it, preferves a ftrong refemblance of the Celtic original, and leads us to its primitive defignation. Mr. Pennant, in his tour in Scotland, faw, near Struan, a Danish fortification on the top of a rock; about a furlong diftant, was another large fortified rock; thefe fortreffes, he adds, are univerfally called, in the Erfe, Dûns. There are two Dùns in the Queen's County, and the fame in every circumstance as the Scottish ones; this of Dunamafe, the other at Clopoke, about five miles diftant. They are conoid hills of limeftone, exhibiting a very fingular appearance, and not only tenable by a fmall garrifon, but before the ufe of artilléry, almoft impregnable. On the fubmiffion of the Irish chiefs to King Henry the fecond, the English government parcelled out the country among the adventurers, as the only means to extend and retain its conquefts, In the fragment of history given us by Maurice Regan, the names of the districts and of the grantees are preserved; but the former are To antiquated as to be inexplicable; how ever it is probable, that Dunamafe is included in John de Clahul's portion, which included all the land between Aghaboe and Leighlin. Dermod, king of Leinster, marrying his daughter Eva to Strongbow earl of Pembroke, on his decease made him his univerfal heir; whereby the earl inherited the province of Leinster, and was afterwards enfeoffed of it by Henry II. He died in 1176, and left an only daughter, Ifahel, efpoufed to William Marthall, earl of Pembroke; by her he had five fons, who fucceeded to his great eftates in Leinster; Anfelm, the fourth, died the 30 Hen. III. A.D. 1245, upon which his poffeffions gavelled among his five fifters. "She, who married William de Bruce, lord of Becknock, had, fays baron Finglas, the manor of Duanemaufe in Leix, with other certaine londes in the county of Kildare. From these words we may infer, that Dunamafe was early made a manor by the Pembroke family. A capital manor, as defcribed by Bracton, had subordinate and appendant to it, many caftles, villages and hamlets, that owed it fuits and fervices; this was the cafe with Dunamafe, as we fhall presently fee. Finglas, by mention ing Dunamafe alone, intimates that it was the chief refidence or manfion of the family in those parts; and agreeable to this idea, and its importance, Sir John Davis calls it-the principal houfe of lord Mortimer in Leix. As it bounded the English pale on the weft, a ftrong caftle was built there to protect the vicinity; it was the refidence of the fenefchal, who reprefented the lord; and the feat of military authority and civil jurifdiction; here all the incidents of the feudal fyftem were discharged, and hither the tenants reforted før juftice and protection. The precife time of erecting this caftle cannot be afcertained, but it may be conjectured to have been about the beginning of Henry III's reign, in the year 1216; for nearly at the fame time, the caftle of Ley, eight miles diftant, was erected by the barons of Ophaly, on the banks of the Barrow; a structure, in the thickness and height of its walls, its vaults and difpofition of rooms, and its general tyle of building, resembling the former. As the lord paramount was bound by the feudal conftitution to provide the ftate, on every occafion, with a certain number of foldiers; to answer fuch emergencies, and to fecure his property against the infurrections of the natives; he establi.ed around his capital manfion a military tenantry, who held by knight's service, and were always prepared for war. This gave rife to the numerous caftles that surround Dunamafe; as Dyfart, Palace, Shean, Moret, Ballymanus, Coolbanagher, Ballybrittas, Kilmarter and Ballyknockin. Nor were the other concomitants of baronial magnificence wanting to Dunamase. About it lay the demefne and other tenemental lands; the great-heath was the lord's wafte and common to the manors, and the castle was crowded with armed men, the terror of the neighbourhood, and the bulwark of the pale. Such was the fituation of Dunamafe for many years. While the British fettlers preferved their original manners, the fickleness of the Irish, and their proneness to refiftance were effectually curbed; but when the pride of power, without any of the virtue that acquired it, was only found among them; when corruptions had degraded their national character, they then became contemptible to those who formerly dreaded them, and inftead of masters became fuitors for protection. "Taking advantage, fays fir John Davis, of thofe weak times, the Irifh ufurped those feigniories that were in poffefhon of the English; fetting up a perpetual claim to those great lordships, they were employed by the English noblemen for their protection, but feized them as their inheritance when opportunity offered Thus about the end of Edward II's reign, A. D. 1325, