10 



lings, marks, and ounces of gold. O'Brien's Rental, XIV. — Lady's 

 rent, exclusive of Lord's rent, ounces of unspecified metal, (this metal 

 is supposed to have been silver, for when gold is specified as rent it 

 seldom exceeds an ounce,) paid, and food once a year reserved as 

 rent, Mac Namara's Rental, XV. — Gardens, orchards and roads, 

 XXVI. — XXVIII. — Public Notaries, a gilt cup valued at nine 

 marks, four garrans and an ambling nag valued at five marks, 

 XVII. — Five good hackneys and five marks considered as of equal 

 value, XXIX. — A considerable extent of grouud (the dimensions 

 not expressed) with all its grass, moor, wood and arable land, sold 

 for twelve marks, havmg been previously mortgaged for twelve cows, 

 XXII. — Trivial as these particulars may at first sight appear, yet it 

 must be remembered, that to an accumulation of such facts, made 

 from time to time by men of antiquarian learning and research, and 

 judiciously treated of by their historians, the people of England are 

 mainly indebted for the present perfect state of their National History. 

 It must be obvious to all capable of considering the subject with 

 attention, that much preliminary labour yet remains to be achieved, 

 before a comprehensive Flistory of Ireland can be fully and faith- 

 fully given to the world. When this desirable and much wished for 

 work shall be completed, the Irish. character will beam forth in all 

 its native brilliancy from beneath the dark clouds of prejudice and 

 misrepresentation, which have obscured it for centuries. Such a his- 

 tory will moreover be an awful warning to present and future gene- 

 rations, to avoid these internal dissentions, which at all times, even 

 to the present day, have proved the principal impediment to the 

 happiness and prosperity of the country. — Bede and others, at an 

 early period, described Ireland as supereminently blessed with the 

 choicest gifts of nature, as an Island flowing with milk and honey. 



