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semblance to its namesake at Cambridge. Our 

 next object was the University. This establish- 

 ment was projected nearly three hundred years 

 before it was founded, during the mayoralty of 

 Thomas Smith, in the year 1593. Its revenues, 

 which are most ample, arise from munificent 

 grants in the reign of Elizabeth, James, and 

 Charles the First. The library is a splendid ap- 

 pendage, and is said to contain upwards of 

 seventy thousand volumes; among which are 

 many scarce and valuable books. The Dean, 

 with some reluctance, was prevailed on to afford 

 us the pleasure of inspecting it ; he had taken 

 great displeasure at some published accounts in 

 England, and was disposed to resent the offence 

 by excluding English visitors. A peace offer- 

 ing, however, was politely accepted, by my 

 assuring him that since I had been in Ireland, 

 my admiration might faithfully be esteemed as 

 not inferior to his own, or the most enthusiastic 

 lover of his country ; and that should I ever be 

 tempted to describe to the public the gra- 

 tifications I had received, no discredit, by any 

 possibility, could attach to Ireland from my ob- 

 servations. This assurance produced us polite 

 attention, and we were shown whatever was 

 considered as rare, and the most curious. 



The manuscript New Testament, containing 



VOL. II. I 



