column of figures refers to the numbers in the first list, by which the reader will be able at once to ascertain the names of the Islands.

Now, in Scotland at least, we know well what has been the result of such arrangements in our Hebrides. As to the consequences round the coast of Ireland, I shall not at present enlarge. But here we see only twenty parishes embracing a population of not less than one hundred and thirty-five thousand eight hundred and ninety souls, and of this number we see nineteen thousand seven hundred and eighty living detached, in the adjoining seas, in not less than ninety islands; nay, in three parishes, embracing nearly thirty thousand souls, it will be observed that above nine thousand are so situated. At the present moment we shall find, I believe, one hundred and forty thousand souls,

notice this instance. The But No. 37 is distant from thirty miles! Besides, If I

As a specimen of such an arrangement I might Rev. Mr S. can preach in Irish, and, I believe, does so. him at least fifteen, and Nos. 43 and 44 from twenty to do not mistake, Mr S. has removed to another part of the country.

at least, in these twenty parishes,- -an average of not less than seven thousand to each parish; while of this number, above twenty-one thousand reside in these ninety islands! But the inhabited islands which we have already enumerated amount to not fewer than one hundred and forty!

On referring to these islands in general, it may be said, many of them are small. They are so; seventeen of them contain only one family, and ten not more than three in each! The feeling of solitude here occasionally must be extreme; but they live in the vicinity of other islands, and a plan may be suggested by which the art and delight of reading may be introduced to every one of them, provided they are instructed in their vernacular tongue. In the preceding list, perhaps, some would except Great Island near Cork, as not being like others. It is reported, indeed, to have above 900 scholars in attendance, but then above 800 of these are in the town of Cove. Among a country population of at least 3000, I suspect not one in thirty is learning to read, and of these I believe not one in Irish. But still, independently of Great Island, here are only eleven islands, containing in all above 20,000 souls. Here are sixteen islands, each of which contains from one to two hundred inhabitants. But why may not every island containing fifty immortal beings have a circulating Irish teacher? Even his temporary residence would kindle a flame, which, far from expiring when he left, would in many an instance maintain and even propagate itself. Now of these we have not less than thirty, which, at fifty each, would be 1500, but these contain at present more than two thousand souls.

It must now, however, also be observed, that at least several of the islands, respecting which I could come to no conclusion, and have left blank, have inhabitants; therefore I have included them, to elicit information; and the population in others, I have good reason to believe, has been underrated, perhaps in many. For example, in the island of Tory, ten miles from land, there were returned, in 1821, only 297 souls, but there were said to be 59 houses. Now the average family in most of these islands, the reader must

Not so much so, however, as in one of our Hebrides, the island of Rona, about 30 miles north from Lewis. During seven years, excepting one visit from the boat of the Fortunee, then cruising after the President in 1802, the occupant of this farm, tending 50 sheep, had seen no face but that of his employer and his own family, consisting of six individuals! Such is the violence and height of the mountain-billows which break on this island, that the dykes of the sheepfold are often thrown down, and large stones removed from their places, at elevations reaching to 200 feet above high-water mark! The highest point of land in this island is about 600 feet.

have noted, is very large-generally 6 and 7! This would give more than 350 souls; but the aggregate of Tory has been recently stated as high as five hundred-every one of them speaking Irish. Taking these circumstances into account, and the natural increase within the last seven years, fifty thousand souls may certainly be regarded as a moderate calculation; but the total is probably even more than this.

With regard to the dialect of these long-neglected islanders, while I am perfectly aware that an Englishman will hear his own language spoken by individuals, and from them he will obtain replies to such questions as a traveller may put, just as it happens in the Western Isles of Scotland -still the Irish is as prevalent as Gaelic in the Hebrides. An Anglo-Hibernian may wander among these hundred islands, visiting ruins and tombs, admiring, as he must, the scenery, and picking up amethysts-some of the islanders may kindly accommodate him with English, while fishermen and kelp-makers may seem to go on full smoothly with the English terms needful in their calling;-but all this amounts to nothing when we are looking into their moral condition and the medium for its improvement. Even in secular affairs they much prefer Irish; and so, though there is some difference, the Hebridean and Irishman carry on barter in their common language. (See the note, page 176.) In Irish they feel more at ease, and need not to cast about for a word. In such a case as that just supposed, the writer, at least, has only to recollect how it was in the Western Isles of Scotland, when Gaelic schools were introduced there, and though when visiting them he was accommodated with English, not only by the boatmen, but other individuals; yet being under no bias, and desirous only of fixing on what seemed essential to moral improvement, he drew a very different conclusion from what some AngloHibernians would do, in reference to their seacoast and islands; but the truth is, that Irish is the rule-English the exception; and not only so, but much of that English is certainly to be classed with that which has been already characterized as spoken on the high road of the mainland, with that of an Irish servant at an inn, or even that of the Irishman living within the precincts of many a gentleman's or nobleman's domain.*

