SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

Hieroav, The Annals of Ireland, translated from the original Irish of the Four Masters. By Owen Connellan, F,sq., Irish Historiographer to their late Majesties George IV. and Wil- liam IV., Author of a Grammar of the Irish Language, &c. With Annotations by

Philip Mac Dermott, Esq., M.D., and the Translator Geraghty, Dublin. VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, 011100 ; a Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas ; being a Sequel to the "Residence In the Marquesas Islands." By Herman Melville, Author of' Typee."....argovay, THEOLOGY, A Treatise on the Physical Cause of the Death of Christ, and its Relation to the Prin- ciples and Practice of Christianity. By William Stroud, M.D. DIDACTIC FICTION, Hamilton and Adonis. Home Influence ; a Tale for Mothers and Daughters. By Grace Aguilar. In two volumes Groombriclye.

ANNALS OF IRELAND, TRANSLATED FROM THE FOUR MASTERS.

"THE Four Masters" were three of the O'Clerys and Peregrine O'Dnige- nan. The O'Clerys were a learned family, and hereditary historians to the O'Donnels Princes of Tyrconnel; O'Duigenan was an antiquary of Kilronan in the county of Roscommon. They flourished in the first half of the seventeenth century : their work called The Annals was begun in 1632, and finished in 1636; but the principal compiler, brother Michael O'Clery, had been for many years collecting the manuscripts on which it was founded. According to Mr. Geraghty's Introduction, Hugh Ward, an eminent member of the Irish Franciscan convent at Louvain, was the original stimulator and encourager of Michael O'Clery : but Fergall O'Gara, to whom the manuscript is dedicated, was, according to the dedication by O'Clery himself, at the cost of the compilation. The Annals commence at the earliest period of Irish history, and close with the year 1616. A Latin translation of them, as far as the year of the English conquest 1172, was made by the celebrated Dr. O'Connor, librarian at Stowe, and published in his Rerum Hibernicarunt Scrip- tares Veteres ; the remainder now appears for the first time, and in an English dress, from the pen of Mr. Connellan, Irish historiographer to George and William the Fourth. Appended to the translation are a variety of notes by the translator and Dr. Mac Dermott. As far as quantity is concerned, they exceed the original text, and surpass it in variety of subjects and archeological lore. The ancient geography of Ireland is a main topic of the notes : they con- tain, in fact, the ancient Irish topographies, and exhibit the ecclesiastical divisions of old Ireland as well as the civil. Topography, however, is by no means the sole matter of the notes : they embrace a great variety of subjects, especially relating to Milesian history, bardism, and the clans of Ireland ; and are done with great learning and earnestness, but per- haps savour too much of the Milesian antiquary,—a manner which must accompany such matter. The publication of this volume is creditable in a national point of view; for it places in the hands of the student and antiquary a work otherwise inaccessible, and forms an important contribution of raw ma- terial towards the history of Ireland. Its popular value is not great. The work is strictly annals. Content with events, the authors had no disposition for inquiring into causes, deducing truths, or pointing a moral,—unless in the case of a miracle or a "judgment" that overtook sacrilege. To them one event or fact is as good as another ; and though the greater actions are mostly told at greater length, it seems rather to arise from the number of the incidents than from any sense of superior importance in the writer's mind. Till the accession of Henry the Eighth, the annals are rather bald and jejune ; afterwards they get faller; but the minds of the writers remain. The greater plenty of materials, and the proximity of the events to the writers' age, give more particularity to their story, but the narrative itself is just the same. The Four Masters, how- ever, were men of plain speech—there is little Irish rhetoric in their work. They also seem. to have been men of great industry and ac- curacy, and honest according to their lights. The want of such popular attraction in The Annals as is possessed by some of our own chroniclers, may be partly owing to the bald character of many of the facts, and to the authors' having compiled from records rather than gathering their information from living sources. The main cause, however, is to be attributed to the subject matter. There is no more history in Ireland till the reign of Elizabeth, or perhaps till the entire reduction of the island under Strafford, than there was among the ancient Britons, or during the worst period of the Heptarchy, or in the Highlands of Scotland throughout the middle ages. There is no central interest either of person, people, or purpose; all is distraction. What- ever might be the case in some Milesian golden age, which criticism or chronology can never reach, and which, like the Islands of the Bleat, or "the circle bounding earth and skies," ever recedes before the pursuer, all recorded facts exhibit " Ierne" in a state of violence and disorder, sur- passing that in which the Romans found the Gauls, the Britons, or the Germans, or which more modern explorers have discovered among any other people. A less numerous and more scattered population, fewer im- ported arts, less nominal federalism, and less real chieftainship or clanhead forming a sort of rex without rule, might readily be pointed out: but we know not any nation, or collection of tribes, which, having readied A cer- tain stage of improvement, surrounded by nations continually,aclvanciug, and with so many natural advantages, made so little use of them as the Irish. Greater material and social barbarism may he readily discovered among some of the African, Australian, and American tribes; mat men- tal barbarism it would be difficult to find, such savayeism impossible. In this point of view, The Annals of the Four Masters is curious and convincing. Such a picture of incessant violence, robbery, raids, and fauds,—not forgetting murders, open, treacherous, and in the family way,— we never met with before in records ; though it is possible that such a state of things may have existed for a short time in various other coun- tries, during the total disruption of social order which followed the down- fall of the Roman empire. Any attempt to put this state of things upon English mit-mile, would be a vain delusion ; it was evidently the chronic state of the country before the English came. Bands of piratical Danes had invaded Ireland and settled there long before the arrival of the Eng- lish; and but for the distance from Denmark, might have conquered the country at an earlier period, for it is clear the native powers could not ex- pel them. Take as a sample of society the following picture of violence, which we have extracted from 1172, the first year of the Annals. Strongbow had indeed arrived ; but the deeds are purely Irish affairs, and could not in any way have been caused by the English. They were evidently the custom of the country, and would have been discon- tinued in any country that had a spark of nationality or patriotism, till the invaders had been expelled.

