M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 221 
climate. But as it has been well shown, allowance has not been made for the shelter 
afforded by large trees. 
In a long course of time, young trees may gradually extend up the sides of moun- 
tains, protected from the wind by the older and higher trees, until at length they may 
crown the very summits. 
Patterson might have also easily refuted the opinion of Hamilton, by showing from 
Irish history, that in former times mountains were not the places remarkable for the 
growth of timber. 
To establish this point, is a matter of some importance ; if it can be satisfactorily 
proved, it will tend to overthrow the doctrine of Hamilton, with regard to a change 
of climate. 
Jocelin, in his life of St. Patrick, makes the distinction between woods and mountains, 
“ For he abode in the mountains, and in the woods.” 
Swift's Jocelin, Chap. xtt- 
Cambrensis describes the mountains for the pasturing of cattle : 
“ Frugibus arya pecori montes.” 
Spencer informs us of the Irish holding meetings on the mountains. He says, speak- 
ing of the Irish—“ There is one use amongst them, to keep their cattle and to live 
themselves the most part of the year in boolies, pasturing upon the mountain and 
waste wild places, and removing still to fresh land as they have depastured the former.” 
In another place he observes thus—‘“ Yet it is very behoofeful in this country of 
Ireland, where there are great mountains and waste deserts full of grass, that the same 
should be eaten down and nourish many thousands of cattle for the good of the whole 
realm.” 
The distinction between woods and mountains, is of frequent occurrence in accounts 
of Irish warfare. 
In Ware’s Annals, we have an account given of a disaster, which befel the forces of 
Lord Grey in the county of Wicklow, in the reign of Elizabeth—* Marched with a 
good force to attack, and ordered his foot to enter into the woods, whilst he with the 
horse remained on the mountains hard by.”—/Vare’s Annals. 
Here the distinction between woods and mountains, is well marked’; the mountains 
on which cavalry could mancuvre, agree with the account Spencer has‘ given of the 
mountains fittedfor the pasturing of cattle. 
Sir John Davis, in his book to explain the reason why Ireland was never entirely 
subdued until the reign of James I. says that the English settlers erected their castles 
and habitations in the plains and open countries, and forced the Irish into the woods 
and mountains. Again he observes = 
“The over large grants of land and liberties to the English, the plantations made 
