tinued to act as Provisor in the Irish College. In 1694 he took the degree of doctor of laws in the colleges of Cambray and Paris, and, about 1697, returned to Dublin, where he continued till his death, in 1738. He translated the Vulgate New Testament into English, with notes, which was published in London about 1705, and again in 1718. On the title-page of this octavo volume, which is now very scarce, it is said to be the work of C. N. C. F. P. D. i. e. Cornelius Nary, Consultissimæ Facultatis Parisiensis Doctor. In the year 1720, he published in folio, a History of the World, grounding his chronology on the computations of the Septuagint, which he undertakes to prove to be that of the ancient Hebrew Scriptures; and, some time after this, he also printed a short "History of Ireland, the copies of which are now very scarce.* The Revolution in France, which affected the Irish colleges in so many other places, was, of course, fatal to that in Paris. At that eventful period there were not less than 180 Irish students, viz. 100 in the College des Lombards, under four masters, and in the Irish Community, Rue de Cheval Vert, there were 80 more, under three masters. This seminary, however, has been so far restored by the late King, Louis XVIII., and is now called Collège Britannique, as it unites the three ancient colleges, denominated English, Irish, and Scotch. In the Irish department, the professors, sometimes exclusively Irish, at others, French and Irish, are selected by the President, who receives his ultimate appointment from the King of France. In conclusion, of these foreign seminaries it may be stated that there are at the present moment about one hundred and forty students at different colleges on the Continent. Seventy of these are at Paris, about twelve at Rome, and the remainder at Salamanca, Lisbon, and various private French seminaries. A good many who go abroad do so without any certain destination, but the great body intend returning to their native land. The funds still remaining in existence, consisting principally of foundations made by Irishmen, as already stated, who either funded sums of money abroad, or sent them from Ireland, are calculated to be sufficient for the support of about sixty students, at * Reilly's History of Ireland, with the articles of Limerick, &c. by Dr Nary, is but a thin 18mo in small type,-it may be got for 12s., but has been sold for a guinea. 800 francs annually for each, if the entire income be so applied. The great change produced by the French war and Revolution suggested the necessity of Maynooth College. It was resolved upon in 1795. The statutes, however, were not printed till 1800, and in the list of Professors there will be found one for the Irish Language: but the fact is, that though there was a Professor of Modern Languages in the original draft, the vernacular tongue itself was entirely overlooked; at least it is certain that there was originally no provision made for an Irish Professor. But the set time for treating this long-proscribed language with common candour and more enlightened policy, it is to be hoped, had nearly arrived. The tongue itself, however, as if in conformity with ancient usage, must not, it seems, even yet receive, in every respect, any formal and legal acknowledgment; yet indebted, as it had often been, to individual benevolence and an attachment most natural, it was at last favoured with a Professor's chair, upon its own native soil, and the appointment has been printed among the others since the period referred to. It was a single individual, and he an Irishman, who enjoyed the gratification of thus far befriending his country. Mr Keenan, a scrivener in Dublin, "sunk one thousand pounds of his hard-earned property, the produce of a long, laborious, and economical life, for L.60 per annum, to support an Irish Professor for teaching and instructing the students the Irish language in the Irish character."* Accordingly, in July 1802, the Rev. Paul O'Brien, author of the Irish Grammar, in the Irish character, already mentioned, was appointed to the chair. In June 1820, he was succeeded by the Rev. Martin Loftus: but even this chair, the only one in Ireland, was vacant recently, and I am not aware of any successor being yet appointed, otherwise I should have mentioned the name. The books used, besides the Irish Grammar and MacCurtin's Dictionary, are the Irish New Testament and Donlevy's Catechism. *History of Dublin, vol. II., p. 929. In the effectual education of any tribe, there is a course to which nature not only points, but constrains. In every instance it is demonstrable, that the benevolent visitor or resident must sit down and begin with the people where God and nature begin with them. If we descend not to their level, we shall never raise up any save a mere fraction of the community, nor will that fraction raise the remaining body. As to the vernacular tongue, whatever that be, if we will not go back and start here, the people, as such, stand still, and are left behind. But truly, on such a subject as that of a liberal education, naturally