A Catalogue of Maps, Charts, and Plans, relating to Ireland, pre- 
served amongst the Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, 
Dublin, with Preliminary Observations. By James Hardiman, 
Esq. M. R. I. A. 
Read, April 12, 1824. 
ALTHOUGH Ireland was known to the Greeks and Romans 
long before the commencement of the Christian era, yet it does not 
appear, that, until after that time, either of these powerful nations 
possessed any map or chart of this island. From the testimony of 
Pliny, it may perhaps be inferred, that such a document was con- 
tained among the topographical collections made during the reign 
of Augustus; but the oldest map of this country, now extant, is 
that of Ptolemy, with the contents of which every scholar is ac- 
quainted. The next, in point of antiquity, is a Roman map of the 
5th century. This map, which is not so generally known, was disco- 
vered by Richard of Cirencester, who states that he travelled into 
Italy, and there transcribed an ancient itinerary, in which it was 
included, “ ex fragmentis quibusdam a Duce quodam Romano con- 
signatis, et posteritati relictis.” From Richard’s time it lay neglected 
in a Copenhagen manuscript, until found by Mr. Bertram ; who, hav- 
ing ascertained that the transcript was 400 years old, published it, in 
octavo, Hafnie, 1758. * The Rev. Charles O’Conor of Stowe, 
K 2 
* This rare volume is in the Library of Trinity College. Mr. Bertram, in his preface, des- 
cribes the map as most ancient; and says, “raritate et antiquitate reliquum Ricardi commentarii 
longe superat.”— Prefat. 
