12 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



time ; for he died in Thayer-street, Manchester-square, London, on the 

 1st of July, 1857.* His only surviving son, the last Earl of Mornington, 

 succeeded him, and died at Paris, on the 25th of July, 1863. He left 

 an only sister, Lady Victoria Long "Wellesley, to whom the remainder 

 of her mother's — Miss Tilney Long's — property, once of great value, 

 descended.f To His Grace the Duke of Wellington, as nearly 

 related, and immediately representing the extinct branch of his 

 family, the writer was induced, on recommendation of Sir Bernard 

 Burke, "Ulster King-at-Arms, to address a letter of inquiry about the 

 " Book of Clonenagh." His Grace promptly replied, by stating he 

 was not in possession of anything belonging to the former Lord Mor- 

 nington ; and he promised to inquire if Lord Cowley had any means for 

 discovering what became of the books in the Pole Library. This pro- 

 mise His Grace courteously and obligingly fulfilled, by communicating 

 in a note, dated from London, February 9th, 1870, that Lord Cowley 

 knew nothing whatever about these books ; but he gave it as his own 

 opinion that, after the father's death, Lord Mornington, who married 

 Miss Long, probably sold his library. It is therefore to be regretted 

 that our search for the missing "Book of Clonenagh" should have 

 hitherto proved so barren in results ; but by placing the preceding 

 facts before the members of the Academy, I venture to express a 

 hope that inquiries may yet be earnestly prosecuted. It would be 

 difficult indeed to suppose that such a remarkably curious MS. 

 could have been wholly lost or destroyed. 



From the foregoing statements the writer is of opinion that it may 

 safely be assumed the " Book of Clonenagh" must have been in Ballyfin 

 library about the beginning of this present century, and it is probable 

 that it had been removed therefrom when the Pole family ceased to be 

 proprietors of the house and estates. The catalogues of various public 

 libraries have been examined for the discovery of the valuable MS. in 

 question, yet in vain ; however, it is still possible, some private collec- 

 tion may include this ancient codex. If, from the clue already afforded, 

 some gentleman, having more time at his command, and better op- 

 portunities for the prosecution of this inquiry than the writer, be 

 enabled to recover the old " Book of Clonenagh," it should become a 

 matter for special gratification and interest to all Irish antiquaries and 

 students of our past history. 



* Further particulars regarding hira may be obtained by consulting the " Gentle- 

 man's Magazine " for August, 1 857. 



t Seethe " Gentleman's Magazine" for September, 1863. 



