gt4 ' DeJIraR'wn ef Corporate Toivn tf BanneiVy and 



z faithful reg'iftet ot the winds of our climate, marking their mpft prevalent direction by 

 the inclination of its boughs, and their violence, by the degree wherein its tender flioots 

 or more mature branches are withered or blafted. 



Half a century has fcarce elapfed fince this ufeful fpecies of tree was generally planted, 

 and grew luxuriantly iii every part of Ireland : yet are there hardly any expofed places in 

 the kingdom where its top branches do not now in one part or another exhibit the withered 

 veftigcs of commencing decay. Through many parts of Ulfter it is a blafted tree ; and in 

 all unftteltered fituations in the three northern counties of Antrim, Derry, and Donegal, 

 the fpecies feems faft verging toward annihilation*. 



Attentive to each progno'lic of the feafons, alive to every circumftance whereon the fu- 

 ture fubfiftence of his numerous family in a populous country may depend, the farmer of 

 the north fees thefe veftiges of the tempeft with folicitude ; and often taught of late to dread 

 the effects of fummer ftorms on his luxariant crops of potatoes, he has become querulous 

 from experience, and thinks he has fome reafon to complain that the feafons are lefs fa- 

 vourable to his hopes than formerly ; that the pine-tree has not forfaken the mountains, nor 

 the afli been blalted in his fields, without the influence of increafing tempefts. 



Of the Sands. 



THE wafle and dreary folitude ef extended barren fands which almoft every fea-coaft ex- 

 hibits, is generally paffed over with rapidity, as ufelefs to the philofopher from the in- 

 calculable fluduation of its furface, and wearifome to the traveller by its difgufting uni- 

 formity. 



Yet, in the mldft of fucb a fterile fcene, where nothing occurs to divert the path or diC- 

 trad the penfive mind of the traveller, if traces of human exi!lence fliould fuddenly become 

 vifible ; if enclofures fhould appear, to mark the cheerful Hre-fide of fome former villager, 

 or the circuit of his little garden } if embattled walls or maxble piers Ihould ftart up amid 

 the fands, fuggefting ideas of ancient elegance and felUvity ; he muft have a Stoic's mind, 

 indeed, who will not venture to calculate caufes, and feel intereiled in events, that come 

 home fo clofely to the human heart. 



On many parts of the coaft of Ireland fcenes fuch as thefe may be difcovered. 



At the entrance of the river Bannow, in the celebrated barony of Forth in the county 

 of Wexford, veftiges of ruins, traced with difliculty amid the heaps of barren fand, ferve 

 to afcertain the fite of a town, whofe ancient refpeiflability was marked by the royal charter, 

 which endowed it with the privilege of fending reprefentatives to the parliament of the 

 nation, and whofe opulence may be inferred from the ftreets which arc regiftered in the re- 

 venue records of the laft century f . 



• In Lancafliire, in England, between Garftang and Prefton, the trees are alfo cut offby the wefterly winds,. 

 See Newte's Tour, year 1791. 



f. " So late as the year 1626, Bannow is regiftered in the cuftom-boufe books of Wexford, as having four 

 ftreets which paid quit-rent to the crown, viz. Lady-ftreet, High-ftreet, Weavers-ftreet, Little-ftreet, and fome 

 build ngs furrounding the church. The only remains of Bannow which ftand vifible at this day (1786) are 

 Ae walls of its church. There is not on or near the town but one poor folitary hut. The ele£lion for the re- 

 prefentatives of the town is held on the walls of an old chimney adjoining to the church, which tumbled dowa 

 ficce-meal, and forms the council-table of that ancient and loyal corporation.'' 



private Utter of a FrienUin iba County of Wexford. 



Amid!' 



