377 



paratively exalted tenets of sun-worship ; * that high antiquity which 

 at the Council of Constance gave precedence to the ambassadors of 

 England, only as Ireland was annexed to the British diadem ;-t' to 

 analyse the history and habits of a people, from whomDruidismJand its 

 interesting ceremonies are supposed to have emanated ; a people associ- 

 ated with all the learning of the East, and who, while they are shewn 

 to have opposed the Roman eagles in Britain, § were themselves until 

 the era of the Danish invasion, never subjected to those inroads — 

 those military ravages, that proved fatal to other nations ; to exhibit 

 the country that, almost in the short interval prescribed for this Essay, 

 presents itself in so many interesting attitudes ; that received and 

 protected II the refugees of nations whom Roman oppression had ex- 

 patriated ; that excited the jealous admiration of Agricola ;^ that 

 colonized** the land of which the mother country may well be proud, 

 that shook with the terror of its war-f "f* the provinces of Roman 

 Britain ; that sheltered and restored the exiled princes of France, !};J 

 of England, §§ and of Wales ;||ll that kindled with the chivalry of the 

 Crusades, <[[^ and participated with the third Edward in the glories of 

 his continental campaigns ;*** that by its sincere piety and domestic 

 virtues, acquired and well merited the glorious appellative of " the 

 Island of Saints r-f-f-t that not only founded abbeys within itself for 

 the conversion and support of the Saxons, j.|4 but even inspired learn- 

 ing and religion, not merely into the provinces of the British empire, 



* Ante, pp. 80, et seq. 



t See O'Flaherty's Ogygia, p. 1, and the authorities there cited. — See also Hutcheson's 

 Defence, p. 25, and De Burgo's Hibem. Dominic, p. 3. 



J Ante, pp. 85-6. § Ante, p. 42. 1| Ante, pp.47.8. 



If Ante, pp. 50.1. »• ^nie, p. 55. et seq. ft ^nfe, pp. 63, et seq. 



It Ante, p. 175 §§ .4n/e, pp. 206, 302-3. |1|! .4w<e, pp.304,305,&306. 



ff ./?/i<c, pp. 315-6. *** Ante, p. 353. -[^i Ante, pp. 199, and 21^. 

 ill Ante, p. 221. 



VOL. XVI. 3 c 



