they believe to be the secret springs of action, and, whether palatable or otherwise, to put before the English public what in their hearts they believe to be the feelings of the vast majority of the Celtic people of Ireland who are uninfluenced by the possession or prospect of Government place.

With a view to making the case of Ireland more generally known, and to trace with care the secret springs whence disaffection flows, I completed last year a general sketch of the history of Ireland, from the earliest ages down to the Act of Settlement in 1662,1 and of

Besides several attempts to murder, and other agrarian outrages and murders in Westmeath and elsewhere.

1 The title of the Act of Settlement now in my possession, and the text of which is printed in black letter,' runs as follows:

'An Act

for the better Execution of His Majesty's Declaration

for the

Settlement of His Kingdom of Ireland,

and

Satisfaction of the several Interests of

Adventurers, Souldiers, and other his

Majesty's subjects there.'

the confiscations of William after the war of 1691. In this history I endeavoured to unfold the earliest traditions of the country. It contained an account of its first inhabitants, generally supposed to have come from Phoenicia ; of the arrival of the great Milesian colony from which all noble Celtic families trace descent; of the origin of the Fenians, the glories of ancient Tara and Eamania, and of the schools of learning and piety. The history of the main confiscations of Ireland was also given in full, and especially those under Strongbow, Elizabeth, James I., Cromwell, and William. But this was all written at the time when the Irish Land Bill was the subject of the keenest controversy in Parliament; and some friends urged me on no account to publish my history. They did not deny its truth; they did not object to the spirit in which it was written; but they said that, if published, it might do irreparable mischief.

I yielded. The work was suppressed after a large portion had been printed, and all the illustrations completed. Feeling, however, that

although such a history of the past might not be acceptable at the present time, and yet that its connection with existing Irish life is most important, and would be interesting to the public if presented in the form of a tale, I have endeavoured to accomplish this in the volumes which I now lay before the public.

Many of the scenes and incidents described in the following pages have really occurred. The descriptions of almost all are founded upon fact; and some have happened to myself. Of course it was necessary that names and dates should be somewhat changed to construct a consecutive tale; but many of the incidents are nevertheless' realities of Irish life.'

In no one case can I claim the authorship of the beautiful and touching poems I have introduced into my text as Ierne's songs. Almost all the nationalist newspapers of Ireland devote a space in their columns to Irish poetry, and many pieces of exquisite beauty will be found in them. I know not who is the author of those touching lines commencing

Lift me up, Nelly Mavourneen.'

One or two others will I know be found amongst the poems of the late Mr. D'Arcy McGee, and all lovers of Irish literature will easily recognise the exquisite melodies of our national poet, Tommy Moore.' I claim no merit but that of their appreciation and selection. The geography, I believe, will in general be found to be accurate.

6

CARDTOWN, MOUNTRATH:
January, 1871.

W. STEUART TRENCH.