The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-20
CUEQ[M[,B'I|IA,,,. 9 l[,|'|IsAi! Sc. s. G.
Thursday. Morning. Ma-ch 20. 1873.


even in the times Of paganism, that if
any public antiquary deviated from the
truth in any State record, or in the pri-
vate genealogy Of q family, he was i'm.
mediately degraded from his Office. The
records which they made, and those also
, made by persons in private stations,
with accompanying observations. were
revised in National Assembly. which
met every three years, by royal summons,
at Tara, composed OF, the nobility. gen
tFys priests, historians and men of learn
Ing and ability in all the arts and profea-
sions. Important concerns of State
were considered in this Congress, and
the records and chronicles OF the island
were there reviewed and purged OF errors
and falsehood. Mr.. Petrie, an irish an
tiquarian. has exhibited, OF The =..koz;-
~ OF old manuscripts, in the transac-
Aonasafllt feRoyal Irish Academy,
tor 0aount of tho celebrated
~ Setood in the twelfth
4 features, its raths or
the foundations of its
e5ll halls: The description
giv0M& 15 manuscripts of the twelfth
century1s said to tally exactly with the
condition OF the site now-with the
number, position and character of it's
-earthen mounds and walls.
In the library of Trinity College,
Dublin. there is preserved the fragment
of an ancient Irish manuscript, which
'containa description Of the banqueting
hall Of Tamar Or Tara. It states that
in the reign of Oormao. the palace OF
Tanar was 900 feet square; the diameter
!of the surrounding rdth, seven diu or
casts Of . dart; it contained 16O apsrt-
>ments; 150 dormitories or sleeping rooms
TOR guards. and sixty men in each ;, the
height was twenty.seven oubits; there
were $50 .oommon drinking horns, twelve
porohes, twelve doors, and 1000 guests
daily, besides princes, orators and men
Of SCIENCE. engRvers of gold and silver,
drivers, modelers and nobles.S The eat
: -3ng-hall had twelve stalls or divisions
In each wing, tables and passages round
them, &c.. &c. The quantities OF meat
and butter that were daily consumed at
Tara surpass all description. There were
twenty-seven Kitchens and nine cisterns
for washing hands and feet-s ceremony
never dispensed with, from the highest
to the lowest"
In the year 430. and the year in
which, according to Irish chronicles, St.
Patrick commenced his missionary la.
bors. Laogaire. son OF Neal. King of
Ireland, held great parliament at Tara.
The manner Of the sitting is upon re-
cord, as follows:
.'The Irish monarch on his royal throne
Oonepicuo ous sat in the middle of the housa.
The Prince Of Leinster in q chair OF State
Was. placed, but with his back to the assem-
His face towards the King; behind the throne
The Prince OF Oonacht sat; towards the
Upon the Kings left hand, the Prince Of
Munster
Grao'd the assembly; and upon the right
Sat, in his splendid robes, the Prince OF
Ulster"
Without considering tho question of
the authenticity OF these old chronicles
and manuscripts, which describe Tara's
grandeur in aucb striking contrast to it's
succeeding desolation, after reading
them, We can better appreciate the
touching lines of Moore, so generally
sung or repeated at the recent celebra-
tions of the Irish societies.
"The harp that once through Tara's halls
The soul OF music shed,
NOW hangs as mute on Tara's walls
AS il that soul were fed.
30 sleeps the pride OF other days,
So glory's thrill is Ger,
And hearts that onoe beat high for praise.
Now feel that pulse no more.
"No more to chiefs and ladies bright
The harp OF Tara swells;
The chord alone that breaks at night,
It's tale Of ruin tells
Thus freedom now so seldom wakes,
Tho only throb she gives,
Is when some heart indignant breaks,
To show that still she lives"
The nepotism Of the President has
shown itself again i'll the nomination of
brother-in.law Casey to be Collector of