The Irish Race in the Past and the Present

eltic

act sets out in bolder relief their actual peculiarities. Hence we consider it to our purpose to examine the Celtic race first, as we may know it from ancient records: What it was; what it did; what were its distinctive features; what its

d of man the idea of infinity, as effectually as the wonderful aspect of a seemingly boundless universe. This variety is visible, first in the heavenly bodies, as they are called; s

illiant shells floating in the ocean; visible also in the incredible number of trees, shrubs, herbs, down to the most minute vegetable organisms, s

udy perfectly alike. The mineralogist notices it, if he finds in the same group of crystals two altogether similar; the botanist would express his astonishment if, on comparing two specimens of the same plant, he found no difference between them. The same may be sa

-recurring variety should appear, in the features of the face, in the shape of the limbs, in the moving of the muscles, as well

peculiarities of their own, which are generally called characteristics of race; and although, according to various systems, these characteristics are made to expand or contract at will,

y be stated in the fo

a type imprinted on its progenitor, and passing from him t

ished, cannot be eradicated without an

unintelligible. If, however, writers are found who apply to their notion of race all the inflexibility of physical laws, and who represent history as a rigid system of facts chained together by a kind of fatality; if a school has spr

e corrupt instincts of our fallen nature with respect to individuals. The teachings of faith have clearly decided this

ut the fact of rewards and punishments awarded them shows that their life is not a series of necessary sequences such as prevail in physics,

it a peculiarity of its own, without, however, interfering in the least with the moral freedom of the individual; and as in him there is free-will, so also in the family itself to which

ly say that it appears He did not wish all mankind to be ever subject to the same rule, the same government and institutions. His Church alone was to bear the c

osterity of Japhet is so differ

used into it by so many men of other stocks. Although the race was at one time on the verge of extinction by Cromwell, it has finally absorbed all the others; it has conquered; and, whoever has to deal with true Irishmen, feels at once that he deals with a primitive people, whose ancestors dwelt on the island thousands of years ago. Some slight differences may be observed in the people of the various provinces of the island; there maybe various dialects in their language, different appearance in their looks, some slight divergence in their disposition o

efly what we know of the Celtic race in ancient times, and examine wh

ibes; we do not know what those were two or three thousand years ago. We must confine ourselves to moral p

r of expansion which did not necessitate for its workings an uninhabited and wild territory, but which could show its

ly in the form of clans, called by Julius Caesar, "Civitates." The Greeks called them Celts, "Keltai." They do not appear to have adopted a common name for themselves, as the idea of what we call nationality would never seem to have occurred to them. Yet the name of Gaels in the British Isle

the first days of the Republic that an army of Gauls took possession of Rome, and the names of Manlius and Camillus are no better

ll be remarked in many Albanians. Thessaly could not resist the impetuosity of the invaders; the Thermopylae were occupied by Gallic battalions, and that celebrated defile, where three hundred Spartans once detained the whole army of Xerxes, could offer no obstacle to Celtic bravery. Hellas, sacred Hellas, c

and there founded the state of Galatia, or Gallo-Greece, which so long bore their name, and for several centuries influenced the affairs of Asia and of the whole Orient, where they established a social state congenial to their tastes an

emselves. The majority pronounced for another chieftain, named Bogitar, and succeeded in forming a party in Rome in his favor. Clodius, in an assembl

hey became, as it were, the Swiss mercenaries of the whole Orient. Egypt, Syria, Pontus, called them to their defence. "Such," says Justinus, "was the terror excited by their name, and the constant succes

king to wild and desert countries, but to large centres of population in the English colonies, we shall be able to convince ourselves that they still present the same characteristic. If they do not bea

iently dwelt upon. All their migrations in old times were across continents; and if, o

ortion of their lives on the sea, supporting themselves by fishing; yet they never thought of constructing and arming large fleets; they never fought at sea in vessels of their own, with the single

