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practices, and was allowed to remain by the first preachers of christianity, in pursuance of the caution then judged necessary by those who promulgated novel doctrines of religion amongst an uncultivated people. A similar toleration appears to have prevailed in Britain, But, in the same spirit of gentleness towards existing prejudices, which induced the priests of the early centuries not to demolish the upright stones, used by the pagans as symbols of divine power, but to carve on them the figure of the cross, these venerated wells (add our antiquaries) were dedicated by the early christian teachers to chosen saints. In some recluse districts of England, and in several parts of Wales, various springs are thought, at the present time, to possess a mysterious sanctity, and are not without visiters; but great numbers resort to the holywells of Ireland, to perform penance, and seek the cure of different diseases. In many instances these favoured springs possess a strong mineral quality. The common offerings of the devotees are pieces of rag, which are seen in great abundance, suspended on bushes that overhang the well, or grow in its vicinity.* Many acts of pilgrimage, and other customs peculiar to catholic countries, but which are unconnected with antiquarian discussion, will be mentioned in future pages, descriptive of the places which form the principal stations of resort.

In Brand's "Observations on Popular Antiquities" are collected the following proofs that the custom of leaving pieces of cloth, or rather of rag, by persons seeking extraordinary means of recovering health, is not peculiar to European countries: "After ten days' journey we arrived at a desolate caravanserai, where we found nothing but water. I observed a tree, with a number of rags tied to the branches: these were so many charms, which passengers, coming from Ghilan, a province remarkable for agues, had left there, in a fond expectation of leaving their disease also on the same spot." (Hanway's Travels into Persia, vol. i, p. 177.) Park, in his Travels in the Interior of Africa, has the ensuing passage: "The company advanced as far as a large tree, called by the natives Neema Taba. It had a very singular appearance, being covered with innumerable rags, or scraps of cloth, which persons travelling across the wilderness had at different times tied to its branches: a custom so generally followed, that no one passes it without hanging up something." Park's Travels, &c. 4to.

Patron-days, or festivals in commemoration of the days on which parish churches were dedicated to their respective saints, are still held in most parts of Ireland. On this subject we are induced to profit by the remarks of a contributor to the Parochial Survey, now in successful progress. "It appears that while the Catholic religion was the natioual one of Ireland, the clergy and laity of each parish annually assembled at their respective churches on those solemn occasions, not only to implore the future tutelage of their patron-saint, but also to offer prayers and distribute alms. for their departed friends; from whose venerated tombs they cleared the rank weeds, and decorated them with the gayest flowers of the season, renewing, at the same time, the mournful funeral dirge, in which was recounted every worthy action of the deceased and his relatives, as on the day of interment: hence it was necessary to erect temporary lodgings, or booths, in the neighbourhood of the churches, and procure provisions for the poor, which were distributed to them in charity by the pious of every denomination; as also to find refreshment for the strangers, whose devotion frequently brought them from very remote places on those occasions."*

The same writer proceeds to observe that this institution retained its original character until the date of the reformation, when the "ceremonies of the catholic religion were prohibited by penal statutes." Since that period the patron-days of Ireland, like those of England, which are well known to be still held in

* The reader may be reminded that the practice of holding dedicationfeasts has been ascribed to a very remote origin. "At the Conversion of the Saxons, by Austin, the monk, the heathen paganalia were continued among the converts, with some regulations, by an order of Pope Gregory the Great, to Mellitus the Abbot, who accompanied Austin in his mission to this Island. His words are to this effect: on the day of dedication, or the Birth Day of holy Martyrs, whose relicks are there placed, let the people make to themselves booths of the boughs of trees, round about those very churches which had been the temples of Idols, and in a religious way to observe a feast : that beasts may no longer be slaughtered by way of sacrifice to the devil, but for their own eating, and the glory of God." Brand's Pop. Antiqs. vol. i. p. 423-4.

numerous parishes, under the names of Wakes and Revels, chiefly present scenes of boisterous amusement, to the entire neglect of the original intention. In many instances, however, religious ceremonials are still blended with the pursuits of ordinary recreation; as an example of which may be noticed the patron held at Clonmacnois, on which day several thousands of persons assemble, from different parts of Ireland, for the performance of penance. Tents, or booths, on this occasion are erected round the churchyard, for the accommodation of the people.

