Clonmacnois. This stone is fifteen feet high, and stands near the western door of Teampull Mac Diarmuid. Over the northern door of Temple Mac Dermot, which is grand, are three figures: the middle St. Patrick in pontificalibus ; the other two St. Francis and St. Dominic, in the habit of their order. It is difficult to fix the period of their construction; but I should imagine them coeval with the round tower, and the work of the ninth or tenth century.

ROUND TOWERS. Giraldus Cambrensis, about 1185, is the first who mentions our round towers. He calls them "Ecclesiastical towers, which in a style of fashion peculiar to the country, are narrow, high, and round.” Though this passage has been frequently quoted, yet no one has observed, that from its grammatical construction we may fairly infer that Cambrensis saw the Irish in the very act of building these towers. It was a singular and striking spectacle for our author to behold so great a number of them dispersed over the country; all of the same figure and fashion, contiguous to wooden churches, and supporting bells to summon the vicinity to religious duties, or to warn them of approaching danger. Surely it must be esteemed a great perversion of common sense to extract from Cambrensis's plain account in words any

other meaning than that now given : he was fully competent to deliver a simple fact, nor did the objects he was describing require the microscopic eye of some modern Irish antiquarians.

Let it now be remarked, that the opi-, nion of every author who has spoken of our round towers for the space of five hundred and forty-two years, that is, from Cambrensis to Molyneux, is uniform in pronouncing them Ostman or Danish works.

A very ingenious friend of mine remarks, that almost all our round towers are divided into stories of different heights: the floors supported in some by projecting stones, in others by joints put in the wall or building, and in many they were placed upon rests. The last are from four to six inches, carried round and taken off the thickness of the wall in the story above. And he very probably conjectures, these rests do not diminish the thickness of the wall as they ascend, because then it would not have been sufficiently strong to bear stones or support the conical cap. They seem, therefore, to be swellings in the wall, which rather add to its thickness upwards; and this is confirmed by the round tower at Lusk, whose wall is three feet thick at top.

Height.

Cashel, Tipperary

----6 ditto

Timahoe, Queen's Co. 7 ditto

The door of Cashel Tower faces the south east; those of Kildare and Kilkenny the south; and the others vary. Kenith Tower stands 124 feet, Drumboe 20, Downpatrick 48. Kildare 90, Kilkenny 8, and Drumiskin 90, from their respective churches.

Ardmore, Castle Dermot, Cloyne, and other towers, were formerly, and are at present, used for belfries. The round tower belfry approximates to the church called the Ivy Church, at Glendalough. (For a description of

As we suppose the retirement of life and the service of God the grand motive of retirement; in such a case, these im portant concerns must be imagined to occupy the small portion of time, to which we may add the due attendance to proper and serious reading and meditation. But the mind will not bear a continued and intense application to these; especially a mind unaccustomed to deep speculations. There is need, therefore, of some other attachments, which may amuse and give motion to the tardier sort of time. Among these, nothing seems to promise the retired greater contentment than the pleasing amusement of the garden, and the cultivation of his little fields. This is as

Ye children of the world! break the shackles of disingenuous slavery; learn the real estimate of human life; cousider the importance of eternity: be wise; retreat with propriety, and over your most frequented dweil ng engrave the solemu demonstration, so well fitted to close the reflections, What shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ! T. H.

To the Editor of the European Magazine.

SIR,

IN letter N your interesting Magazine for from Mr. W. Tate, prescribing a mode of calculating interest at a given or any rate, as used at the " demy, Cateaton-street."-With all due Finishing Aca deference to that Gentleman's talents, I cannot see wherein he means it to supersede the old, and, as I believe, very common mode of calculation.

rational as it is instructive. Health will be invigorated by the exercise, piety will be exalted by the reflections which every herb, fruit, and flower will inculcate. A taste for the delights of the garden should be brought into refirement with every man, or, by all means, be learned by him there. Happy the man in solitude who hath some knowledge, however superficial, of the politer arts, especially music and drawing: music in particular will dissipate many a drowsy idea, and calm many a desultory thought. Drawing or painting will innocently and gracefully employ many a vacant moment. And easily as a small knowledge with these is attained, one would marvel that any man should omit to attain them. No

man ever regretted the knowledge, many have much bewailed their igno

rance of them.

A serious resolution to review life; an earnest and sedulous endeavour to serve God; a tolerable attention to books: a taste for innocent rural amusements, the pleasures of the garden and the field especially; and some acquaintance with the politer arts, music, drawing, the microscope, telescope, &c.; are means with which, if furnished, he may enter upon solitude with a satisfied mind; and may rest assured, that retirement will open to him a scene of chaste and everlasting delights; and custom will soon make this life more sweet

Than that of painted pomp. He'll find the Wood

More free from peril than the anxious world:

Find tongues in trees, and books in run

ning brooks,

Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

Complex arithmetic is, doubtless, a very pleasing study for the scholar; but the man of business, particularly the foreign merchant, who has so multifarious a business to attend to, all of which, more or less, consists in calculation, requires a simple and easy plan, which can always be uppermost in his head, and preclude the troublesome reference to books.

Having resided many years abroad, I subjoin the method I refer to, than which, I conceive, nothing can be more simple, or easy to be remembered; and having taken Mr. T.'s sum and time, in order to shew the difference in figures, should you deem it worth inserting in your valuable Miscellany, it is at your service; observing only, in further preference to this mode, that you obtain the amount of interest sought at once, to a fraction. I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,
G. M. H.