c lore in Brittany, has proved that the Veneti of Western Gaul were not really Celts, but rather a colony of Carthaginians,

ans, proves it for that very early age, and mentions the strange fact that the name of Ireland with them was the "Holy Isle." For several centuries, the Carthaginians, in particular, used the harbors of Spain, of Gaul, even of Erin and Britain, as their own. The Celtic inhabitants of those countries allowed them to settle peaceably among them, to trade with them, to use their cities as emporiums, to call them, in fact, Ca

tiberia, for instance, or from their Italian colony of the Veneti, replaced in modern times by maritime Venice? Yet so it was; and the great classic scholar, Heeren, in his learned researches on the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, remarks it with surprise. The chief reason which he assigns for the success of those southern navigators from Carthage in

l craft. Thus the Celts of Erin frequently crossed over to Scotland, to the Hebrides, from rock to rock, and in Christian times they went as far as the Faroe group, even as far as Iceland, which some of them appear to have attempted to colonize long before the Norwe

ged extensively in trade, or what is often synonymous, piracy. Before becoming christianized, the Celts of Ireland crossed over the narrow channel which divided them from Britain, and frequently carried home slaves; they also passed occasionally to Armorica, and their annals speak of warlike

n pagan times, when the largest portion of Western Europe was theirs; they continued to do so after they became Christians. The

that of the sons of Ua Corra; and such facts consequently strengthen our view. The only fact which seems contradictory is supposed to have occurred during the Danish war

is fact is found only in the work of Keating, and the best critics accept it merely as an historical romance, which Keating thought proper to insert in his history. Still, even supposing the truth of the story, all that we

lways bore a religious character, never one of trade or barter, with the exception of the tale of Br

o Scotland and the Hebrides by Columbkill and his brother monks, who evangelized those numerous groups of small islands. Crossing in their sk

narmed men dressed in humble monastic garb trod those wave-beaten shores. At early morning they left the cove of their convent; they spread their

the other, and the word of benison was carried through the air, forward and back, and the heaven above was propitious, and the wave below was obedient, while the hearts of the two brothers were softe

land, whenever the Anglo-Normans arrived in the island during the four hundred years of the colony of the Pale, we never hear of a Celtic fleet opposed to the invaders. Italian, Spanish, and French fleets came in oftentimes to the help of the Irish; yet never do we read that the island had a single vessel to join the friendly expedition. We may safely conclude, then,

and poetry, wherein their very soul is portrayed, and which belongs exclusively to them. Some very interesting consi

ally from the clan system, and consequently adopted a form not to be found elsewhere. Being, moreover, of an entirely traditional cast, those pursuits imparted to their minds a steady, conservative, traditional spirit, which has resulted in the happiest consequences for the race, preserving

in which his own mind had been trained-"Ad has magnus adolescentium numerus disciplinae causa concurrit:" when he mentions the political and civil subjects submitted to the judgment of literary men-"de omnibus controversiis publicis privatisque constituunt. ... Si de hereditate, si de finibus contr

ile parties. In his eleventh chapter, when describing the contentions which were constantly rife in the cities, villages, even single houses, when remarking the continual shifting of the supreme authority from the Edui to the Sequani, and reciprocally, he seems to be giving i

d, as we are best acquainted with that portion of the subject which concerns Ireland, we will confine ourselves to it. There is

," in the chieftain's territory, besides ample refections for himself and his attendants, to the number of twenty-four, including his subordinate tutors, his advanced pupils, and his retinue of servants. He was entitled to have two hounds and six horses, . .

