one of the parochial churches of the town; and it is somewhat remarkable, that, though it was in the summer season, and the weather uncommonly fine, the vessel that bore it away had scarcely put to sea when a violent storm arose and she sank into the deep waters near the Wexford coast.

37 Page 63.-It is, or rather was the belief of the peasantry in many parts of Ireland, that all the treasure buried in the country is under enchantment. There is scarcely an old church or castle that has not been the scene of many a midnight excavation; and it is the general opinion that the golden treasure is guarded by some spirit or demon, or by the soul of the deceased person who buried it.

38 Page 65.-The first battle fought between the English and Irish was in the county Wexford, not far from the place where the English landed. It has been appropriately called Battlestown.

39 Page 66.-"Wexford is slow-but Wexford is sure." (Words taken from a speech of O'Connell.)

40 Page 69.-The county Wexford, in particular, Dr. M'Nevin supposed to have supplied so many as 40,000 to the Insurrection of 1798; great numbers, after its extinction, volunteered into the British force, preparing to expel the French from Egypt. Numbers also who were sentenced to transportation preferred joining the expedition. The subsequent distinguished bravery of the "Men of Wexford" is briefly adverted to by Hay in his history of the Wexford Insurrection. The insurgents, according to the commentator of "Tone's Life," were also considerably influenced to join the British expedition to Egypt, by a wish to revenge on the French the apparently faithless desertion of Ireland by the Republic. (See the "Green Book.")

41 Page 85.-These lines were written during the time of O'Connell's magnificent monster meetings, when the heart of

reland was stirred in a manner never felt before or since in any age or country.

42 Page 86.-Red Hugh O'DONNELL died at Simancas, in Spain, on the 10th of September, 1602. He was buried, by order of the king with royal honours, as befitting a prince of KinnelConal; and the Chapter of the Cathedral of St. Francis, in the stately city of Valladolid, holds the bones of as noble a chief and as stout a warrior as ever bore the wand of a chieftain, or led a clan to battle. (Mitchel's "Life of Hugh O'Donnell.")

43 Page 86.-SARSFIELD was slain on the 29th of July, 1693, at Landen, while heading his countrymen in the van of victory, King William flying. As he lay on the field, unhelmed and dying, he put his hand to his breast. When he took it away it was full of his best blood. Looking at it sadly, with an eye in which victory shone a moment before, he said, faintly, 66 Oh, that this was for Ireland!" (Davis.)

44 Page 86.-LORD EDWARD FITZGERALD died in one of the cells of Newgate, from the effects of a wound which he received in the neck when gallantly struggling with his captors. (See Moore's "Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.”)

4 Page 89.-"Cormac Ulla" and "Mac Ossian" were the noms de plume of other song-writers of the Wexford Independent.

46 Page 90.-The "Red Coats "-the name given by the peasantry of the county Wexford to the soldiers. I have often heard my poor countrywomen, who were witnesses of the brutal atrocities of the soldiers of '98, declare that they could never look upon a man with a red coat without feelings of horror.

47 Page 94.—The places mentioned were the scenes of the meetings of several Bardic Sessions held, or rather supposed to be held, by the poetical contributors of the Wexford Independent. 48 Page 108.-The young Geraldine, Silken Thomas.

49 Page 109.-These stanzas were written at the time of O'Connell's incarceration in Richmond Prison.

50 Page 117. From the top of Croghan Mountain an extensive view can be had of several parts of the county Wexford; the places mentioned in the text can be distinctly seen from it on a clear day.

51 Page 118.-" CORMAC ULLA," one of the song-writers of the Wexford Independent. James Mac Grady, who adopted the above, was one of the purest patriots and the most guileless beings in existence. Gifted with an extraordinary power of mind and memory, and possessing an exuberant fancy and cultivated intellect, he was apparently unconscious of these rich gifts, and to the knowledge and judgment of the philosopher he added the simplicity and innocence of a little child. Mac Grady was editor of the Wexford Independent for several years, and was the promoter of the Bardic Sessions.

52 Page 119.*-It is the opinion of some that the stone over the " Croppies' Grave," on the Hill of Tara, is the celebrated Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, upon which the Milesian kings of Ireland were crowned for several centuries. Others, however, with a better reason, assert that the real Stone of Destiny is at present under the Coronation Chair in Westminster.

