332 



Such, for instance, is the account of the compilation and promulgation 

 of laws by Cormac Mac Art, in the middle of the third century ; and the 

 compilation, two hundred years later, of the " Seanchus Mor," in the 

 time and at the instance of St. Patrick. The hints which he has given 

 in this paper will afford valuable help towards the settlement of some 

 of the most perplexing questions connected with our early Irish history 

 Though we may feel sure that the catalogue of 142 kings who are re- 

 corded as having reigned at Tara prior to its desertion in the year 565 

 is largely mythical, we should be rash in totally rejecting all the state- 

 ments for which we have no better authority than bardic legends. Peteie 

 has pointed out the probability of some of these, and adduced confirma- 

 tions of them, derived from independent and trustworthy sources. One 

 of the most curious parts of the " Essay on Tara" is that in which he 

 discusses the perplexing difficulties which beset the history of St. Pa- 

 trick — I might rather say, of the Saints Patrick, for there were certainly 

 two of the name — and proposes to identify the second St. Patrick with 

 Palladius. The recent investigation of this subject by Dr. Todd has 

 brought its difficulties into a clearer light ; but the solution of them seems 

 still almost beyond our reach. The second portion of the essay furnishes 

 a striking instance of the use to be made of antiquarian research in esta- 

 blishing the authenticity of documents. The " Dinn Seanchus," a 

 well-known topographical work of great antiquity, contains tracts and 

 poems relating to Tara, some of which describe with considerable mi- 

 nuteness the buildings which formerly stood there. "With the buildings 

 so described Peteie was able with complete certainty to identify the 

 crumbling remains which are still apparent. Such a confirmation of the 

 accuracy of the accounts disposes us to attach more credence than we 

 should otherwise have given to statements respecting the uses to which 

 the various structures were applied, and all the details respecting the 

 mode of life of their ancient occupants. The truth of these very ancient 

 testimonies being corroborated in certain points, the probability of their 

 being in the main trustworthy is increased in a high degree. 



The circumstance which must be considered the most important in 

 Peteie's life as giving definiteness to his labours and completely deve- 

 loping his powers, was his connexion, in the year 1833, with the 

 Ordnance Survey of Ireland. The occasion for his services in this de- 

 partment arose in the following manner : — In the construction of the 

 maps, it was a matter of primary necessity to determine the orthography 

 of the names of places ; but it also proved to be a matter of extreme 

 difficulty. Various modes of spelling them were found to be sanctioned 

 by common usage. Reference, therefore, had to be made to documents 

 of all kinds ; and an inquiry, involving comparison between the existing 

 and the ancient states of the country, had to be instituted ; in fact, 

 questions relating to the spelling of the name of a townland or a parish 

 frequently gave rise to elaborate researches, which were not disposed 

 of till it had been ascertained that the name was indicative of some 

 early sept, some ecclesiastical establishment, or ancient chief. Thus 

 the co-operation of the historian, the antiquary, and the philologist, was 