of mouth (from satire), purity of hand (from bloodshed), purity of union (in ma

se were his moral qualifications. His scientific attainments require a li

and of general literary attainments. He should be an adept in royal synchronisms, should know the boundaries of all the provinces a

controversia est iidem decernunt." In this passage he gives us a glimpse of

, that is to say, of the highest doctor in Celtic countries,

ins in their several degrees, finally, of all the individuals who composed the nation connected by blood with the chieftains and kings, depended entirely on their various genealogies, out of which grew a complete system of general and personal history. The

cal etymologies frequently throw a sudden and decisive light on disputed points of ancient history. So far, this cannot be called a literature; it might be classed under the name of statistics, or antiquarian lore; and if their history consisted merely of what i

se books owe their origin to some assertion or hint given in the annals. There is no doubt that long ago their learned men were fully acquainted with all the points of reference which

tion or narration, any remarkable pictures of character, manners, and local traditions

litary expeditions; and all this strictly historical. For we do not here speak of their "imaginative tales," which give still freer scope to fancy;

all been saved and transmitted to us by Christian Irishmen of the centuries intervening between the sixth and sixteenth; but it is also perfectly true that whatever was handed down

k and his brother monks brought with them the Roman characters and the knowledge of numerous Christian writers who had preceded him; but he could not teach them what had happened in the country before his time, events which form the su

books which have been preserved, as well as on many stone monuments, the remote antiquity of which cannot be denied. One well-authenticated fact suffices, however, to set the question at rest: "It is quite certain," says E. Curry, "that the Irish Druids and poets had written books before the coming of St. Patri

o books, is not strictly true. It must have been true only with regard to their mode of teach

ry; the shanachy had the care of provincial records. Each chieftain, in fact, down to the humblest, had an officer of this description, who enjoyed privileges inferior only to those of the ollamh, and partook of emoluments graduated accordin

o prove for themselves the moral

hand, bright w

h, without poi

arning, with

sbandship, i

and the following ar

. E.

rish Manu

"purities," lost half his income and dignity, accordi

f the people, should not be wondered at, since they did not refrain from writing even of the undignified artisans, and of the professors of the healing and building arts of ancient times -as shall be shown

rst doctor, the first builder, and the fi

he healing

me was al

, the cunn

ne, the f

in his quaint and

of the romantic school. It did not concern itself merely with the great and powerful, but comprised all classes of people, and tr

the nation at large; and thus we may see how literature with them grew naturally out of their social system. The same may not appear to hold good at first sight with the ot

ly translated poet, but its meaning also involves the

iting in verse; for all their poetry resolved itself into ann

ms, therefore, that in Celtic tribes the order of File was anterior in point of time to that of Shanachy, and that both must have sprung natu

eir number increased

st they became a nu

that from their numbers and the tax their support imposed upon the public, it was attempted to banish them out of Erin on three different occasions; but they were detained by the Ultonians for hospitality's sake. This is evident from the Amhra Columcille (panegyric of St. Columba). He was the last that kept them in Ireland, and distributed a poet t

he same object as the historians did; only that they wrote in verse, and no doubt allowed themsel

the nation, enjoying extensive privileges, and without which Celtic life would have been deprived of its warmth and buoyancy. Yet Aed, the monarch of all Ireland, was inclined to abolish the whole order, and banish, or even outlaw, all its members. Being unable to do it of his own authority, he thought of having the measure carried in the assembly of Drumceit, convened for the chief purpose of settling peac

elf a poet, he loved their art, and could not consent to see his native country de

ts would be the death of a venerable antiquity, and of that poetry so dear to the country, and so useful to those who knew how to employ it.

of the "Faerie Queene" was not the friend of the Irish, whom he assisted in plundering and destroying under Elizabeth. He could only judge of their books from English translations, not being sufficiently acquainted with the language to understand its niceties

e "dangerous and desperate in disobedience and rebellious daring." But this accusation is high praise in our eyes, as showing that the Irish bards of Spenser's time

nding every thing that it was proper for him to speak of or to say. The next third was employed in learning the "Imas Forosnadh," by which he was enabled to communicate thoroughly his kn

und to possess a critical knowledge of them, so as to be a judge

relate instantly, seven times fifty stories, namely, five

courtships, battles, navigations, tragedies or d

uthority in point of fact. If fancy was permitted to adorn them, the facts themselves were to remain unaltered with their chief circumstances. Hence

