after St. Eirc, who died in the year 514. Two ascetic friars were dwelling in this recess, when Christopher Lord Slane refounded the abbey, and were by him removed to that renovated institution. Several of the family of Fleming, Lords of Slane, were buried in this hermitage. The ruins of the building are to the south of the village, on the margin of the river, and within the grounds of Slane Castle.

The Church of Slane is a neat and well-preserved building, having a handsome steeple, recently erected after the designs of Mr. Francis Johnston. The Rev. Mervyn Archdall, who was born at Dublin, on the 22nd of April, 1723, was for some time rector of Slane. To the name of this gentleman we often advert in the present work, as author of the Monasticon Hibernicum, and editor of an enlarged edition of Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, The taste of Mr. Archdall for inquiries concerning the Monastic and Genealogical History of Ireland, was encouraged, in the early part of his life, by Mr. Harris, the learned and judicious editor of Ware's works, and also by Smith, the historian of several Irish counties. In his more mature years he was favoured with the friendly patronage of the celebrated traveller, and excellent prelate, Dr. Richard Pococke, bishop of Ossory and of Meath, to whom he was domestic chaplain.

This erudite bishop, as Mr. Archdall himself gratefully states, "pointed out the method adopted in the Monasticon Hibernicum; procured many necessary documents; and had the goodness to encourage the author with solid favours." The materials collected for that work were sufficient for two volumes folio; but Mr. Archdall was constrained, from a want of national patronage, to curtail his labours, and print the work, in the year 1786, as it at present appears, in one volume quarto. We regret to have the opportunity of observing that, even in a form so limited, only few copies were sold during the life of the author. Mr. Archdall's enlarged edition of the Peerage of Ireland by Lodge, was published in 1789. This amiable man, and very useful writer, died on the 6th of August, 1791.

SLANE CASTLE, the seat of Henry Burton Conyngham, Marquess Conyngham, is a spacious and splendid structure, occupying an elevated site on the banks of the river Boyne. The mansion comprises parts of the castle built by the Flemings, lords of Slaue, greatly altered and enlarged, at different periods since the estate has been vested in the noble family to which it at present belongs. The most important alterations were made by the Right Hon. William Conyngham, in 1785, and several following years, after the designs of the late Mr. James Wyatt. The entrance to the castle, and considerable improvements of the interior, were executed at a more recent date, under the direction of Francis Johnston, Esq. architect of the board of works.

The exterior features of the building are in the style termed modern gothic, and the embattled parapets and aspiring turrets produce romantic and striking combinations, at many points of view; but the boasted picturesque of architecture is here attained by the sacrifice of consistency. As a whole, the fabric is imposing, and indeed magnificent; but it does not, in its component parts, bear resemblance to the castle, or other pile of building, of any known antient period in the history of our national architecture. The interior contains many spacious and superb apartments.

The grounds by which this mansion is surrounded are extensive, and extremely beautiful. They present much inequality of

surface, and are richly clothed with wood.

The river Boyne here
Devious in its course,

winds through its most attractive shores. its rocky and partially wooded banks afford a lovely variety of scenery. Through several breaks of the noble woods and wide plantations, the neat village, and the ruins of the abbey, combine

* It is recorded by Mr. Walker that six of the antient instruments, termed Corabasnas, were found by persons digging in the park of Slane, in the year 1781. The corabasna is described by this writer as a "chorus instrument of the antient Irish, of a complex form, and consisting of two circular plates of brass, connected by a wire of the same metal, twisted in a worm-like manner, which jingled round the shanks when the plates were struck upon by the fingers. It was used for the purpose of keeping time." Hist. Mems. of Irish Bards, p. 90.

happily with the cultivated landscape.-It will be long remembered in the annals of this mansion, that his majesty, King George IV. honoured Slane Castle with his presence, in the month of August, 1821.

Contiguous to the above demesne is BEAUPARK, the seat of G. Lambart, Esq. The mansion is spacious, and the extensive grounds, which are richly wooded, and encompassed with a wall, partake of the characteristics and attractions of the neighbouring territory. These demesnes, indeed, borrow and communicate charms; whilst, by their seeming union, the aspect of decorative cultivation is spread over an unusual extent of prospect.

