Richard of Cirencester* has bequeathed to posterity a map and description of Ireland, differing considerably from the table of the Egyptian geographer. Positions widely dissimilar are ascribed to several of the tribes, or nations. It remains to be ascertained whether these variations proceeded from a want of due information in the more recent writer, or whether internal wars had really effected vicissitudes so conspicuous in territorial possession. Many Irish historical manuscripts are now under a course of more attentive examination, amongst able Gaelic scholars, than they have hitherto experienced; and it will be a source of much interest with the antiquarian part of the public, if any of those writings should be found to convey intelligence illustrative of the geographical delineations of Ptolemy and Richard. As the work of the latter author has not been introduced to general notice in Ireland, a brief analysis of the part which relates to this country may not be unacceptable.

Ireland, according to this writer, was " formerly" inhabited by twenty tribes, of whom fourteen lived on the coast. This, in the opinion of Richard, "is the true country of the Scots, who, emigrating from hence (Britain) added a third nation to the Britons and Picts in Albion." He proceeds to observe that he cannot agree with Bede, who affirms that the Scots were foreigners, but" conceives that they derived their origin from Britain, passed over from thence, and obtained a settlement in this Island. It is certain that the Damnii, Voluntii, Brigantes, Cangi, and other nations were descended from the Britons."

In what is termed by Richard " a description of the island

* Richard, usually termed Richard of Cirencester, from the place of his birth, was a monk of St. Peter's, Westminster, and lived in the fourteenth century. His work, entitled De Situ Britanniæ, contains an Itinerary of Britain, which he states to have been collected from antient records, now lost. In his map of Ireland he profits by the later intelligence he possessed, and introduces the "Scotti," which word does not occur in the map of Ptolemy. But it will be observed that he considers the Scoti as a distinct people, having a determinate position amongst the other tribes, or nations, of Ireland, though he is desirous of deriving their origin from Britain.

and the most remarkable places," he asserts that the tribe called Rhobogdii" occupied the coast next to the Deucalidonian sea," or that which washes the northern side of Ireland. The metropolis of this tribe was named Rhobogdium. In the eastern part of their territories was situated the promontory of the same name; in the western the Promontorium Boreum, or northern promontory. "Towards the south, mountains separated them from the Scotti."

On the coast, between the northern and Venicnian promontory, (probably the North Cape, south-east of Tory Island, county of Donegal) and as far as the mouth of the Rhebeus, dwelt the Venicnii," to whom the contiguous islands owe their name." Their capital was Rheba, (supposed to have been seated on the river Barrow). The Nagnatæ dwelt "below the Rhebeus, as far as the Libnius, (the bay of Sligo) and their celebrated capital was called after them. The Auterii lived in a recess of the bay of Ausoba,* towards the south, and their chief city was, also, named after them. The Concangii occupied the lower part of the same region, near the southern confines of which flowed the river Senus, (the Shannon) a noble river, on which was situated their chief city, Macobicum. Hybernia in this part being contracted, terminates in a narrow point. The Velatorii inhabited the country: near the southern promontory by the river Senus; their metropolis was Regia, and their river Durius. The Lucani were situated. where the river Ibernus (the river Kilmare, in the county of Kerry) flows into the ocean."

The southern side of the Island he describes as lying between the Promontorium Austriacum, or Southern Promontory, (probably the present Mizen Head) and the Sacred Promontory, (probably Greenore Point). "Here lived the Ibernii, whose metropolis was Rhufina. Next was the river Dobona, and the people called Vodiæ, whose promontory of the same name lies opposite to the Promontorium Antivæsteum, in England, at about the distance of one hundred and forty-five miles. Not far from thence is the river Dabrona, the boundary of the Brigantes, who have also the

* The Ausoba, or Ausona, is described by Ware as" a river which takes its rise out of Lough-Curb (Lough Corrib), and washes Galway.”

river Briga," (the river Brigus of Ptolemy is now termed the river Barrow)" for their limit, and whose chief city is called Brigantia."

Under the description of the "eastern side," he includes the tract of coast "which reaches from the Sacred Promontory as far as Rhobogdium. The Menapii, inhabiting the Sacred Promontory, had their chief city upon the river Modona, (the river Slaney) called by the same name." The distance between this part and "Menapia in Dimetia" (St. David's in South Wales) he states to be thirty miles. Beyond these people, the Cauci had their metropolis, Dunum, (supposed to be Dunamase, in the Queen's County) and the river Oboca (Avon-more) washed their boundaries." Both these nations were undoubtedly of Teutonic origin; but it is not known at what precise time their ancestors first passed over, though, most probably, a little while before Cæsar's arrival in Britain."

