most of the colonies belonging to France, Spain, and Holland, (who were necessitated to join their enemies) and destroyed their navies.

In 1798, an insurrection broke forth in Ireland, but tranquillity was soon restored; and in 1800, the Union with England took place.

All the Princes on the continent being at length subdued by Bonaparte, a peace was established between Great Britain and France, in March 1802, at Amiens.

IRELAND.

Some Remarkable Eveuts,

IN THE

CHRONOLOGY OF IRELAND;

AND A

TABLE OF THEIR KINGS,

BEGINNING FIFTEEN HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE CHRIST.

It was

Ireland, had originally several names. called by the Romans Hibernia; by some Insulam Sacram, or the Holy Land; by others Inisfail, the Island of Destiny; and after the propagation of Christianity, it obtained the name of Insulam Sanctorum, or the Island of Saints; from the number of pious men which it produced in the 5th, 6th, and 7th centuries, who boldly went forth to promulgate the Christian religion in other parts of the world.

It is generally allowed that the ancient Irish had an early acquaintance with letters; and many remains of antiquity found here by the curious, the like of which have been discovered in no other part of the world but Palestine, seems to favor a conjecture, that thence they had their origin.

A people called the Gaodhelians, from their leader, are supposed, through necessity, to have quitted their native country, and went into Crete, thence to Scythia, next to Gothland, afterwards to Spain, whence they emigrated to Ireland, conducted by their leader, MILESIUS, (from him the name of the Milesians) great grandson of Bratha, the tenth in descent from Heber, A. M. 2737. Many of the Irish, to this day, are greatly pleased to be styled Milesians.

The sons of Milesius were HEBER, HEREMON, and IR, between whom the Kingdom was divided; but this partition was soon broken down by the death of Ir, for the year after his decease, Heremon murdered his elder brother Heber, and became sole monarch of Ireland. It is recorded that this King sent a colony into South Britain, who were afterwards called Brigantes, from the name of their chief, Breogan.

TIGHERMAS, the seventh from Heremon, ordered the Irish to distinguish themselves by their dress, from the higher to the lower order. This monarch erected altars, and worshipped idols; for which impiety, it is said, that he and many of his subjects were struck dead while in the act of adoration, A. M. 2816, or 1188 before Christ. If this then is to be relied on, it is not a matter of great doubt, but the ancient Irish might have worshipped the same God as the Israelites.

OLLAM FODHLA, the twentieth in succession, was learned, wise, and courageous; he founded the grand assembly at Tara, and enacted many salutary laws for governing the state; he also wrote a history of the voyages, travels, and wars of his ancestors; and after a happy reign of thirty years, died in peace.

SCADNA II. of the line of Heber, and 36th in succession, ordained laws for governing the army, and settled a certain pay for its maintenance.

EDHNA II.-In this King's reign money was first coined in Ireland, A. M. 3357; before Christ, 6-17 years.

TUATHAL I. caused all the inhabitants to bring their children, when of age, to Taltain, in Ulster, to treat about their marriages; and for every such union, he demanded an ounce of silver.

CORMAC.-A pious Prince, and 106th in succession, is said to have suffered martyrdom for christianity, A. D. 253, and 180 years, before the coming of St. Patrick.

NIAL I. and 117th in succession, invaded Britain, and Amorica, in Gaul, whence he returned with prodigious plunder, and 200 children of the first rank, among whom was ST. PATRICK, (16 years of age) and his two sisters.

DATHY, the next in succession, also invaded the Britons, and after harrassing them some time,carried his arms into Gaul, where he committed great havock, and shed much blood, but was at length killed by lightning, at the foot of the Alps.

St. Patrick, (said to have been nephew to St. Martin, bishop of Tours) on receiving a commission from Pope Celestine I. finished the conversion of the Irish; for, on the preaching of some of their countrymen who were returned from Rome, where they embraced christianity, that noble work had already a beginning; but it is observed that St. Patrick in a very short time, consecrated 360 bishops, and 3000 presbyters, fixing the metropolitan see at Armagh, of which he was the first bishop.

LUGHAIDH VII. who was cotemporary with

St. Patrick, was killed by lightning, and being a great opposer of that holy man's sacred doctrines, it is believed that his untimely death was inflicted as a punishment from heaven for his impiety.

MORTOUGH I.-In the 13th year of this King's reign, the Scottish monarchy was founded by Fergus the Great, A. D. 503. He sent to his brother Mortough, for the renowned stone, on which the Kings of Ireland used to be crowned, that he also might receive the crown upon it. This stone

remained in Scotland 'till Edward I. King of England caused it to be removed to Westminster, where it still remains, inclosed within the seat of a wooden chair; and on which the Kings of England has ever since received the crown.

HUGH II.-This King convened an assembly of the Princes, Nobles, and Clergy, at Dromceat, when the banishment of the poets was enacted, but by the advice of St. Collum, they were only restrained, not suppressed. In this reign, the Britons invited the Saxons to assist them against the Picts and Scots, who cancelled the obligation by seizing themselves the entire of South Britain.

HUGH IV. In the reign of this King, Austin, at the head of 40 monks preached in England, A. D 597; and Ethelbert was the first Saxon King who embraced christianity.

CONGALL II.-This Prince was a great persecutor of the clergy, secular and regular; he treated them in a most shocking manner, and burned the clergy of Kildare, without mercy.

HUGH VI.-In this King's reign, the Danes first invaded Ireland, plundering the inhabitants, and burning their country; but were repulsed with great loss, and obliged to leave the island. In six years' after they returned, and were often defeated, but