Rule.

Multiply the principal by the number) of days: to which either add, or from which subtract, as many fifths as the rate per centum may be pounds above or under 51. per cent.: the remainder divided by 365 will be the true inte

rest.

Chingford, Essex, Jan. 2, 1818.

W

HISTORY OF PETER PLIANT. (Continued from Vol. LXXIII. page 8.) HEN the seeds of roguishness are implanted in a man's bosom, there is nothing better calculated to improve their vegetation, and accelerate their general progress, than the study of the law, which, though undoubtedly a noble structure, contains so many holes and corners, where dishonesty may creep in, that it is too often rendered subservient to the designs of wily knaves, and converted into any thing but a system of equity. To those needy and hollow-hearted wretches, who delight in feasting upon the miseries of mankind, it opens a wide field of fraud and dissimulation; and little doubt exists, but that many an heart aches by the machinations of those, who deserve to be crushed by the same weapons they so shamefully misuse.

Of the latter denomination was Mr. Spindle, to whose bosom integrity of principle was a perfect stränger. His career from the commencement was marked by a continued scene of cunning duplicity; and though an unskilful dauber, contrived to put so fair a face upon the matter, that he gained his ends without incurring suspicion. Educated in a charity school, where he was distinguished from the rest by his rapacity and meanness, he contrived to insinuate himself into the good graces of his master; through whose interest, in the course of time, he was promoted to the situation of footboy in a lawyer's family. Here he was in his element; and, by unexampled assiduity and obsequiousness, obtained a sitting in the counting-house, where, after a few years' dirty work, managed his matters so well, that on the decease of his employer, he stepped into a share of the business, set up for a great little man, put Esquire to the end of his name, and never felt so happy as when he was kindling the flame of disaffection among his neighbours. An intimacy with Chickweed, who was sometimes under the necessity of applying to him for advice, caused him to offer his services to Sir Lionel Thrifty; and through his instigation the suit was threatened, which now occupied my attention.

Such was the goodly personage to whom Mr. Plausible directed his steps the morning after our arrival; and being admitted, on sending up his name, found him surrounded with papers, leases, and documents of all descrip

R

tion. The little gentleman, it appears, had heard of our sudden arrival, and not being able to conjecture the reason, felt rather uneasy; but he was too well versed in the chicanery of his profession to demonstrate his fears, and welcomed Mr. Plausible with as much politeness as was natural to him, which was nevertheless at first mixed with a consequential air and stiff deportment, as if he would have said, "I am Sir Oracle.”But Mr. Plausible was a lawyer as well as himself; and fixing his penetrating eye upon the countenance of Spindle, with a free and unconcerned air began his questions.

66

"I believe, Sir, you are employed by Sir Lionel Thrifty, to take certain steps for the recovery of a part of an estate which is imagined to be forfeited."

"I am, Sir."

"And I presume you are aware that Mr. Pliant, convinced of the justice of bis cause, intends abiding by the decision of a jury.”

"I hope, for Mr. Pliant's sake, it will be of service to him; but the grounds on which we proceed are so plain, that all attempts on his part will be fruitless."

"Not so fruitless as you imagine: that the mortgage was redeemed, there is a particular document to prove; and-"

"Produce it."

"An unforeseen circumstance for the present renders it impossible."

"The witnesses who attested it?" "Are not living."

"Then in what manner can you establish a defence?"

"That at present remains a secret; but my object in coming here was to settle the affair amicably, and prevent, if possible, unnecessary expense on both sides. In short, Mr. Spindle, if a handsome sum, by way of remuneration, was offered you by my client, could you not manage the business so as to relinquish the claim altogether? There are various methods and

As if he could contain himself no longer, this "ornament of the law" burst out into a paroxysm of anger, and demanded to know whether Mr. Plausible intended to insult him.

"O, by no means, Sir; my intention was to save you the shame of a defeat: but my offer, I see, meets with contempt, and I withdraw it.”

So saying, he left the choleric little gentleman, a little disconcerted at his abrupt departure, and rather sorry that he had so soon relinquished his overtures.

While Mr. Plausible was pursuing this method for obtaining information, I had left the manor-house, and, with the intention of visiting all my old friends, walked round the village. Farmer Heartly first crossed my steps, and now, in person, renewed his thanks for my late assistance. After a little desultory conversation, he mentioned a report that was spreading of Sir Lionel's { claim; "but," added he, "as long as Jack Heartley stays in this village, it shall never be. I know Spindle well, and his friend Chickweed; the former once nearly ruined me,-the latter owes me a grudge for renting his cottage; but their designs are not so secret as they imagine. Chickweed drinks, and when a man gives his reason a holiday, folly will tattle. I shall keep a good look out, however; and as I suspect the latter of more than one evil action, hope to entrap him when he is least aware of it. I am now going to survey an estate, which, in a few days, is to be offered for sale. I pass his haunts in my way, and shall be very much disappointed if we are not better acquainted before night."

66

Thank ye, my honest friend; your kindness shall be repaid."

I passed on, and spent an hour with the various inhabitants whom childhood had endeared to me. The old purblind schoolmistress was in raptures, and, according to custom, launched out into praises of my knowledge when under her tuition; nor was the parish clerk * less glad to repeat his tribute. I am sure no two in the place had so good an opinion of my understanding, for I agreed with the former in the superiority of her mode of teaching, and ar