i$66-i9ot.j 59t 



" Annals," " for the glory of God and the honour of Erinn." 

 In this labour he was assisted by Fergus O'Mulchonry, Pere- 

 grine O'Duigenan, and Peregrine O'Clery ; and Conary O'Clery 

 as secretary. Michael O'Clery, an old man, when his work at 

 Donegal was done, wandered sadly back to the peaceful college 

 of Louvain to die, and there in 1643 he was laid to rest. 

 Louvain, also, had its troublous times, and O'Clery's grave 

 became lost in the upheaval and confusion. 



The lecture was excellently illustrated by limelight views 

 of the ruins and the scenery around. 



MR. JOHN VINYCOMB, M.R.I.A.— " SYMBOLIC IDEAS 

 OF THE ANCIENTS CONCERNING TREES AND 

 PLANTS." 



By common consent ot mankind Trees have in all ages been 

 selected as affording most appropriate emblems of the sentiments 

 by which States as well as individuals have been swayed, as well 

 as to indicate the various changes in condition to which from 

 time to time they have been subjected. It is only needful to 

 mention the palm, the olive, the bay, the cypress, and we recall 

 at once the ideas of rejoicing, peace, victory, and mourning. 



" The Willow of the Brook" to dwellers in an arid and 

 thirsty land must have been associated with pleasureable feelings, 

 and to the Israelites settled in a land which was the "joy of all 

 lands " this tree continued to be emblematical (Is. xliv. 4.) of 

 joyful prosperity. During the captivity in a strange land, to 

 that nation at least the willow assumed a directly opposite 

 feeling — and that ot deepest of sorrows. a By the waters of 

 Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept when we remembered 

 Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst 

 thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required 

 of us a song ; and they that wasted us required of us mirth." 

 The Willow never again appears to have been associated with 

 feelings of gladness, even among the heathen nations ; for what 



