Page images
PDF
EPUB

OF

JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN, ESQ.

WITH A BRIEF SKETCH

OF THE

HISTORY OF IRELAND;

AND

A BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF

MR. CURRAN.

IN TWO VOLUMES-VOL. I.

NEW-YORK:

Printed and published by I. Riley.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRAR.

43423A

ACTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

R

1932

L

DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of November, in the thirty-sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, ISAAC RILEY, 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:

"Speeches of John Philpot Curran, Esq. With a Brief Sketch of the History of Ireland, and a Biographical Account of Mr. Curran. In two volumes. VOL. 1."

IN CONFORMITY to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies "of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, "during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act, entitled, " An "act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of "learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors "and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and "extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints."

[ocr errors]

CHARLES CLINTON,

Clerk of the District of New-York.

ADVERTISEMENT.

IN the present volumes there are comprehended, not only the whole of the London edition of the Speeches of Mr. Curran, but also many additional speeches, by the same orator, including, as it is believed, the whole that have been hitherto published.

Of the claims to public attention to what has fallen from the lips of this distinguished speaker nothing, even in this country, is necessary to be said.

New-York, November, 1811.

A

BRIEF SKETCH

OF THE

HISTORY OF IRELAND.

IRELAND is an island in the Atlantic ocean, situate be tween the 5th and 10th degrees of west longitude, and the 51st and 56th of 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 the most -probable, as the language of the Scotch Highlanders, and the native Irish, are radically and essentially the same.*

This question has excited much national pride, and even animosity amongst the historical critics of the two islands.—Pinkerton, in his poor and partial account of Ireland, endeavours to throw some light on the subject. But those who are inclined to look for a portion of rational information on VOL. I. A

« PreviousContinue »