ies for the facts they related in their scientific works. The whole first book of the geography of Strabo, one of the most statistical and positive works of antiq

ivate, their very office tended to promote the love of virtue, and to check immorality and vice. They were careful to watch over the acts and inclinations of their princes and chieftains, seldom failing to brand them with infamy if guilty of crimes, or crown them with honor when they had deserved well of the nation. In ancient Egypt the priests judged the kings aft

to philosophical speculations and subtlety. We see in it two elements remarkable for their distinctness. First, an extraordinary fondness for facts and traditions, growing out of the patriarchal origin of society among them; and from this fondness their mind received a particular tendency which was averse to theories and utopias. All things resolved themselves into facts, and they seldom wandered away into the fields of conjec

pleted the digest of the laws of the Gael in Ireland, Dubtach, who was a bard as well as a brehon, "put a thread of poetry round it." Poetry everywhere, even in a law-book; poetry inseparable fr

m art; and music and design gushed natural

is inspirations to a prose libretto. It was far more so in primitive times; and it maybe said that in those days poetry was never composed unless to be sung or played on instruments. But what has never bee

. According to Strabo, the Third order of Druids was composed of those whom he calls Umnetai. What were their instruments is not m

at the harp was unknown to the Greeks and Romans, and that the Gauls of the time of Julius Caesar do not see

ar 633 before Christ, according to the annals of the Four Masters. The story of Labhraid, which seems perfectly authentic, turns altogether on the per

raised it. Mr. Beauford, in his ingenious and learned treatise on the music of Ireland, as cultivated

e, and increased the number of strings from eighteen to twenty-eight, retaining all the original chromatic tones, but reducing the capacity of the instrument; for, instead of commencing in the lower E in the bass, it commenced in C, a sixth above, and terminated in G in the octave below; and, in consequence, th

s. It is Cambrensis who remarks that "the attention of these people to musical instruments is worthy of praise, in which their skill is, beyond comparison, superior to any other people; for in these the modulation is not slow and solemn, as in the instruments of Britain, but the sounds are rapid and precipitate, yet sweet and pleasing.

any other music than that of the Anglo-Normans; but it is clear, from

ements of art. Long before Cambrensis's time the whole island resounded with music and mirth, and the king-arc

est fidelity

nd generous cl

yalty rest wit

valor, and mu

ovincial king, who was at the time absent, and, getting hold of a harp, her fingers ran over the chords, and her voice rose in song and glee, and the whole family of the royal children, excited by the joyful harmony, surround

a republic, had something of the kind in his mind, when he wished to constitute harmony as a social and political institution. But he little thought that, when he thu

ell adapted to our subject: "Irish poetry, which was in the days of Patrick and Columba so powerful and so popular, has long undergone, in the country of Ossian, the same fate as the religion of which these great saints were the apostles. Rooted, like it, in the heart of a conquered people, and like it proscribed and persecuted with an unwearying vehemence, it has come ever forth anew from the bloody furrow in which it was supposed to be buried. The bards became the most powerful allies of patriotism, the most dauntless prophets of independence, and also the favorite victims o

le, as well before as after the Reformation, special penalties against the minstrels, bards

r of the bards, protected by Columba, was always to be found at the side of the priest, to celebrate the holy mysteries of the proscribed worship. He never ceased to be received with ten

it were, in its exterior institutions? We were right in saying that among no other race was what is generally a mere adornment to a nation, raised to the dignity of a social and political instrument as it was among the Celts. Henc

ention, presenting, as they do, features unseen anywhere else; and would enable us still better to understand the ch

rstood after what has been already said. It is a chief characteristic which grew so perfectly out of the Celtic mind and aptitudes, that long centuries of most adverse circumstances, we may say, a whole host of contrary influences were

ed he was lawgiver, priest, master; his power was acknowledged as absolute. Hiis children, even after their marriage, remained to a ce

d complete despotism. Millions of men soon became the abject slaves of an irresponsible monarch. Assyria,

acknowledged head; possessing, consequently, a chief of the same race, either hereditary or elective, according to variable rules always based on tradition. This was the case among the Jews,

ts details. Indeed, their adherence to it, in spite of every obstacle that could oppose it, shows that it was natural to them, cong

features; in Ireland alone has it been preserved in all its vigor until the beginning of the seventeenth century, so rooted was it in the Irish blood. Consequently, it can be stud

