135 



island of Sanda are situated the ruins of a chapel, dedicated to St. 

 nian, together with two crosses of very rude design. In this burjdng- 

 ground, there is a superstitious story, universally believed, respecting an 

 alder tree growing over the reputed grave of the saint, over which 

 should any one walk, even by chance, he is doomed to die before a year 

 expire. Like the former repositaries of the dead, this burying-ground 

 also shows every mark of neglect, being unenclosed ; the grave-stones 

 are broken and defaced, and betoken that want of affection and respect 

 for the dead which is cherished by the rudest nations."^* 



Mr. Howson, an English traveller, in reference to the spot, states 

 that the chapel is called Kilmashenaghan, from a St. Shenaghan, who is 

 said to have been appointed by St. Columba to the charge of Kilcolni- 

 kill.f 



The latest visiter, the accurate and indefatigable Mr. Thomas Muir, 

 sums up the result of his observations in these words : — The island 

 itself is very picturesque, but besides a greatly ruinated chapel, thirty- 

 three feet in length, and two crosses, nearly seven feet in height, con- 

 tains nothing that is very interesting.";]: 



How painfully does the imagination of the Celt contrast with his 

 practice ! The fate of the little cemetery of Sanda is but a type of the 

 prevailing condition of our most venerated sanctuaries. The mind paints 

 horrors, and the tongue relates the calamities, of the desecrator, and yet 

 no effort is made to stay the desolating hand of time, or take common 

 precaution against the injuries of trespass and dilapidation. The patron 

 saint is invested with imaginary dignity, yet his cemetery is exposed to 

 dishonour ; sanctity is supposed to reside in the spot, yet utter neglect 

 is the only practical testimony which is borne to the persuasion ; and 

 while the foot or hand of him who would disturb a sod, or remove a 

 stone, is considered an accursed limb, the beast of the field is allowed to 

 range at pleasure within the hallowed precincts, and make a rubbing- 

 post of a monumental pillar, — the velvet sward its bed by day, and the 

 enclosure of the chapel its shelter by night, the trodden, miry receptacle 

 of its nocturnal filth. 



The Secretary of the Council read the Resolution passed by the 

 Council on the 7th of April, 1862, recommending that certain articles 

 in the Museum, and such others as it may be thought desirable to lend, 

 be forwarded for exhibition in the South Kensington Museum, and 

 moved that it be adopted by the Academj^ 



Whereupon it was moved, as an amendment, by the Itev. "William 

 Beeves, D.J)., and seconded by Dr. E,. E. Madden, — That the considera- 

 tion of the recommendation of the Council be deferred until the Stated 

 MeetiEg in jN'ovember. 



A division having taken place, it appeared that there were 1 6 votes 

 for, and 25 against the amendment. 



* Written Nov. 1843. '*New Stat. Acct.," vol. vii., pt. 2, p. 429. 



t "Transact, of the Cambridge Camden Soc," p. 80. 



+ "Old Church Architecture of Scotland" (Edinb. 1861), p. 125. 



