146 
Treasury, but nothing farther has been done. Many of the 
records may be said to be in not responsible custody ; others 
in unpaid custody, without even an allowance for keeping them 
clean; and have been so for thirty years, and, but for the con 
amore zeal of the keepers, might have been altogether unavail- 
able to the Public. 
‘‘T mention this as a preface to the paper I am about to 
bring under notice, because the Academy may justly be con- 
sidered, and have shown themselves, the anxious protectors 
and guardians of all documents which tend to illustrate the 
history and antiquities of Ireland. 
‘“¢ Long since, I considered the document I am about to 
read would be acceptable; it is but one of many, and I found 
it difficult to decide which I should first bring forward, and 
various causes have conspired to prevent my reading any. I 
may mention one that I purpose laying before the Academy 
on a future occasion; it is 4 Tabular View of the Customs 
received at the various Seaports of Ireland, from about the 
Middle of the Thirteenth to the Fifteenth Century; during 
which period New Ross was the port at which the largest 
public revenue was received. 
‘¢ The archbishopric of Dublin, before the coming of the 
English, possessed lands and immunities which were very 
little, ifat all, affected by the Conquest: the conquerors touched 
not holy Church. The jurisdiction as to the administration of — 
laws within the archbishop’s possessions I do not at present 
take into consideration; the evidence I have been able to col- 
lect not being sufficiently clear to enable me to draw satis- 
factory conclusions. 
‘* Shortly after the Conquest, John, Earl, or Count, of More- 
ton (for the dignity was Norman, and not English) in the 
reign of his father, King Henry the Second, was created and 
invested with the Lordship of Ireland, with all regal rights 
and authority, about the year 1184, after which all public 
documents were issued in his name, and continued so until he 
