49 



from the commencement of the Christian era to the twefth century ; 

 their advancement or retrogression in science, literature, and the arts ; 

 and the character of their moral and religious opinions, as connected with 

 their civil and ecclesiastical institutions, so far as they could be gleaned 

 from any original writings prior to the commencement of the sixteenth 

 century, exclusive of those in the Irish or other Celtic languages, as 

 such documents might on a future occasion be proposed by the Aca- 

 demy as a subject for investigation. Every statement was required to 

 be supported, not by reference only, but by extracts, in the form of 

 notes or an appendix ; and it was expected that every accessible source 

 of information should be examined, under the above limitation. Besides 

 the sum of money, the Cunningham Gold Medal was to be given for the 

 best essay, and additional premiums awarded to others possessing less 

 positive merit. Mr. D'Alton's essay obtained the highest prize, with 

 the Gold Medal; and to Thomas Carroll, M. D., was awarded £40 for 

 his essay on the same subject. Mr. D'Alton's essay, which was read 

 24th November, 1828, occupies nearly the entire of the first part of 

 vol. xvi. of the " Transactions of the Royal Irish Acadenry." 



In the year 1831, he again entered the lists for the prize offered by 

 this Academy for an " Account of the Eeign of Henry II. in Ireland," 

 and was again victorious. 



Thenceforth he earnestly set to work, collecting all that was written, 

 and within reach of his busy pen, about Druidical stones, the earth 

 works of early colonists, the fortresses of the Anglo-Norman invaders, 

 the stately towers of the Plantagenets, the more habitable and commo- 

 dious dwellings of the Tudors' reigns, the stern and massive stone-built 

 keeps of the Cromwellians. These he noted, and they formed materials 

 for future use. The beautiful ruins of abbeys and other buildings de- 

 voted to religious purposes were carefully inspected, while his freedom 

 of action was unimpeded by an infirmity which confined him very much 

 to his room in after years. 



In 1838 he published his "Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin." 

 The concluding passage of this work is creditable to his memory, and 

 characteristic of his disposition : — " The course of the author's life has 

 been studiously removed from party excitements and unholy bigotries ; 

 and he fondly indulges the hope he may live to see the day when, on 

 their utter extinction, peace, brotherly love, industry, and universal li- 

 berty, may smile upon his native land." 



The same year, 1838, witnessed the publication of the "History of 

 the County of Dublin." 



A few years then elapsed — not idly spent, however; for in 1844 

 Mr. D' Alton published two illustrated volumes: "The History of 

 Drogheda, with its Environs," and an "Introductory Memoir of the 

 Dublin and Drogheda Railway." This introductory memoir gives a 

 sketch of the progress of locomotion, the condition of the roads, vehicles, 

 mails, and travelling in Ireland, from the earliest ages. 



Shortly after the "History of Drogheda," appeared the "Annals 



e. i. a. peoc. — vol. x. n 