and necessarily taking its rise from the first tongue in which a people have spoken, and been accustomed to think, embracing too such an aggregate of human beings under the British crown, and after such a detail as the present, one is greatly at a loss what to say. It has been drawn out, and facts placed in this new light before the intelligent reader, in the hope that they will instantly suggest to many the imperative but pleasing duty of pursuing a course, more congenial with the love of country and the good of Ireland. If these poor dear people wish to have education, and let the reader point, if he can, to that class in this kingdom who desire it more, and if the language is dear to them, as dear it is, let them have it to their hearts' content, and as the only basis, too, of all effectual information and happiness to the Irish mind in its present condition. -- Within these few years, it is true, Irish education, properly so called, has been making progress in various districts, which will be afterwards noticed; but still, if a population so large is waiting without doors for instruction by the only medium through which they can at present comprehend and estimate any moral or religious subject, how can it consist with our highest obligations for matters to remain in their present state with regard to schools of a higher description? The bequest of Mr Flood has failed; but, oh! surely, without waiting for any eleemosynary windfall, were the enlightened members of Trinity College to take the subject into impartial consideration, something might and ought to be done, whether within or without the walls. To say nothing of the kind spirit which is now abroad as to this language, they have not to proceed against a wind and tide so strong as that which once unhappily prevailed. In some of the Provosts of other days, there is this one object which they prosecuted con amore; and if busts or pictures are desirable, assuredly Bedell and Boyle, Marsh, and even Hall, deserve them in Trinity College for this alone. When, however, the visitor of any school of learning begins to commend it, for the past pre-eminence or zeal of any of its members in any one department of useful knowledge, there is an awkwardness felt in receiving the compliment. A living representative within the same enclosure, with all the improvements which time has given, is wanted. And, oh! had but a few able men with undaunted constancy only walked in the first foot-prints of Bedell, in what a different state had Ireland been at the present hour! Ere this time we must have had authors upon Irish ground, and in other tongues beside their own, who would unquestionably have contributed to raise the character of this kingdom. Were I, even here, in conclusion, to beg the intelligent reader to fix his eye on the opinions, so decidedly expressed, by successive monarchs of this country, certainly he would reply," But how is all this? Has there been all along, somewhere, behind the throne, a power greater than the throne itself? As for the eighteenth century, then, it should seem, all slept; but have you not already referred to Edward VI., Queen Elizabeth, James I., Charles I., and Queen Anne?" True, I reply, and they must be referred to once more-Meanwhile it only remains for the King again to lift his voice, and see whether no change for the better can be effected in a University of royal foundation,-founded, too, and plentifully endowed, "principallie" with a view to the natives. But, independently altogether of a Professorship in Trinity College, or in the city, or both, (for rivalship here would do great good,) there certainly ought, at all events, to be at least one fine school in Dublin, where Irish should be taught thoroughly, grammatically, and with taste, as a normal or model school for the country; and not only so, but in Cork, Limerick, and Galway, for the benefit of surrounding districts, there ought to be one of a similar description. This, however, will be glanced at again, after we have noticed a subject of still greater importance,-one which, had it been regarded, would have produced, as only one effect, all that for which we now plead; and the English language also, very naturally a favourite theme with many in Ireland, must have acquired an ascendency very different from what it has done to this hour. However strange it may seem to some ears, I refer to Irish oral instruction, or Irish preaching—a subject which, in the pre sent state of the country, deserves the most deliberate and serious consideration. "It is fit that it should be remembered, that near this city of Dublin there is an University, founded by Queen Elizabeth, principally intended for the Natives of this Kingdom." JEREMY TAYLOR. "We have reason to expect that in all this long tyme of our peaceable government, some good numbers of the Natives should have been trained upp in that College." JAMES I. "Prudence and skill for the management of ourselves in reference to others, in civil affairs, for public good, is much the fairest flower within the border of Nature's garden." JOHN OWEN. |
