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out. I trust that with a little exertion this great object may be at- 

 tained. 



It is much to be regretted that no standard history of Ireland has 

 yet appeared. There has been such an improvement in the mode of 

 writing history — Kemble, Lappenberg, and Thierry have done so much 

 for Saxon and early Norman times — Hallam, Lingard, Troude, and 

 Turner have shown how much light can be thrown on history by avail- 

 ing ourselves of sources of information hitherto disregarded, and dis- 

 carding traditions which are not supported by trustworthy evidence — 

 that the time is almost ripe for systematizing Irish history. It is true 

 that the bitterness of party (although now much moderated among the 

 educated and respectable classes) offers considerable difficulty in the 

 way of an impartial statement of facts. However, I cannot believe that 

 it would be a hopeless task to compile a fair history of Ireland up to 

 the commencement of the sixteenth century. It is right that all Irish- 

 men should have an opportunity of reading, in an authentic and trust- 

 worthy shape, the real history of their country. They ought to know 

 all that can be determined as to the habits, customs, ideas, and general 

 civilization of their ancestors. Poison enough has been distilled from 

 unauthentic sources : we require the honey which is sure to reward the 

 candid inquirer. Doubtless they would have to wade through a chronicle 

 full of great crimes, and sometimes great virtues ; but I feel confident 

 that every candid man would rise from its perusal with a feeling of self- 

 congratulation that his lot was cast in more peaceful times. In approach- 

 ing the subject of archaeology, to which I must confess I am enthusias- 

 tically attached, it would be out of place if I alluded in more than general 

 terms to those details which can be studied with so much advantage in 

 your " Proceedings" and " Transactions." It is a subject full of pain- 

 ful recollections. We have lost within a few years 0' Donovan, 0' Curry, 

 and Petrie. Their loss is irreparable, but they have left a precious 

 legacy behind them. 



Another painful subject is to hear on every side of the diminution of 

 the respect formerly entertained by the peasantry of the country for an- 

 cient monuments, even for the tombs of their fathers. The difference be- 

 tween the present state of Clonmacnoise and what it was when first de- 

 scribed by Petrie is lamentable. Even on the Continent, where revolu- 

 tionary feelings at one time prevailed to such an extent that bancles noires 

 were organized to demolish the last traces of national edifices, most of the 

 governments have taken the matter up, and stayed the hand of the spoiler. 

 I appeal to those who can exert powerful influence over these classes, to 

 endeavour to arrest the Vandalism which threatens to deprive us of the 

 few remaining memorials of old Ireland. Happily, among the upper 

 classes of all creeds a reverential feeling prevails. In the restoration of 

 St. Patrick's, due to the taste and munificence of our gifted friend, Mr. 

 Guinness, we see an augury of better times ; and I trust that his con- 

 duct will produce a powerful effect on the public, although few if any 

 of us would be able to follow so great an example. To advert to a more 

 cheering part of this subject, it is delightful to find that the exertions 



