T. & J. COLDWELL,]

No. 1.

THE

TO THE EDITORS OF THE IRISH PENNY MAGAZINE.

SIRS-I have often and deeply regretted that Irish literature should be so long consigned to utter oblivion. Every capability of the sister island has been developed; every epoch of its history has its annalist; every townland its historian; every ruin its individual antiquary; yet, even in this age of intellectual advancement, although Ireland offers an abundance of interesting subjects, authentic evidences, and accessible materials, no high road has been opened to her history, and all knowledge of those revolutions which, as a popular Review (Edinburgh, vol. xlvi. p. 433,) remarks, " hold out lessons far more precious, far more forcible, and far more immediately applicable than all that is elsewhere recorded in the annals of mankind," is yet only snatched in paths and bye-ways, a fatality the more singular, as there is no other point of literature, regarding the British Empire, so novel, so natural, so needed.-Even our only Irish University has been founded in a spirit that excluded native literature. The anathema still continues. It has its professorships of every language, but that which is most essentially necessary for communicating with the people.

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VOL. I.

It has its courses of every science, except those which might be materially useful; it has its lectures on all history but that of the country with which its members are to be legally and constitutionally connected. But I trust the day is not far distant when our venerated "Alma Mater" shall be redeemed from this reproach, and the inestimable treasures of her library and manuscript room from oblivion and decay.

In the series of "Topographical Notices" which I have set apart from my compilations for your Magazine, I have selected all that I thought could be generally useful, or interesting in reference to the subjects chosen,-as to the local situations and advantages, their natural or artificial curiosities, the eminent persons who have been born or resided within them, &c. In the instances of bishoprics, their incomes, patronage, records, &c. shall be set forth; in those of parishes, the nature of the benefice shall be shewn, whether rectory, vicarage, or curacy,in what diocese, in whose gift, what sum, if any, it contributes to the first fruits, the acreable extent of the parish, its population, superficial appearance, and general description; its liability to, or exemption from tithes, the architecture and state of the churches, chapels, abbeys, &c., within its scope,