1 20 Mr. PETUIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



Thus in the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 905, the burning of the 

 Deartheach of Mayo is recorded : 



" A. D. 905. Dertech Maige Eo do loscc." 

 Erroneously translated by Dr. O' Conor : 



" A. D. 905. Nosocomium Maionense combustum." 



But correctly by Colgan, who knew the meaning of the passage far better than 

 Dr. O'Conor : 



" A. D. 905. Domus poenitentium in Mogeo incendio vastata." Ada SS. p. 606. 

 And again : 



" A. D. 1075. Cluain loraird do loscc. con a dertigh" 



Also erroneously translated by O'Conor, as follows : 



" A. D. 1075. Cluanirardia combusta cum suo Nosocomio." 



But correctly by Colgan : 



" A. D. 1 075. Cluain-erardia cum sua Paenitentium aide, combusta." Ib. p. 407. 



A hundred other instances to the same effect might be adduced, but these 

 will, I trust, suffice ; nor should I have deemed the proofs advanced by Dr. 

 Smith deserving of so much notice, if they had not imposed on the acute mind 

 of such an able antiquary as Sir Richard Colt Hoare, who expresses his appro- 

 bation of this theory in the following words : 



" On comparing and considering the various accounts which have been drawn up by so many 

 able and intelligent antiquaries, I am inclined to favour the opinion of Dr. SMITH, which is strongly 

 grounded upon the tradition of an ancient Irish manuscript." Journal of a Tour in Ireland, p. 284. 



3. BELFRIES. 4. KEEPS, or MONASTIC TREASURE-HOUSES. 5. WATCH-TOWEHS 

 AND BEACONS. As these theories are only erroneous in their exclusive ap- 

 plication, and are sound when applied conjointly as will, I trust, be proved in 

 the second part of this Inquiry it is not necessary to take any further notice of 

 them in this place. I shall content myself, therefore, with observing, that if 

 they have hitherto failed of a more general adoption, it has been the result not 

 less of a want of facts to support them, than of the difficulties in argument which 

 their advocates had to encounter, in ascribing to a single and exclusive use a 

 class of buildings, all of which exhibited peculiarities of structure, which were 

 manifestly not necessary to that one purpose. 