IRISH NATIVE DOINGS IN 1172.

The Cloicteach [Round Tower] of Tealseherd, which was crowded with people, was burned by Tianian O'P.ourke. Donal O'Fogarty, lord of South Ely, [in Tipperary,] was killed by Donal, son of Donagh, lord of Ossory: he had committed slaughter in the two Ely; where 320 persons fell. A piratical fleet from Uladh [Down] entered Tyrone, and carried away a great number of cattle.

Niall, son of Mac Loghlin, marched with the Kinel Owen into Uladhcto plun- der it. Many were slam by them; and they carried away an immense prey of cattle. Niall afterwards took hostages from Oriel. Manus Mac Dunslevy O'Heoghy, with a party of Ultenians, preyed Cul-an- tuaiscirt: he plundered Coil Rathain (or Coleraine) and other churches. A small body of the Kinel Owen, commanded by Conor O'Cathain' (or Oliane,) overtook them, and a battle ensued; in which the 1J1tonians were defeated, with the loss of twenty-one chiefs and sons of chiefs, and a large portion of their army. Manna himself was wounded in the engagement, and fled from the field. He was afterwards slain by his brother Dunslevy, aided by Giolla Aongus, son of Gillespy, a prior of monks, at Down, afterhaving committed many depredations.

Tiernan O'Rourke, with the men of Brefne, plundered the people of Stith's; slew great numbers of them, and carried away an immense booty in cattle. Another predatory excursion was made by Tiernan O'Rourke into Deisceart Breagh ; on which occasion he slew Giollu Enam Mac Luehadha, chief of Cuircne, and Mac Gilleseacbnaill, chief of Deisce,art Breagh. O'Lambduibh was slain on that occasion by the men of Meath. Donal Breaghagh, (0'Melaghlin,) lord of East Meath, gave hostages to Tiansan O'Rourke.

The people of Hy Maine plundered Ormond on seven different expeditions from Palm Sunday to Low Sunday. A party of Siol Murray went on a predatory excursion into Thomond; they plundered Sirtaghan O'Lidiudba, (Liddy,) and slew himself in a battle.

Siol Anmchadha and Midair Cionaeth plundered Ely, and took away a large pre_y in cattle.

The people of West Connaught and a party of Siol Murray plundered the West of Carcomroe, and carried away an immense prey in cattle.

MURDER AND MAKING PEACE: 1177.

Niall O'Gairmleadhaigh, (Gormley,) lord of Fermaighe Ith and of Kinel Ends, was slain by Donogh O'Cairellain and the Clan Dermod, in the precincts of Derry Columkille. The house in which Niall was at this time was set on fire, and he was slain at the door while endeavouring to make his escape. After this Donagh O'Carellain made peace with God, Columkille, and the people of Derry, on his own account and on behalf of his descendants; and he made an offering to St. Columkille and the people of Derry, for his sons, grandsons, and descendants, for ever. He likewise bestowed upon them a Bally Biatach, in the parish of Domh- nachmore; and he gave them the Mac Riabhach,* the most valuable goblet in Ireland at that time, which was an equivalent for sixty caws. He built a house for the clergyman in lieu of that which was burned over 0Gormley, and paid him the loss sustained by the fire.

MORE NATIVE DOINGS: 1179.

A peace was concluded by Donogh O'Caireallain and the Clan Dermot with the Kinel Moen and 0Gormley. Awlave Mac Meanman was brother of Donogh's wife. This treaty was ratified in the church of Ardstraw; where the oaths were administered by the clergy of that church as well as of Dorohnach-Mor and of Urney. O'Gormley (Awlave) came on the following day, demanding more sure- ties, to the house of Donogh O'Cairellain; but they killed him in the middle of their people, before the mansion-door, in the presence of his sister, Donogh's wife; they also slew three of his party, namely, Cionaedh, son of Art O'llracain, (or Bracken,) and the son of Gfficrist, son of Comae Mac Reodain, the foster-brother of Donogh O'Cairellain.