Gaul, in the British islands. Hence their hostile encounters had always for object movable plunder of any kind, chiefly cattle; never conquest nor annexation of territory. The word "preying," which is generally used fo

exceptions to this rule are extremely rare. It was thus that they sent large armies of their young men into Northern Italy, along the Danube, into Grecian Albania and Thrace, and finally into the very centre of Asia Minor. The fixing of the geographical position of each tribe was, therefore, a rule among them; and in this they differed from nomadic nations, such as the Tartars in Asia and even th

he clan districts, that one of the chief duties of ollam

e clansman. The head of the tribe had a certain well-defined portion assigned to him in virtue of his office, and as l

he owner of five cows was thought to be a very poor man, although he could send them to graze on any free land of his tribe. There is no doubt that the almost insurmountable difficulty of the land question at this time originated in the attachment o

by purchase or in any other way to a different tribe or to an alien race. The force of arms sometimes produced temporary changes, nothing more. It is the same principle which has preserved the small Indian tribes still existing in Canada. Their "reservations," as they are called, having been legalized by the British Government at the time of the conquest from the French, t

by "gavel kind," whereby the property was equally divided among the sons to the exclusion of the da

he persons under the clan-system. Und

s of Ard-Righ or supreme monarch, of the provi

te of the c

bondsmen

rently, but it seems nevertheless to have worked well in Ireland. Strange to say, however, these various classes formed no castes as in Egypt or in India, because no one was prevented from emb

not necessarily pass to the eldest son of the former king, but another member of the same family might be elected to the office, and was even designated to it during the lifetime of the actual holder, thus becomi

rdinate kings, as that of metropolitan to suffragan bishops in the Church. Nevertheless, all Celtic nations appear to have attached a great importance to it, and the real misfortunes of Ireland began when contentio

wherever they might be settled, esteemed the dignity of supreme monarch. It existed, as we have said, in all Celtic countries, and co

contending for the supreme authority-"The latter civitas-clan- namely, the Sequanians, being inferior in power-because from time immemorial the supreme authority had been vested in the Eduans-had called to its aid the Germans under Ariovist by the inducement of great advantages and promises. After many successful battles, in which the entire nobility of the Eduan clan perished, t

r, it is true, does not speak of a monarch as of a person, but attributes the power to the "civitas," the tribe. It is well known, however, that each tribe had a head, and that i

e actual office-holder, dictator, consul, or praetor, a mere instrument for a short time

was a supreme monarch in Gaul as well as in Ireland

, save on the supposition that the Celts everywhere held the supreme d

the history of the Celts in Britain, since it happened there several centurie

ains formerly abolished by Roman power. Ancient genealogies carefully preserved by the poets, called in the British language bairdd - bards - helped to discover those who could pretend to the dignity of chieftains of tribes or families, tribe and family being synonymous in their language; and the ties of relationship formed the basis of their social state. Men of the lowest class, among that people, preserved in memor

a chieftain of chieftains, in their tongue called Penteyrn, that is to say, a king of the whole, in the language of their old annals. And they made him elective.-It was also formerly

e, safe to conclude that there was a supreme monarch in Britain and in Gaul as well as in Ireland; and since the Britons, after having lost for several centuries their autonomy of government, thought

