TO THE READER. 



««©«©l<^|©OB«l. 



A HE E£ay, which is contained in the following pages, was 

 originally prefented to the Royal Irifh Academy, fome years 

 ago, as a prize Eflay, and honoured by that Body with the 

 propofed reward. It might have appeared earlier in the Tranf- 

 adions of the learned Society, before whom it was read ; but 

 on account of its extraordinary length, fome objed:ions at fir ft 

 arofe to its admiffion -, as it might occupy too great a pro- 

 portion of their volume j the author was unwilling to prefs 

 its publication, while it might operate to the exclufion of 

 any other effay of merit. By the change in the form of the 

 pages of the prefent volume, the printer is enabled to com- 

 prife nearly a double quantity of matter, in the fame num- 

 ber of fheets. By this means fome fpare room has been gained, 



X 2 ^ The 



