The amethysts, the crystals, and calcareous petrifactions for which several counties are celebrated, are noticed in our topographical description of those districts; as are, likewise, some of the principal mineral springs with which Ireland abounds.

CLIMATE.-The climate of Ireland may be described, in general terms, as being greatly variable, but not subject to extremes, either of heat or cold. Such careful and repeated observations as are necessary to convey scientific information, have not been made, in sufficiently numerous parts of this country; and intelligence of a general nature is, therefore, all that can be afforded.

The prevailing mildness of the climate is evinced by the rich verdure retained, throughout the whole of the year, by the best pastures, except in the most northern part of the island. An additional proof is found in the vigorous growth of the arbutus and myrtle, often on exposed and elevated situations. The degree of cold is, indeed, seldom so intense as to produce lasting congelation; and snow rarely falls, except in the mountainous districts. Hurricanes are frequent; but storms, attended with thunder and lightning, are of unusual occurrence. Most of the storms by which Ireland is visited come from some point of the south or west; and it is observable that the winds which most frequently prevail, in all seasons of the year, blow from the westward. The summers are rarely attended with oppressive heat; but very dry summers are still more uncommon. The seasons are later here than in England. Spring is tardy in its approach, and the fall of the leaf seldom commences before November.

The moistness of the Irish climate, as compared with that of Britain, is the characteristic by which it is most strongly marked. In consequence of its situation between England and the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland necessarily arrests in its progress the vast body of vapour collected from that wide expanse of waters; which, attracted and broken by the mountains, descends in copious showers. It would appear, however, that the humidity of the climate, as far as it is connected with the fall of rain, is caused rather by the frequency of the showers, than by the quantity of water which descends. It is stated, in the Statistical Survey of Londonderry,

that the medium quantity of rain which falls in Ireland at large, is from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches; a quantity less than the medium fall of rain in most parts of England. To the powers of aerial evaporation, rather than to the quantity of rain which falls, we must look for the cause of moisture in climate.

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The climate of Ireland, although humid and unstable, is highly conducive to health and longevity, whilst its mildness is favourable to the successful cultivation of the soil. Unable to convey factory intelligence respecting those variations of temperature which will occur, from many obvious causes, even in the same country, we present, on the authority of Mr. Hamilton, the result of an observation made in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. According to the remarks of that gentleman, as inserted in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, "the general temperature, in the vicinity of the capital, is somewhat lower than the 50th degree of Fahrenheit's thermometer, and a mean of the hottest or coldest months of the year rarely varies more than ten degrees from this standard heat; winter, therefore, is usually accompanied by a temperature of 40 degrees; spring and autumn of 50, and summer of 60; and the general heat of any single month of these seasons, seldom varies much from the corresponding temperature of the particular season to which it belongs."

It may be noticed, in this place, as a curious feature in the natural history of the country, that Ireland is free from all venomous creatures. No kind of serpent is found here, nor are there any moles or toads. Frogs are seen in abundance, but it is said that the first were imported from England, about one century back.

It has not been decided by naturalists whether these exemptions are to be attributed to soil or to climate; but it appears to have been satisfactorily proved that viperous animals will not exist in this island. Dr. Beaufort affirms that snakes and vipers have been experimentally imported, but have not propagated.* It will The same author observes that time of Oliver Cromwell. A

* Mem. of a Map of Ireland, p. 13. wolves were extirpated so lately as the

be remembered that Crete and the Isle of France are said to possess the same freedom from venomous creatures, and, indeed, Britain produces but one kind, namely the viper, which is far from being a prolific species.

Several birds common in England are unknown in Ireland. Amongst these, to the regret of the inhabitants, is the nightingale, justly termed " the sweetest of the feathered tribe."

POLITICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISIONS,
GOVERNMENT, &c.

CIVIL, OR POLITICAL, DIVISION OF IRELAND.-It would much exceed our limits to present a lengthened statement of the numerous fluctuations of political division which have occurred in Ireland at different periods, caused either by the alternate strength and weakness of the governing powers, or the progressive advance of national improvement. It may, however, be necessary to observe that the existing civil division of the country has not experienced any alteration since the time of Charles I.

This island is politically divided into four Provinces, named LEINSTER; MUNSTER CONNAUGHT; and ULSTER; which are again separated into thirty-two counties. The counties are subdivided into 252 baronies, and the baronies into 2436 parishes. The Province of Leinster comprises the twelve eastern counties, thus denominated :

writer in the Gentleman's Magazine (vol. lxx. p. 127) mentions the circumstance of a gentleman, in the county of Wexford, experimentally placing some vipers on his estate in that county, which shortly perished. * The nightingale visits England in the beginning of April, and leaves the country in August, but is far from spreading over the whole of the island. It is not found in North Wales, nor in any of the English counties

In the Province of Munster are the following six southern counties:

The Province of Connaught comprises the five western counties, termed :

The Province of Ulster comprehends the nine northern counties, denominated :

ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISION, AND CHURCH ESTABLISHMENT OF IRELAND. In common with most other European countries, Ireland was divided into very numerous bishoprics in the early ages of Christianity. No satisfactory documents have been adduced for ascertaining the number of Irish prelates, in the early centuries; but, in the opinion of a modern writer (Dr. Ledwich), there were" above three hundred."

It has been found impracticable to narrate the progressive steps by which these numerous bishoprics coalesced, and assumed their present forms of ecclesiastical division. According to the papal tax-rolls, the number of Irish sees which paid annates, or first-fruits, to Rome, about the year 1229, was thirty-eight; but, at a later period, the number is stated, in the Roman provincial, to be fifty-seven.

north of that district, except Yorkshire. We believe, likewise, that it does not migrate so far west as Devonshire and Cornwall. It is, also, a stranger to Scotland.

Ireland is, at present, divided, in regard to ecclesiastical circumstances, into four provinces, which are named ARMAGH ; DUBLIN CASHEL; and TUAM. An Archbishop presides over each province. The Archbishop of Armagh is styled Lord Primate and Metropolitan of ALL Ireland; and the Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Primate of Ireland.

The number of diocesses is thirty-two; but, in consequence of various circumstances, injurious to the resources and general prosperity of the country, it was found necessary, at different periods, to unite several of the poorest of the sees; and there are now only twenty-two prelates, twenty sees being united under ten bishops.

The Province of Armagh contains ten diocesses: the archbishopric of Armagh, and the bishoprics of Dromore; Down and Connor, united; Derry; Raphoe; Ardagh (at present united to the archbishopric of Tuam); Clogher; Kilmore; and Meath.

The Province of Dublin contains five diocesses: the archbishopric of Dublin,* and the bishoprics of Kildare; Ferns and Leighlin, united; and Ossory.

The Province of Cashel contains eleven diocesses: the archbishopric of Cashel, united with the bishopric of Emly; and the bishoprics of Waterford and Lismore, united; Cork and Ross, united; Cloyne; Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe, united; Killaloe and Kilfenora, united.

The Province of Tuam contains six diocesses: the archbishopric of Tuam, and the bishoprics of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, united; Elphin; Killalla; and Achonry.

The Bishop of Meath has precedence of all Irish suffragans ; and the Bishop of Kildare is next in rank. The other bishops take place according to the date of their consecration.

The form usual in England of electing bishops by respective deans and chapters, on the issue of the writ termed Conge d'elire, was abolished in Ireland early in the reign of Elizabeth; and the crown has ever since collated to all vacant sees by letters-patent.

* The bishopric of Glendalogh was added to the archbishopric of Dublin in the year 1214.