48 Mr. PETRIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



sage, first, as it appears in the edition of Marcellinus, published in the Magna 

 Bibliotheca VeterumPatrum, Parisiis, 1G54 (torn. xv. p. 716, col. i. line 53), and 

 again in the more correct edition edited by the celebrated Joseph Scaliger, and 

 published in the Thesaurus Temporum, Amsterlodami, 1 658 (p. 41 , col. i. line 45 ): 



" Ingenti terra; motu per Locaria imminente, plurimse vrbes, Augusta? muri recent! adhuc eedi- 

 ficatione construct!, cum Ivij. turribus corruerunt." Marcel. Chron. in Mag. Bibliotheca Vet. Pat. 



" Ingenti terrse motu per loca varia imminente plurimi urbis Augustse muri recent! adhuc 

 resedificatione constructi, cum LVII. turribus corruerunt." Marcel. Chron. in Thesaur. Temp. 



It may be observed (although scarcely necessary), that the text, as given by 

 Scaliger, is by far the more correct one ; and it may be added, that the true 

 reading of this passage is also quoted, as referring to Constantinople, in Reading's 

 edition of Evagrius's Church History, lib. i. c. 17, note i. p. 272. 



It is true indeed that the text of this passage, as published by Dr. O'Conor 

 from the MS. in the Bodleian Library, more nearly agrees with that published 

 in the Magna Bibliotheca Vet. Pat., 1654 ; but it is a curious fact, that the text 

 of the College MS. copy of the Annals of Ulster, though originally the same as 

 that in the Magna Bibliotheca Vet. Pat., has been corrected in a more modern 

 hand, by interlineation, to the very reading published by Joseph Scaliger in 1658, 

 and this apparently before either edition was published. It runs thus : 



" Ano. Dni. cccc. xl. uiii. 



" Ingenti terrae motu per locaria [corrected by interlineation to loca uaria~\ imminente plurime 

 \_plurimi~] urbis auguste muri recent! adhuc resedificatione constructi cum .l.uii. turribus corruerunt." 



Will it be again asserted that this passage refers to the Round Towers of 

 Ireland ? 



So much, then, for the confident assertions of Mr. D' Alton. I have now to 

 present the reader with the observations in support of this theory of the pagan 

 origin of the Towers, adduced by a writer whose opinions on every matter con- 

 nected with the ancient history and literary antiquities of Ireland are justly 

 considered of great weight, and certainly deserve the most respectful attention ; 

 I need scarcely add, that I speak of the late Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor. He is in- 

 deed, in my opinion, from his literary character, and the respect paid to his autho- 

 rity by subsequent writers even of the highest class, the only formidable supporter 

 of this hypothesis that has hitherto appeared ; and, as his works are in but few 

 hands, and lest it might be thought that I gave his arguments but a partial 



