82 Irish Archeology. 



In addition to those in the Dublin Hbraries, the British Museum, 

 and the hands of private collectors, there is scarcely a first-class 

 Continental library that does not possess copies of our ancient 

 manuscripts, carried from this country by Irish monks from the 

 sixth to the tenth century. The Bardic schools were next 

 referred to, and the mode they adopted and other interesting 

 details of their system of teaching. These schools were in 

 existence as late as the seventeenth century. The schools, taught 

 by the monks, as distinguished from those taught by the bards, 

 were next referred to, and the great success that attended these 

 ancient seats of learning. The lecturer gave a translation from 

 the Latin of a poem written about the year 820, by an Irishman 

 who travelled in Italy, and became a bishop near Florence. As 

 it refers to Ireland of that remote time it is worth repeating : — 



*' Far westward lies an isle of ancient fame — 

 The best of countries — Scotia is her name. 

 An isle enriched with an exhaustless store 

 Of gems, of garments, and of golden ore. 

 Her soil prolific teems with native wealth, 

 Her air breathes mildness, and the gales of health. 

 Her verdant land with milk and honey flows, 

 And nature here her choichest gifts bestows. 

 Her cultured fields are crowned with waving corn, 

 And art and arms her envied sons adorn. 

 No savage bear with lawless lury roves, 

 Nor ravenous lion, through her peaceful groves 

 No poisonous reptile wounds, no scaly snake 

 Twines through the grass, nor frog annoys the lake ; 

 An island worthy of the Scottish race ; 

 In war illustrious and unmatched in peace." 



Last week, in Dublin, Dr. Sigerson, of that city, delivered a 

 lecture, entitled " The First Saint of Erin." Most people, 

 if asked who he was, would probably reply, St. Patrick ; but 

 it was not he to whom the learned doctor referred, but a 

 saint very slightly, if at all, known to Irishmen until brought 

 forward now to the light of day. The learned doctor said he 

 was called Sedulius, lived before St. Patrick, when Nial of the 

 nine hostages was king. He travelled to Britain, Gaul, Italy, 



