"AN ample difcourfe upon the original of the Irish, and the antiquity of that people, whom in truth I think to be more ancient than moft I know in this end of the world, fo as it were in the handling of fome man of found judgement and plentiful reading, would be moft pleasant and profitable." SPENCER. THERE is at this day, no monument or real argument that, when the Irish were firft invaded, they had any stone housing at all, any money, any foreign trade, nor any learning but the legend of the faints, pfalter, miffals, rituals, &c. viz. nor geometry, aftronomy, anatomy, architecture, enginery, painting, carving, nor any kind of manufacture, nor the leaft use of navigation, or the art military. SIR WILLIAM PETTY. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Page 1. PLAN of the Work, recommended by Dr. Johnson. SECT. I. Page 6. Twilight between literary darkness and illuminationthe antiquarian period.-Antiquity, what!—no claffic ground in Ireland-more honourable to it to be deemed a new than an old nation.-Caftlebuilding.-O'Halloran.-Vallancey.-Palace of 300 feet fquare, conftructed on three towers.-Intellectual prifm recommended to Irish Antiquaries. SECT. II. Page 23. Antient History of Ireland-fables of bards and lcgends of monks-little known of Ireland by 7. Cafar, or even Agricola.-Hume! Voltaire! Leland! -cenfure of Toland-defence of Keating-inanity of O'Flaherty.-Words appreciated.-Annals of Ul. fter "AN ample discourse upon the original of the Irish, a antiquity of that people, whom in truth I think to be more than moft I know in this end of the world, fo as it were handling of fome man of found judgement and plentiful r、 would be moft pleafant and profitable." SPENCI THERE is at this day, no monument or real argume when the Irish were first invaded, they had any ftone at all, any money, any foreign trade, nor any learning but the of the faints, pfalter, miffals, rituals, &c. viz. nor geometry nomy, anatomy, architecture, enginery, painting, carving, kind of manufacture, nor the leaft ufe of navigation, or military. SIR WILLIAM PE': |