The Month's Mind, a religious custom once general amongst the affluent of Britain, is still practised in many of the antient and opulent catholic families of Ireland. It is obvious that by this term is meant a month's remembrance; and the ceremony commences four weeks after the interment of the person commemorated. The celebration is attended by numerous clergymen, who devote the forenoon of a day, or a certain number of days, to masses, and prayers for the souls of the deceased. The afternoons are occupied by hospitable entertainments.

POPULATION.

No proceedings for numbering the people of Ireland were entered upon by any branch of the legislature before the year 1731, but several estimates have been made by individuals, at different periods preceding and subsequent to that date. These estimates by private persons all rest on the same basis; namely, "the number of houses, as ascertained by the hearth-money returns, and the probable average of souls to a house. The former of these was universally allowed, even by those who, for want of better materials, were compelled to have recourse to them, to be extremely doubtful, and tending, as far as relied on, to give a population much less than the truth: the latter was subject to no standard but the opinion of the calculator, supported occasionally by a very limited induction." We insert a table affording a synoptical view of these various estimates, in which the number of souls is calculated at six to a house, except in the estimate of Sir

William Petty, who calculates at the rate of five to a house. In the same table is also stated a return of population made to the House of Lords, in 1731.

POPULATION OF IRELAND.

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Although the tract of Sir William Petty ("Political Anatomy of Ireland") which contains the estimate presented in the above table, is well known to be "a posthumous work, evidently unfinished, and avowedly published in the imperfect state in which it had been found at the author's death," we consider the following hypothetical passage to be too curious for omission. This author observes that if in 1641, (previous to the rage of the civil war) the Irish were in number about 1,200,000, which he believes to be the fact, then they were but 600,000 in number, two hundred years previous to that time, and not above 300,000 at the date of the invasion in the twelfth century; "for 300,000 people will, by the ordinary course of generation, become 1,200,000 in 500 years; allowance being made for the extraordinary effects of epidemical diseases, famines and wars."

The return made of the number of inhabitants in each county in the year 1731, was effected in obedience to an order of the House of Lords. It appears, from the journals of the House, "that this inquiry had been carried on simultaneously through two channels, the magistracy and the established clergy; and that the latter was preferred, as being of greater accuracy." But

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considerable doubts are, with justice, entertained as to the correctness of this return.

In the year 1812, an act of the Imperial Parliament, "for taking an account of the population of Ireland, and of the increase or diminution thereof," received the royal assent, and was proceeded upon in the years 1813 and 1814. We regret to observe that, owing to various causes," the provisions of this act, guarded as they were with precautions apparently calculated to ensure success, did not produce the practical effect that might have been expected. Some counties treated the act as a dead letter, and made no return whatever; in others the returns were confused, inaccurate or defective. In fine, it was found impossible to prepare from them, a digest fit to be laid before Parliament in the session of 1814 and though in many instances the returns were repeatedly sent back for correction, and letters specially issued from the chief secretary to the grand juries and others concerned in conducting it, urging its accomplishment in the strongest terms, it was ascertained, at the close of the year 1814, that out of forty counties at large, and counties of cities and towns, into which Ireland is divided, but ten had attained the standard of perfection contemplated by the devisers of the measure; six were wholly defaulting, and the remaining twenty-four defective or inaccurate, with respect to some of the points insisted upon in the schedule."

An act for ascertaining the population of this country was introduced by the Right Honourable Robert Peel, in the year 1815, and received the sanction of the legislature; but was not carried into effect. In the year 1821, returns of the population of Ireland were obtained, on an improved plan, under the authority of Parliament. By favour of W. Shaw Mason, Esq. who was greatly instrumental in facilitating the promptitude and accuracy of those returns, we are enabled to present the following tables, which afford A COMPENDIOUS VIEW Of the diffERENT REPORTS, CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF HOUSES AND INHABITANTS IN THE

SEVERAL COUNTIES OF IRELAND, IN THE YEARS 1813 AND 1821.

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