Ireland, of the Penteyrn in Britain, of the supreme chief

gather from history, there was a reciprocity of obligations between the high power and the subordinate kings or chieftains, th

with some of the provincial kings, to secure the submission of others, and we have a hint o

tipends consisted of bondsmen, silver shields, embroidered clo

year; first at Tara, and after Tara was left to go to ruin in consequence of the curse o

en he had no blemish constituting a radical defect: the supreme power, however, alternating in two families. To secure the succession, the heir-apparent was always declared during the life of the supreme king; but this constitutional arrangement caused, perhaps, m

governed the whole island from the Milesian conquest to St. Patrick in 432. Of these, sixty were of the family of Heremon, settled in the northern part of the island; twenty-nine of the posteri

ruled by princes of the same family. The fact is unparalleled in history, and shows that the people were firmly attached to their c

had their feuds and alliances with the inferior chieftains, and in peaceful times there was also a reciprocity of obligations between them. Presents were given by the superiors, tributes by the in

ry hereditary office had, besides its actual holder, its Tanist, with right of succession. Hence causes of division and feuds were needlessly multiplied; yet all the Ce

traditions ruled the whole, and gave, as we have seen, to their learned men a most important part and function in the social state; and thus what t

as to be the head of the family, elected by all to that office at the death of his predecessor, after due consultation with the files and shanachies, to whom were intrusted the gua

the Celtic nature. For all the clansmen were related by blood to the head of the tribe, and each one took a personal pride in the success of his undertakings. No feu

s, was an abuse incident on feudalism; it was inherent in the very essence of the patriarchal or family system. It began, as feudalism ended, with small independent societies, each with its own separate centre of attraction, each clustering round the lord or the chief, and each rather repelling t

sely bound the nobility of the land to the inferior classes, and gave these latter so ardent an affection for their chieftains. Clanship, theref

rigin in that terrible antagonism. The same never existed, and could not exist, in Celtic Countries; and if England, after a conflict of many centuries, had not finally succeeded in destroyi

btful if the whole history of the country can afford a single example of the clansmen refusing obedience to their chief, unless in the case of great criminals p

however, we know that slavery existed among them, we must consider a moment what kind of slavery it wa

all farmers of our days are groaning. For, according to history, they could in three years prepare from their surplus productions a great feast, to which the monarch and all his chieftains, with their retinue, were invited, to be treacherously assassinated at the end of the banquet. The great plain of Magh Cro, now Moy Cru, near Knockma, in the county of Galway, was required for such a monster feast; profusion of meats, delicacies, and drinks was, of course, a necessity for the entertainment of such a number of high-born and ath

of that short passage in his "Commentaries," upon which this opinion is based, will prove to us that the

oked upon almost as slaves, having no share in public affairs. Many among them, loaded with debt, heavily taxed, or oppressed by the higher class, give themselves

t summoned to the councils of the nation, and, on that account, were nobodies in the opinion of the writer. But the very name he gives them - plebs - shows that they were no more real slaves than the Roman plebs. They exercised their functions in t

eat many to give themselves in servitude, and that then t

tern or southern shores of the island, and, landing on the continent or on some British isle, they captured women, children, and even men, when the crew of the craft was strong enough to overcome them; the captives were then taken to Ireland and sold there. They lost their rights, were reduced to the state of "chattels," and thus became real slaves. Among the presents made by a superior to an inferior chieftain are mentioned bondsmen and bondsmaids. We cannot be surpr

the piratical excursions of the Celtic tribes inhabiting those countries were almost invariably under

atest part of the plebeians or common clansmen, we have no doubt but that he was mistaken, and that t

in their continual internecine wars? The clansmen engaged in both cases were certainly freemen, fighting with the determination which freedom alone

e Celtic population; it always remained individual and domestic, never endangering the safety of the state, never t

resent purpose, and so well adapted to give us a true idea of what voluntary slavery

ligations of the new life. 'I am ready,' said the stranger, 'to submit to the most cruel and humiliating conditions that thou canst command me.' And, after having made confession, he swore, still upon his knees, to accomplish all the requirements of penitence. 'It is well,' said the abbot: 'now rise from thy knees, seat thyself, and listen. You must first do penance for seven years in the neighboring island of Tirce, after which I will see you again.' 'But,' said the penitent, still agitated by remorse, 'how can I expia