One illustration will do just as well as another; take only one from a respected friend. The scene is Lord Bantry's domain.-" A shower of rain drove us to seek shelter in the hut of the man who looks after the pheasants. He was alone; and with all the civility that never deserts an Irishman, he welcomed us in God's name,

After thus roaming over these Irish islands, when the eye is cast but a little farther to the north-east, although even there much remains to be done, what a singular contrast do some of the Hebrides present! They also were long and sadly neglected, but within these seventeen years we began to teach their vernacular tongue; and now in only one Gaelic school we see 368 scholars, of whom 224 are above twenty years of age: in another, 287, of whom 143 are also above twenty; but both these are in one island,nay there are ten schools besides, or in the whole about 1500 pupils: all this is in Lewis. In Skye we see 330; in Islay above 530. To these western isles also, independently of the Gaelic schools and the books for their express use, only since 1824, there have been voted above 1100 Bibles, 1650 New Testaments, and 1100 Scripture extracts, or in all above 3850 distinct volumes. But the Glasgow Society have been in the habit of following up these Gaelic schools with English. There is beside, the useful schools of the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge; and to close the account, the schools more recently established in the islands alone, under the sanction of the General Assembly, now amount to seventeen, in which not only Gaelic is taught, but English, writing, arithmetic, and geography,three of these are in Islay, three in Skye, and one in Lewis. And from whence has all this more recent activity in conveying instruction sprung? I have no hesitation in adding,

and produced stools, which he took care to wipe with his great-coat before he permitted us to sit on them. On inquiring from him why he was alone and where were his family; he said they were all gone to Watch-Mass, (it was the Saturday before Easter-day.) And what is the Watch-Mass?' He could not tell. And what day was yesterday?' He could not tell. And what day will to-morrow be?' He could not tell. What! cannot you tell me why yesterday has been called 'Good Friday, and to-morrow Easter-Sunday? No! Turning to my companion, I was moved to observe with great emphasis, how deplorable it was to see men, otherwise so intelligent, so awfully ignorant concerning matters connected with religion. Not so fast with your judgment, my good sir,' said my friend; what if you prove very much mistaken in this instance concerning the knowledge of this man: recollect you are now speaking to him in a foreign tongue. Come now, I understand enough of Irish to try his mind in his native dialect.' Accordingly he did so; and it was quite surprising to see how the man, as soon as the Irish was spoken, brightened up in countenance; and I could perceive from the smile that played on the face of my friend, how he rejoiced in the realization of his prognostic; and he began to translate for me as follows: I asked him what was Good Friday? It was on that day that the Lord of Mercy gave his life for sinners; a hundred thousand blessings to him for that.' What is Watch-Saturday?' It was the day when watch was kept over the holy tomb that held the incorruptible body of my Saviour.' Thus the man gave, in Irish, clear and feeling answers to questions, concerning which, when addressed in English, he appeared quite ignorant; and yet of common English words and phrases he had the use; but like most of his countrymen in the south, his mind was groping in foreign parts when conversing in English, and he only seemed to think in Irish; the one was the language of his commerce, the other of his heart."--Sketches in Ireland, by the Reverend Cæsar Otway.

from the simple operation of having begun to teach the people their native language.

Now at the present moment, a man may wander over all those Irish islands, which, though smaller in size, are more than double the number of the Hebrides-but he will meet with nothing but one unbroken contrast to such proceedings as these now mentioned-a contrast for which not a single reason can be adduced to those who know the country, which is worthy of one moment's reflection. Yet the writer well remembers the time when there was nothing of this kind known, even in the Hebrides—and then it was, that the idea of teaching the vernacular tongue was scouted, and then too, opposed by those who now see its absolute necessity and importance. In Ireland, therefore, "let the patrons of privation but stand a while aside, and admit the operation of positive principles"-they will soon behold the same results, and, like former opponents of similar measures in Britain, they also will rejoice to assist.

It may now, however, very naturally be inquired,-But are there no schools in any of these islands? I reply, there are schools in the islands of Raghlin, Inch, and Aranmore, in Clare and Inisherkin, such as they are, and, of course, in Cove, situated in Great Island, and perhaps one or two more. But none of these are Irish schools, though Irish is spoken. One Irish school has been proposed for the island of Tory, where, out of five hundred, about half a dozen can also speak English; but as for all the rest, the eye will search in vain for schools or scholars, or places of worship. When the peculiarity of their situation is observed, and the number of generations is remembered, which, alas! in this state must have passed away, surely there is no man of common sympathy who would not instantly inquire, "What can be, what shall be, done for them?" During the long and dreary past many a bark has foundered upon their shores, but they, themselves, in a sadder sense, have been wrecked by one common storm, and, though actually within sight of our shore, have scarcely ever heard of our common and glorious Deliverer!

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I am perfectly aware of their natural shrewdness, and how much they can entertain a traveller by their occasional replies; but still one thing is needful," and while that is wanting, perhaps some readers may not be able to refrain from accommodating the lines of the poet :