When the idea of this work was first suggested, it was contemplated to print only the speeches of Mr. CURRAN upon more mature consideration, the Editor saw it necessary to go further, and to publish the trials in which the speeches occurred-But, as the examination, at length, of a great number of witnesses would have swelled the volume to an immoderate size and price, and would have been uninteresting at this distance from the scene of action, it has been thought adviseable to abridge them. Each trial forms a separate history and catastrophe of itself; care has been taken to retain every essential point circumstance bearing on the charge or accusation; and from the insertion of every necessary document, it will be seen, that an im partial statement of each case has been given, from which, every man, of whatever party or country, will be able to judge of its merits or demerits. The Abridgements, and other Law articles, were digefted and methodized by a profeffional Gentleman. DISTRICT of MARYLAND. TO WIT. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-sixth Day of July, in the twenty-ninth Year of the Independence of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, George Douglas of the said District hath deposited in this Office the Title of a Book, the Right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the Words following, to wit: "FORENSIC ELOQUENCE SKETCHES of TRIALS in IRE. "LAND for High Treason, &c. including the SPEECHES ❝ of Mr. CURRAN at length, &c." -In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States entituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors or Proprietors of such Copies during the Times therein mentioned." Philip Moore, Clerk. IRELAND is an island in the Atlantic ocean, situated between the 5th and 10th degrees of West longitude, and the 51st and 56th North latitude-in length it is about 300 miles, with a medial breadth of 150 miles, giving an area of nearly 27,500 miles. The name IRELAND is said to be derived from the word Eir, in the Celtic language signifying West; whence the names Ierna, Iverna, Hibernia, and Ireland. In poetical descriptions, it is sometimes called the Green, or Emerald Isle. Much difference of opinion has arisen concerning the peopling of this island. The Irish writers strenuously assert, that the first inhabitants came from Spain, under a leader of the name of Golam Milea Espaine, i. e. Golam the Hero of Spain; hence the native Irish are called Milesians-But the British writers contend, that Ireland was first peopled either from Wales or Scotland. The latter idea seems to be the most probable, as the language of the Scotch Highlanders and the native Irish are radically and essentially the same. In Some of the Irish writers carry their ideas of antiquity very far back indeed; fome to the Flood, and others to the Creation-But this is not fingular-The Chinese date their origin fome thousands of years be fore the Creation. (B) In such a sketch as this, it would be improper to enter into all the fabulous accounts of the Irish Bards and Poets, the only historians of those dark and barbarous ages. One thing, however, is certain, that the Romans never got the length of Ireland; and that when the Empire was tumbled into ruins by the Gothic hordes, Ireland enjoyed a long peace; it became the refuge of the learned and virtuous, who fled from other countries to enjoy tranquility in that beautifully sequestered island. We shall therefore pass over all the fabulous narrations, the contentions of the different septs or clans, and the wars of the provincial kings, and come at once to what appears to be founded in truth.* The order of Priesthood had hitherto been in the hands of the Bards and Druids, and, like other Priests, they exercised an unbounded sway over the minds and actions of a rude and ignorant people-'till about the middle of the fifth century, when Christianity was introduced into Ireland by Patricius, by birth, it is said, a Scotchman.+ For The obfcurity of the early part of Irish hiftory is not uncommonAll early hiftories are enveloped in fable and darknefs- Hume fays, that it is not till the time of Henry VII that the hiftory of England can be relied upon with certainty. + Those who are fond of reading the Lives of the Saints, will find (if we believe Mr. Gibbon) that Saint Patrick was a cleverer man than Saint George the patron of England—the latter only killed a dragon, whilst the former not only cleared the island of all fnakes and poifonous reptiles, but he converted the wild Irish to the true Catholic faith!-As the following account of this celebrated perfonage is the freest from legendary fiction, we lay it before our readers : Saint Patrick was born 5th April 373, of a good family at Kirk Patrick near Dumbarton; his baptifmal name, Succath, fignifies "valiant in war." On an invasion of the Irish, he was taken prifoner, and carried to Ireland, where he continued fix years in the fervice of Milcho. During this time, he learnt the Irish language; at length he made his efcape, and returned home. About two years after, in confequence of a dream, he conceived the defign of converting the Irish. To qualify himself for this task, he travelled to the continent, where he continued thirty years ftudying under the direction of his maternal uncle, St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, who ordained him a Prieft. Pope Celeftine confecrated him a Bishop, and gave him the name Patricius, expreffive of his honourable defcent, and to give luftre and weight to the commiflion with which he was charged to convert the Irish.-Palladius had been in Ireland on the fame defign, and fo had Kieran, Albe, and Declar, but with little fuccefs. The great office of Apoftle of Ireland was referved for Patrick, who landed at Wicklow A.D. 441. His first convert was Sinell, eighth in defcent from Cormack King of Leinfter; but not meeting with fufficient encouragement, he proceeded to Dublin, and from thence to Ulfter, where he founded a church (afterwards the Abbey of Saul, in the county of Down). After labouring seven years in his great work, he returned to Britain, which he freed from the here |