h an intercessor should be granted freely. His blessing will do more for us than any ransom.' And immediately he detached the girdle from his waist, which was the ordinary form in Ireland for the manumission of captives or slaves. Columba had, besides, ordered his penitent to remain with his old father and mother until he had rendered to them the last services. This accomplished, his brother

we cannot know precisely when servitude was completely abolished among the Celts, the total silence of the contemporary annals on the subject justifies the belief that the Danes, on their first landing, found no real slaves in the country; and, if the

-a cringing disposition of the lower class toward their superiors, which continues even to this day among the peasantry of Europe, and which patriarchal nations have never known. The Norman invaders of Ireland, in the twelfth century, were struck with the easy freedom of manner and speech o

l feeling, much less complicated than in nations more artificially constituted, but of a much deeper and more lasting character. In the very nature of the mind of those tribes there must have been a great simplicity of ideas, and on that account an extraordinary tenacity of belief and wil

proving, it is true, but also without the constant changes which bring misery with revolution to thoughtful, reflective, and systematic nations. What a frightful amount of misfortunes has not logic, as it is called, brought upon the French! It was in the na

ocal agitation and temporary feuds and divisions. Hence we see the permanence of the supreme authority resting in one family among the Celts through so many ages, in spite of continual wrangling for that sup

and enactments, as was the case chiefly in Sparta, and as is still the case in the Chinese Empire to-day; but they gush forth impetuously from impulsive and

ose feelings, even the national and patriotic, are merged in real domestic sentiment, a great

by the sublime elevation of Christian purity, then can there be found nothing on earth more lovely and admirable. Chastity is

that the light has no shadow, the beauty no occasional blemish. We speak of the general

primitively-constituted nations. And, wonderful to say, without any mysticism there is often among them a perfect holiness of life, adapting itself to all circumstances, climates, and associations. The same heart of a young maiden is c

e devoted spouse of Christ! Yet, the final determination once taken, the whole after-life see

ciety, which necessarily fosters morbidity of imagination and nervous excitability. A primitive a

prepared for it. "The sons of Irishmen," he says, "and the daughters of their chieftains, want to become monks and virgins of Christ." We know what a multitude of monasteries and nunneries sprang up all over the island in the very days of the first apostle and of his immediate successors. Montalembert remarks that,

gin of Christ, and live united to God. Thanks be to the Almighty! Six days after, she obtained, with the greatest joy and avidity, what she wished. The same must be said of all the virgins of God; their parents-those remaining pagans, no doubt-instead of approving o

reats-from pagan masters surely-yet they persevere. The Lord has given his holy grace of purity to those

ly remarked that, of all nations whose records have been kept in the history of the Catholic Church, they have been the only ones whose chieftains, princes, even kings, have shown themselves almost as eager to become, not only Christians,

ws of morals being no more complicated than their views of any thing else; being accustomed to reduce every thing of a spiritual, moral nature to a few feelings and axioms, as it were, but at the same time becoming strongly attached to them on account of the importance which every man naturally bestows on matters of that sort; what among other nations forms a complicated code of morality more or less pure, more or less corrupt, for the nations of whic

y are, real and substantial. Hence their religion was not an exterior thing only. On the contrary, e

t whatever is dear to man on earth. They all seem to feel as instinctively and deeply as the thoroughly cultivated and superior mind of Thomas More did, th

Celtic character, that "the Celtic genius has sentiment as its main basis, with love of beauty, charm, and spirituality for its excellence,"

ts in whatever they attempted, and that thus they were constantly foiled and never successful in any thing; or, still worse, that, owing to want of perseverance and of energy, they too soon relaxed in their efforts, and that every enterprise and determination on their part became "ineffectual"-we so far disagree with him that the main object of the following pages will be to contradict these positions, and to show by the history of the race,