Adjacent to the demesne of Slane Castle, towards the south, is STACKALLAN, the seat of Gustavus Hamilton, Viscount Boyne, and Baron Hamilton, of Stackallan. This fine residence is situated, with impressive propriety, near the banks of the river which imparts a title to its noble owner, and was the scene of the exploits which led to the selection of that title, when his lordship's ancestor was advanced in the Irish peerage. Gustavus, first VISCOUNT BOYNE, among other important services in the wars consequent upon the expulsion of the Stuart family, headed a regiment at the battle of the Boyne, and narrowly escaped death, having his horse killed under him. He was created Baron Hamilton, of Stackallan, in 1715; and Viscount Boyne, in 1717. His lordship died September 16th, 1723, in the 84th year of his age, and is buried in the church of Stackallan, where also are interred his lady, and many other members of this distinguished family.

DoWTH, or DOUTH, situated on the river Boyne, at the distance of two and a half miles from Slane, gives the title of Viscount to the family of Netterville, whose ancestor, Sir Formal de Netterville, entered Ireland in the reign of Henry II. Richard Netterville, son of Sir Formal, married Catharine, daughter of Hugh de Lacy, lord of Meath, and settled on the estate of Douth, which has ever since remained a seat of the elder branch of this family. Nicholas

Netterville was created Viscount Netterville, of Douth, by King James I. in 1622. The mansion of Dowth is finely situated, and commands extensive views over a country highly cultivated, and rendered, at several points, interesting by memorable passages of history.*

At NEW GRANGE, near Slane, is a celebrated and interesting work of antiquity, often termed a subterranean temple, but which may be described, with a greater appearance of correctness, as a place of sepulture, of a very unusual character, constructed in the interior of a tumulus. This vestige has produced rather extensive dissertations from several writers, the most important of whose opinions we notice in the following remarks.

The large earthen mound in which this tomb is worked, is of an irregular form, and was originally surrounded with upright stones, unhewn and of a vast size; several of which still remain. On the summit of the mount stood a single stone, of the same character. In the possession of this stony circle the monument of New Grange exhibited a marked distinction from the generality of barrows, both in Ireland and Great Britain; and the interior works present a still more curious deviation from the prevalent character of tumuli in these countries. The discovery of its contents is said, by Dr. Ledwich, to have taken place about the year 1699; at which time "a Mr. Campbell, who resided at New Grange, observing stones under the green sod, carried much of them away to repair a road; and proceeding in this work, he, at length, arrived at a broad flat stone, that covered the mouth of a gallery."

The entrance to this gallery, which is on the north side of the mount, is so low and confined, that a man can gain admission only by placing himself in a flat position. He then finds himself in a long avenue, the sides and roof of which are formed of large

*The action between the armies of William III. and James II. emphatically termed the Battle of the Boyne, took place on the borders of he river in this neighbourhood. Our account of that important transaction s presented in our description of the county of Louth.

and rude stones. Towards its termination the gallery throws off two short branches, to the right and left; beyond which, on a right line with the avenue, is a recess, not very different in size from these lateral branches, or cells. Thus, the plan of this subterraneous structure is in the form of a cross, the shaft, or stem, of which is long and taper.

Dissimilar measurements of the different parts have been given by Molyneux, in his discourse on Danish Mounts, and by Dr. Ledwich, in the Antiquities of Ireland. The latter, which we believe to be the most correct, are as follow. "At the entrance the gallery is three feet wide and two feet high. At thirteen feet from the entrance it is but two feet two inches wide. The length of the gallery, from its mouth to the beginning of the dome, is sixty-two feet; from thence to the upper part of the dome eleven feet six inches. The whole length seventy-one feet six inches. The length, between the arms of the cross, is twenty feet. The dome forms an octagon, twenty feet high, with an area of about seventeen."

The sides, or walls, of the gallery are composed of large stones, placed upright and close to each other. The whole are dissimilar in size, and are unhewn. The roof is formed of flat stones, some of which are not less than nineteen feet in length; the whole being supported by the stones of the side walls. This roof increases progressively in height, as it advances towards the centre of the mount, where a greater altitude was allowed to the design, from the conical form of the superincumbent earthwork. The dome, to which the gallery leads, is composed of long and flat stones, each projecting a little over that immediately beneath, with one large and flat stone placed on the top. No morter, or other cement, appears to have been used in any part of the structure.

Although the stones are not squared, or shaped, several bear marks of the tool, in carved devices, or ornamental particulars, apparently placed without any attention to order; amongst which spiral lines, and the circular and zig-zag forms, are prevailing features. Some examiners have also believed that they discovered