Dilapidations of Ardagh. 207 



I he pleasure I received from an inspection of 

 this valuable introduction of good husbandry 

 made me the more regret I could not escape 

 without a glance at the environs of the episcopal 

 palace and cathedral church-yard. The de- 

 scription of this diocese which a Bishop of 

 Kilmore, in 163O, gives in a letter to the Bishop 

 of London, might, with some little alteration, 

 be too appropriate on the present occasion. 

 " I have been' 1 says he, " about my diocese, 

 and can set down out of my own knowledge 

 and view, what I shall relate and shortly speak : 

 much ill matter in a few words. It is very 

 miserable every way : the cathedral of Ardagh, 

 one of the most ancient in Ireland, and said to 

 have been built by St. Patrick, together with 

 the Bishop's house, are now down to the 

 ground," &c. Could the good old prelate 

 raise his head and take a view of the church- 

 yard, &c. he would perceive that, after the 

 lapse of nearly two centuries, the dilapidations 

 still remain. 



It is impossible to notice such inattention 

 without concern : with whom the fault rests I 

 know not, but it would be well the responsible 

 party should be made ashamed of his neglect, 

 as such an outrage against decency affords a 

 fair pretence to the opponents of the church 

 7 