Beyond the tribes last mentioned were the Eblanæ," whose chief city was Mediolanum, upon the river Labius. More to the north was Lebarum,* the city of the Voluntii, whose rivers were Vinderust and Buvinda, (the river Boyne). The Damnii occupied the part of the island lying above these people, and contiguous to the Rhobogdii. Their chief city was Dunum.”

Having thus noticed the tribes who inhabited the coast, our author proceeds to specify the people who occupied the interior. "The Coriondii bordered upon the Cauci and Menapii, above the Brigantes: the Scotti possessed the remaining part of the island, which from them took the name of Scotia. Among many of their cities, the remembrance of two only has reached our times; one Rheba, on the lake and river Rhebius; the other Ibernia, situated at the east side of the river Senus."

the

In the preceding pages we have confined our remarks to such subjects concerning the early population of Ireland, as can scarcely

* Probably the Laberus of Ptolemy, the site of which city is now unknown.

+ The Vinderius of Ptolemy is described by Sir J. Ware as " the bay of Carrickfergus, or the mouth of the river Lagan, which there dischargeth itself into the sea."

be deemed liable to controversy. The antient and existing language; the names of respective tribes, as stated by Ptolemy; the appellations of places; and the character of those emphatical vestiges of antiquity which are spread over the recluse parts of the country; confirm us in the propriety of believing that Ireland was originally peopled by the Celta. From the names of several tribes, and from many other causes connected with the character of remaining antiquities, we are equally justified in concluding that the Belgæ encroached on the first settlers, and obtained a participation in the soil.

There are annals preserved in Ireland which state the settlement of other early colonies. These works are uniformly curious ; and, in regard to later ages than those now under discussion, are often replete with valuable intelligence. Chronicles respecting the infancy of a nation, are invariably mixed with fable. However faithful may be the first tradition, vanity, a luxuriant fancy, or adulation of the powerful, continually induces the alloy of exaggerations and romantic additions; marvellous, heroic, and calculated to stimulate patriotic ardour in the early stages of society. In after-times, when judgment obtains the mastery over imagination, the patriot, as well as the scholar, feels it a duty to the genius of his country to discard the fabulous creation which amused the childhood of the state; and he would rather relinquish two facts, in which the morals and honour of his nation are not concerned, than retain one error.

It must be a grateful task to writers whose limits are not contracted, as are those of the present work, to separate probable fact from the evident blandishments of romance. The nature of our undertaking, and the narrow bounds to which it is confined, render it necessary that we should restrict our notice of these historic materials, as regards the present stage of our work, to a brief description of their literary character, and a statement, equally concise, of the information which they convey.

The early parts of the history of Ireland, as presented by native writers, like the remote history of many other countries, rest chiefly on the genealogical poems of antient bards and sena

chies. This channel of intelligence (independent of other objections) must naturally be regarded with suspicion; as flattery towards a patron might obviously induce a fanciful creation, for the gratification of his vanity; or, in an elective government, for the advancement of his more solid interests. We are told, however, that, in Ireland, some national and very unusual precautions were taken for the preservation of fidelity in historical and genealogical records. The purpose of information on this topic will be best answered by the following abridged extract of the judicious work by Bishop Nicolson, entitled The Irish Historical Library.

"If what Keating and others report of the care taken by the government of the public records be true, it is hardly possible to imagine that any kingdom of the world should outdo Ireland, either in the antiquity, or certainty of her histories. They tell us that Ollamh Fodhla, the twenty-first monarch of the Milesian race (who is said to have reigned about nine hundred years before the birth of Christ) ordained a triennial parliament to be held at the king's pleasure, throughout all succeeding generations, at Temora, or Taragh; in which, amongst other state-matters of the highest concern, a special committee was always appointed for the inspecting of all their monuments of antiquity, genealogies, chronicles, &c. Whatever was approved by them as genuine and authentick, was presently inserted in the book of royal records, called thence the Psalter of Taragh. After the kingdom became Christian, such another Parliament was held at the said palace of Taragh; wherein a like committee of three kings and three bishops (whereof St. Patrick himself was one) was appointed, to review all the antient chronicles: the keeping whereof was afterwards, by the states of the realm, committed to the care and custody of the bishops. These prelates, for its more safe preservation, caused several authentick copies to be fairly engrossed.

"We are further yet assured, that the Irish had ever so fond an esteem for their own genealogies and histories, that (in the most early ages of their civil state) they had above two hundred annalists and historians, whose families were seized (in fee) of considerable hereditaments for the carrying on of this national concern;