The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-14

Hppenr eNtravngunt.
Tho later school Of native annals,s Ia referred
to the period between the tenth and sixteenth
centuries. bat these writer's drew their mate
rails from primitive sources. which sur
vive. in whole or in part. Such arc tho great
national register called the Snltair Of Tara"
complied in tho third century, and Of which
much Of the contents are known to M, the
"Srnchus Nor" vast collection Of Brrhon
laws nude In the nfth century, tho Saltnir OF
Cashel" and similar repositories OF legal or
historical lore. These documents ara allowed
an unusual drgron Of credit owing to the pecu-
liar System of property right which obtained in
Ireland, = cry question turning upon tho dc-
scent ol families and the principle OF clanship.
~ TINT fabk would bo unlikely 10 be- tolerated
as facts II is to DO noted also. that when tho
country Ia brought into relations with othcr
European States by tho introduction of Chris
tianity Wfih conturyl. its annals support the
test OF verincation with n success which not
only establishes their character at that period.
but seems to vindicato their correctness for
preceding dates. Not that their trustworthi-
ness can I've pushed too far back. but from tho
building Of the Palace Of Emania. "A large and
elaborate structure ascribed to II provincial
King NJ Ulster. who was n contemporary OF De-
mosthoncs, we cannot refuse to accept good
many events IA clearly historical.
The relation OF the strong and entcrprising
monarchcs confcdcratrd IN Ireland 10 the Ro-
man outposts in Brittany and Britannica tho
country Of the picts which they repeatedly coll
onizsJ. and to which they finally gave dynas-
~ and their own collective name OF Scotia-to
Iceland and according TO several concurrent le-
ge nds. 20 North Amerca-nll these interesting
matters are dwelt upon in this little volume.
Adequate stress is also laid on the share OF Ire
land in the conversion Of northern Europe to
Christianity. 1t is pointed out that not only the
three or four kingdoms comprehended within
what II now called Scotland. but all the English
Kingdoms south OF the Tweed except Kent
were won To the now faith, not 10y Rome. hut by
monks from ireland or It's ofishoot. Iona. Other
facts even less familiar are recited. How many
people are prepared to hear that the UNIVERSE
ties Of Paris and Pavia were founded by Irish
scholars. not unworthy forerunncrs Of their dis
tinguished countryman, Seotus Of Erigcna. or TO
learn that Irish monks are computed TO have
established not less than twelve monaste-
ries in England thirteen in Scotland
nine in Belgium, nineteen in France.
seventeen in Alsace- Lorraine. sixteen in Ba-
vnra moro than fifteen In Switzerland and
Thuringia. and. surprising rs it may seem. six
in Italy. Among these were such opuient and
renowned foundations rs Glastonbury and
isbon in Germany and ~. Gall In Switzerland.
No wonder that Thierry quotes with a touch Of
something like enthusiasm tho words OF the
venerable Bede in n letter to Charles the Bald
recitlng the blessings heapcd upon the English
by their Irish neighbors and reviewing the
host 81 saints and learned men. natives
Of Ireland. but veneratei in Gau and
central Europe. he declares that no coun-
try has furnished more Christian mis-
sionaries. uninhucnced 10y other motives
than pure zeal. 10 communicate to foreign ma
tons the faith ~ their own land. As To- the ex-
tent TO which the nurseries Of learning attached
to the monasteries within Ireland itself were
frequented by students we find It stated on
good authority that ten Of them had each mors
than thousand pupils. Bangor and Clonnard
each 5000. Annadown 5000. and Armagh 1000.
the latter school subsequently being credited
with 1000 scholars and loo lecturers; and this
let us remember. when half the English king
dom Of Britain were still pagan. and no school
Of learning hal rs yet been founded in Gaul.
This little book is well worth reading IL only
for the light IL throws on the actual condition Of
things in Ireland outside the English Pale
which was often much As n We would say the
state Of New York outside Manhattan island
! during the fve centuries which interviewed be-
tween Strong low AMI Cromwell. II il grave
mistake To- SUPPOSE that during at least
tho first half Of that period the Irish
laws. customs and governments were not
/ upheld through the greater part Of tho
| land. or that the Irish Kings of Nuns
/ tor Ulster or Cnnnaught looked upon the
! Norman intrudcrs at Dublin otherwise than
! they had looked upon their former enemies the
! Danes who had previously held for centuries the
| same coign OF vantage. The point which Mr..
] m "a hsl Is IN ka,a "a