336 Observations on the 
though there are perhaps few ancient monu- 
ments, whose origin and use may, we think, 
be ascertained with more correctness than 
these, there are certainly none, respecting 
which more absurd suppositions have been 
resorted to, or more groundless theories con- 
structed. 
Description of the Round Towers. 
In Ledwich’s Antiquities of Ireland, we 
have a list of 65 Round Towers; but, either 
this number is exaggerated, or some have 
been destroyed, or otherwise disappeared 
since his time, for at present there remain 
only 59 or 60. 
There is a striking similarity between all 
the Round Towers in general character. 
They strongly resemble each other in form, 
masonry, and style of architecture; and they 
differ in little but their dimensions. They 
are quite round, taper as they ascend, not 
rapidly, but generally in a proportion easy 
and graceful, and they terminate at the sum- 
mit in a conical stone roof. The greatest 
difference in the Round Towers is in their 
height, which generally varies from 30 feet 
to 100 feet. Three, namely, those of Kil- 
macduagh, Kildare, and Monasterboice, are 