LOYALTY AND FIDELITY: 1196.

Iforebeartach, son of Murcheartach O'Loughlin, lord of Kinel Owen, and heir prestunptive to the throne of Ireland, the tower of bravery, and feats of arms of ,th Guinn, the demolisher of the cities and castles of the English, and a founder of churches and delightful sanctuaries, was slain by Donogh, son of Blos- gaidh O'Kane, at the instigation of the Kinel Owen, after they had sworn by the -thrft shrines, and the canon of St. Patrick, to be faithful to him. His remains were conveyed to Derry Coltunkille, and interred there with honours and solemnity. irritaDDLous PORTENT.- • AR awful and strange shower-fell in Connaughtceittending over Hy Maine, &- dein, Hy Diarmada, and other parts, folkaved by terrible diseases and distempers among the cattle that grazed on the isl:where this shower MP; and their milk produced, in the persons who drank it, extraordinary internal diseases. It was manifest that these were evil omens, foreboding misfortunes to the people of Con- naught; as they sustained irreparable loss and calamity in the same year by the death of Cathal Crovdearg, the son of Torlogh More 0 Conor, and King of Con- naught. A little light sometimes breaks through the gloom. We meet with persons whose character and virtues are highly spoken of; though the praise is often so general as to seem vague. Now and then an act of conduct or heroism stands out in striking contrast to the mass of miserable squabbles and crimes; but they are individual and exceptional. Here is an heroic trait of an O'Donnel.

" O'Donnell (Geoffrey) was confined by his ml wounds at; Lough Beat- hach for the space of a year after the battle gltvirain [fought e,itairist the English in 1258]. When O'Neill (Bryan) re vet intelligence of this, he col- lected his forces for the purpose of marching itito-Tirconnell;`and s,ent messengers to O'Donnell dentandingSuretas, hostages, and-sainni,..‘sion froth thedirconnellians, as they haul no lord capable to govern thera +after Geoffrey. The- messengers having delivered their cornmeal to 0Donne1,t,eturned back with all possible speed. O'Donnell summoned the Cornellians ,4pan all, quarters to wait on him; and having assembled at their lord's call, be eiderid them, as he was not able to lead them, to prepare for him the coffin in wllich his remains should finally be con- veyed, to place him therein, and to carry Mails the very midst of his people; he told them to fight bravely as he wassmongst them, and not to submit to the power of their enemies. They then proceeded in battle array at the command of their lord to most O'Neill's force, until both armies confronted each other at the river Mac Riabhach signifies the Grey or Speckled Boy; a fanciful name given to this curious goblet. called Saileach (Swilly). They attacked each other without regard to friend Or relative, until at length the Tyronians were defeated and driven back, leaving be- hind them many of their men, horses, and much property. On the return of the Cornellian force from their victory, the coffin in which O'Donnell was borne was laid down on the place where the battle was fought; where his spirit departed, from the mortification of the wounds he had received in the battle of Credrain."

It requires but a cursory survey of history to see that civilization has been extended by colonization alone; and that in ancient times, as in MO" dent also, colonization meant conquest, possession, and the • absorption of the weaker race. Why this should be we cannot tell, any more than we can tell why the animal races prey and ever have preyed upon each other : we only know that so it is. Etruria, Magna Grecia, Asia Minor, and at varying periods Spain, Gaul, Britain—nay, according to the glimmer- ing of myths and tradition, Greece herself—were all indebted to an nu- migration, which gave a superior race to the respective countries, or engrafted it upon the native stock. It would seem, too, that the subse- quent character of the people depended upon the thoroughness with which this absorption took place, and that a predominance of the indi- genous race was fatal to high character. The wars and immigrations of the Romans, Saxons, and Danes, crowned by the Norman conquest, must have thoroughly overpowered the original Britons, and have crossed the " breed " to a remarkable extent. In Gaul this "crossing" was probably less, the indigenous races remaining more untouched; and so the modern Frenchman is more excitable, less prudent, and, as far as labour or enterprise are concerned, less enduring than the Anglo-Saxon race. Of all the European nations, Ireland (from her position) underwent the least of this stern but it would seem indispen- sable formation ; and from the slight resistance she offered to very slender forces—a comparison with Cmsar and his legions would be simply ridi- culous—it would seem that by nature or circumstances the Milesian Celt was an indifferent specimen of the brood. The easy success of the Eng- lish adventurers was unfortunate ; for it left the work half done; and though the island. was never thoroughly quieted till the iron hand of Cromwell smote it, yet the outbreaks (for the best of them could hardly be Called wars) were not sufficient to induce England to put forth her strength, and, in the words of Wellington, Ireland-was only "half con- quered." But Nature will have her way; her laws cannot be slighted with impunity: had circumstances permitted Henry the Second, or Crom- well, to remain in Ireland and settle her as William the Conqueror settled England, so as have amalgamated the natives with the conquerors, she would have escaped long centuries of misrule and suffering, and the dire infliction by which Nature is now fearfully vindicating her mysterious laws.