438 ADDENDA. 



The Rev. C. O'Connor, a zealons Roman Catholic, alludes with 

 sufficient contempt to them, when speaking of the massacre in 1641, 

 he boldly attributes it to '" the Druidical and well-worshipping ex- 

 communications and miracles, by which the people were hood- 

 winked." See his Historical Address, published in 1812, p. 244. 



In the account of Aghaboe, in Queen's county, and diocese of 

 Ossory, p. 42. by the Rev. Edward Ledwick, LL.D. we have the 

 following account of another well : 



" St. Canteens Well was in my orchard in Aghaboe ; there the 

 pedlars laid down their packs and said their prayers. 



" About a quarter of a mile distant from the town was a groupe 

 of thorn bushes, called after St. Canice ; there, likewise, the poor 

 people performed their devotions. 



" These were heathen practices, derived from the earliest ages. 

 At the citadel of Athens stood an olive-tree planted by Neptune 

 and Minerva, and held very sacred. The fathers and councils re- 

 probated such gross superstition ; but it was difficult to eradicate 

 it, as among the uninformed it is to be found at present." 



We trust that we need not apologize for the introduction of any 

 matter that relates to Public Charities. We wish our information 

 on that part of local history had been more extensive, as it cannot 

 fail of being interesting to many. There is no charity, which, in 

 our opinion, more deserves the attention and support of the affluent 

 and pious than that established at Stafford in 1771, " for the 

 relief of widows and orphans of poor clergymen, &c." and we here 

 subjoin a copy of part of a printed statement sent to the subscribers 

 in 1816, in respect of the chief rules and orders thereof, and the 

 forms of the certificates required by the governors. Such in- 

 formation we hope will be peculiarly acceptable to such of the 

 clergy as are not subscribers ; and by adding greater publicity to 

 the charity, will induce some, to whom God has given abundance, 

 to promote and increase the benefits thereof by adding their own 

 contributions, and exerting their influence on its behalf. No more 

 solemn injunction is given in the Bible than the following : " Take 

 heed to thyself, that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou 

 livest upon the earth." (Dent. xii. 19.) 



RULES AND ORDERS. 



1. The widows of clergymen so continuing, and their children 

 unprovided for, or not in a way of providing for themselves, are 

 the persons to be relieved by this Society, or such clergymen, as 





