318 IRELAND. 



surprising, that seven thousand students studied at Armagh, agree- 

 ably to the accounts of Irish writers, though the seminary of Armagh 

 was" but one of the many colleges erected in Ireland. 



In modern times, the Irish have also distinguished themselves iri 

 the republic of letters. Archbishop Usher does honour to literature 

 itself. Dean Swift, who was a native of Ireland, has perhaps never 

 been equalled in the walks of wit, humour, and satire. The spright- 

 liness of Farquhar's wit is well known to all the lovers of drama. 

 And among the men of distinguished genius whom Ireland has pro- 

 duced, may also be particularly mentioned, sir Richard Steele, bishop 

 Berkeley, Parnel, Sterne, Goldsmith, and the late celebrated Mr. 

 Burke. 



University.. ..Ireland contains but one university, which is deno- 

 minated Trinity-college. It consists of two quadrangles, in the whole 

 of which are thirty-three buildings, of eight rooms each. It has an 

 excellent library, a great part of the books of which were collected 

 by archbishop Usher. 



This seminary was founded and endowed by queen Elizabeth ; but 

 the original foundation consisted only of a provost, three fellows, and 

 three scholars ; which has from time to time been augmented to 

 twenty-two fellows, seventy scholars, and thirty sizevs. However, 

 the whole number of students is at present about four hundred, who 

 are of three classes — fellow-comrnoners, pensioners, and sizers, or 

 servitors. Of the fellows, several are called seniors ; and the annual 

 income of each of these is about seven hundred pounds. There are 

 thirteen professors of various sciences. The provostship is supposed 

 to be worth three thousand pounds a year. Trinity-college has a 

 power of conferring degrees of bachelors, masters, and doctors, in 

 all the arts or faculties. The visitors are, the chancellor, or vice- 

 chancellor, and the archbishop of Dublin. 



Language. ...The language of the Irish is a dialect of the ancient 

 Celtic, and neai'ly the same with that of the Scottish Highlanders op- 

 posite the Irish coast. The usage of the Irish language occasions 

 among the common people, who speak both that and the English, a 

 peculiar tone in speaking, which is general among the vulgar, and 

 prevails even among the better sort, who do not understand Irish. It 

 is probable that, a few ages hence, the latter will be accounted among 

 the dead languages. 



The Lord's prayer in Irish is as follows 2 



Ar nothairne ata ar neamh, naomhthar hairm ; tigeadh do riogachd ;■ 

 deuntar do thoil, ar an ttalamh ?nar ata ar neamh ; tabhair dhuirn a 

 niu ar naran lethamhail ; agus mail hdhuirn ar bhfiaca amail mar maitk- 

 midrne mar bhf tithe amhnuibb ftin ; agus na leig sinn a cathughadhy 

 achd saor smn ole : oir is leaf ftin an rioghachd, agus an cumhachd, 

 agus an ghloir guffioruige. Amen. 



Antiquities.... Among the principal antiquities of Ireland are the 

 round towers, which are tall hollow pillars of stone and lime, of a 

 nearly cylindrical form, but narrowing somewhat upwards, with a 

 conical roof. Fifty-six of these towers, from fifty to a hundred and 

 fifty feet high, and from eight to twelve in diameter, are still standing 

 in different parts of Ireland. Antiquaries do not appear to be agreed 

 with respect to their origin and use ; some supposing that they were 

 built by the Danes and Norwegians, in their piratical incursions, who 

 H^de use of them as spy-towers, light-houses, or beacons ; and others 



