everlasting in their nature,
rs MANY of them, which are yet good, are
known 10 be three hundred years old. =
Many cottages all over the country sim.
liar to the pattern Just described, are built
oil mud. These houses are warm and
comfortable. The walls are rs dry, hard,
solid, and nearly Us strong rs It built Of
stone When whitGwashed and tllRtChed,
the difference between them and the more
substantial houses can hardly be observed
The American traveller cannot fail to
observe that in the natural vegetation Of
the soil Of Ireland, and also in the wild
birds of the air, there are very lew speci-
mems lie is accustomed TO meet Win on
the Western Continent. The various
kinds of forest trees, the grasses and field
clover are the same; but the thousand and
one varieties Of the vegetable kingdom
growing here abundantly lie will never
sec west of the Atlantic. So also with
the wild birds. | could enumcrate about
filly varieties, common 10 this country,
not one of which Is found in America
MANY of these birds are beautiful song
sters, such as the lark, blackbird, thrush
anu gOldfnCh.
alluded in former letter TO the great
number Of old ruined cditices seen in all
parts of ireland. Many OF these grey,
crumbling buildings are still beautiful In
their desOlatiOn. We meet with old mon.
astries, abbeys, churches, iorlrcSscs and
uniortifcd castles. These speak the his.
tory of former ages, when the Chieitain OF
clan occupied one OF these castles, when
the surrounding peaSantry were his serlS
or yassals. They called him Lord, gave him
military servitude, and paid him rent for
the lands they filrIned. These old eCClcSi-
astical buildings tell of Monks, Bishops,
and Priests, A6bots and Friars, who held
spiritual sovereignty in the surrounding
diocese. Great was the power they
welded; mighty was the influence they
possessed, and wealthy were they in
gothic buildings, richly furnished, and
boundleSs in wealth of lands, tithcs and
dues. That is sometimes called the age OF
chlyalry and romance Perhaps It was
but like everything earthly il must come
to an emil.
The King Of England claimed TO be
lord of Ireland By virtue Of u gin oil the
whole Island from the Pope. For time
he exercised undisputed sovereignty But
the people rebelled ultimately against his
authority, and during the reign Of several
English Kings, Ireland was the seat Of
sanGuipary wars. The Irish chiCitainS
and the Irish Church resisted the English
rule and the English religion with all
their might; but had To sucCumb TO the
exlerminating wars Of Cromwell and VIII
liam. The estates OF the Irish chicitains
were confsCated, and bestowed upon for
eigners for military and other services.
The monasleries, abbeys and churches
were laid waste, the clergy were deprived
of their possessions and power, and the
Church o. England established on the
ruins of the Church OF Rome. If this
was the manner in which the Church Of
England was planted in Ireland, its tent
pOFal power has now come TO IN end.
Not more than One.tenth Of the pOpula-
ton of this country ever belonged TO the
English Church, yet it was supported, by
force, from the whole people, rs If they
all worshippcd therein. Such wealthy
establishment AZ this Church possessed Is
almost incredible. Its wealth accelerated
its overthrow,
Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and other
dignitaries were pampered with high sala-
ries, and rich bcnGiiCcs, for spiritual ser.
vices among people who renowned their
doctrines, and despised their institutions
Yet this people, already impoverished by
high rents, were compelled by law TO give
Tic fruits Of their labor 10 maintain such
an establishment.
The Presbyterian church in ireland,
though not numbering fourth Of the
population, was also largely endowed from
tho Imperial cSchequer, Theminister Of
every Presbyterian congregation received
annually from the government 900 year.
This was called "Regium Donum." The
IRISH church establishment and the Re.
Cium Donum" have now come TO an end.
The law however provided, that those
ministers, who were In receipt Of salaries,
when the churches were disendOwed,
should have an annual pension ofan equal
amount during their lives. No endow.
mcnt however Is to be given to their sue.
cessors. But the government, at the on.
lion of the incumbent, in lieu ofan annual
pension, will at one payment give the
present value OF suh IN annuity In dis
charge ofall future claims. The Presby.
terian church is now taking advantage OF
his latter provision, Rndby addipgto this
money to be paid by the government q
sum equal or greater In amount, to DO
raised by voluntary contributions, create u
fund, which by judicious investment
will produce q perpetual endowment
equal 10 the former one, to every minister
| and his Successors. ..T"H.