53 Page 127.-This was written when O'Connell was playing with Federalism.

54 Page 131.-The old whitethorn-tree has been, time out of mind, dedicated to the Irish fairy; and, indeed, they could not bestow on it a sweeter offering.

55 Page 144.—“ That rocky glen" is a very romantic spot, near Wexford, called Carrig. It was often the scene of my youthful rambles.

56 Page 194.-In the notes to "Lalla Rookh," Moore says it is supposed by the Eastern poets that the amber found in such quantities on the shores of the Sea of Oman is formed by the tears of birds.

*The several persons alluded to in the text were persons who contributed to the Independent under these names.

57 Page 217.-" Donald of Shielmaliere was the signature used by Martin M'Donald Doyle in his poetical contributions to the Wexford Independent. He was principally instrumental in evoking the native talent of Wexford, and inaugurating the "Songs of the Independent," which rivalled the contemporary Press of Ireland, and got a wide circulation in native and American journals. He was a native of Bannow, county Wexford, and from an early age evinced great poetical ability. That erudite and polished scholar, Thomas Boyse, introduced young Doyle to the poet Moore when he visited Bannow, and under their auspices he published a volume of poems, which were alike worthy of the author and of such distinguished patronage.

58 Page 217.-The Wexford Independent.

59 Page 218.-These were the names of the places where the song-writers of the Wexford Independent were supposed to hold their Bardic Sessions.

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60 Page 219.-"Glenalvon " was the signature used by another of the song-writers of the Wexford Independent. Like Rosaloo," and "Donald of Shielmaliere," he was a native of Wexford. His name was Nicholas Corish, and for three or four years he contributed many beautiful pieces of poetry to the Songs."

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61 Page 255.-Ireland was called, in the time of the Druids, the "Sacred Isle," from being the chief seat of their religion and it was afterwards called the "Island of Saints" in the earlier ages of Christianity, from the great number of saints and sages it produced and sent out to preach the Gospel to distant heathen nations. (See O'Halloran's " 'Ireland.")

62 Page 256.-"Saint Ibar's Isle" is a small island, called Beg-Erin (Little Ireland), to the north of Wexford Harbour. This secluded and neglected spot is celebrated by all the Irish historians. Here ST. IBAR, or IBBERIUS, founded a college and monastery prior to the arrival of St. Patrick, where he taught the arts and sciences, as well as the sublime mysteries

of religion gratuitously to thousands of distinguished natives as well as foreigners, who resorted thither from all parts of Europe. It was the first and most famous seat of Christian literature at that time in the world, and existed prior to Clonmacnoise, Jerpont, Clonard, and the other celebrated Irish colleges, which subsequently rose to such eminence. Scarcely a trace of those ruins remain at the present day. The walls of a very small building, probably a chapel, rise a few feet above the surface; the masonry is very rude and irregular, of what is called cyclopean, which proves its great antiquity. This is all that at present remain of the far-famed schools of St. Ibar. (See Rev. M. J. Brenan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland.")

63 Page 258.-Not only the church property in lands and tenements, but the sacred edifices themselves, were torn from the owners and bestowed on the despoilers.

64 Page 267.-"I've wandered far to Croghan's height.” One of the Wicklow mountains, and the scene of one of the Bardic Sessions of the song-writers of the Wexford Indepen

dent.

65 Page 267.—"They met in that black year of night." The year of famine in Ireland, 1847.

66 Page 268.—"And where are they, the faithful band." The song-writers of the Wexford Independent.

67 Page 269.-"He stood upon his lonely hill,

And leaned upon the Dead Man's Chair." The "Dead Man's Chair" is the highest point on Croghan Mountain-another scene of the Bardic Session.

68 Page 269.-"'Tis he, the last old Senachie!" A bard, historian, and poet of the olden time. Under the Milesian Government these were a privileged class, and ranked in the social scale next after the royal family. They were allowed to wear six colours in their plaids. The royal family and their immediate descendants alone wore seven colours.

69 Page 274." At that bright spot where their young Day