356 Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



show that the Irish were acquainted with the art of constructing an arch, or 

 with the use of lime cement, anterior to the introduction of Christianity into 

 the country; and further, that though we have innumerable remains of build- 

 ings, of ages antecedent to that period, in no one of them has an arch, or lime 

 cement, been found. 



2. That in no one building in Ireland assigned to pagan times, either by 

 historical evidence or popular tradition, have been found either the form or 

 features usual in the Round Towers, or characteristics that would indicate the 

 possession of sufficient architectural skill in their builders to construct such 

 edifices. 



3. That, previously to General Vallancey, a writer remarkable for the 

 daring rashness of his theories, for his looseness in the use of authorities, and 

 for his want of acquaintance with medieval antiquities, no writer had ever 

 attributed to the Round Towers any other than a Christian, or, at least, a 

 medieval origin. 



4. And lastly, that the evidences and arguments tendered in support of this 

 theory by Vallancey and his followers, excepting those of the late Mr. O'Brien 

 and Sir William Betham, which I have not thought deserving of notice, have 

 been proved to be of no weight or importance. 



In addition to these facts, the four which follow will be proved in the de- 

 scriptive notices of the ancient churches and towers which will constitute the 

 Third Part of this Inquiry. 



1. That the towers are never found unconnected with ancient ecclesiastical 

 foundations. 



2. That their architectural styles exhibit no features or peculiarities not 

 equally found in the original churches with which they are locally connected, 

 when such remain. 



3. That on several of them Christian emblems are observable ; and that 

 others display, in their details, a style of architecture universally acknowledged 

 to belong to Christian times. 



4. That they possess, invariably, architectural features not found in any 

 buildings in Ireland ascertained to be of pagan times. 



For the present, however, I must assume these additional facts as proved, 

 and will proceed to establish the conclusions as to their uses originally stated ; 



