THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. l6l 



believe our Celtic ancestors were acquainted with any vessels, save 

 such as were formed out of the hollowed trunks of trees, or hide cov- 

 ered corrochs, The Latin poet Claudian knew better, when referring 

 to Niall's successful expedition into Gaul, then a Roman province, 

 he states : " Totam cum Scotus lernem movit et infesto spumavit 

 remige Tethys." 



The chronology of our pre-Christian annals is obviously erron- 

 eous, but this does not affect their general authenticity. In this I 

 most cordially concur, since Protestant and Catholic fellow country- 

 men alike, accepted the writings of Moses, the Jewish priest of Isis, 

 learned in all the Egyptian Mythology. 



Round Towers. — No Celtic remains have been the cause of 

 such angry controversy and difference of opinion among antiqua- 

 rians as the extraordinary structures which I believe are peculiar to 

 Scotland and Ireland :— 



" These grey, old pillar temples, 

 The conquerors of time." 



As regards their origin and use, that remains an unsettled point. 

 Some consider they were pre-Christian sepulchral monuments, Sun, 

 or Baal towers, or dedicated to Pagan purposes. Among the indi- 

 viduals holding these, or closely allied views, may be named General 

 Valiancy, Dr. Lanigan, the Librarian of Stowe, Sir Wm. Betham and 

 others. The advocates of the purely Christian origin were Sir R. C. 

 Hoare, Petrie, O'Donovan. The latter was the dead antiquary refer- 

 red to by poor D'Arcy McGee : — 



" Kings that were dead two thousand years, 

 Cross-bearing chiefs and Pagan seers, 



He knew them all ! 

 And bards whose very harps were dust, 

 And saints whose souls are with the just, 



Came at his call !" 



The celebrated prize essay on the subject by Petrie leaves the mat- 

 ter still undecided. No doubt during the Danish invasion they were 

 used as safe retreats. Human remains have been found inside as 

 well as outside. The sculptured crosses over the door-way noticed 

 in a few instances may have been carved long after the building it- 

 self was raised. That they are frequently contiguous to monastic 

 establishments may be admitted, and the circumstance does not 

 seem of much importance when we reflect that Christian edifices 



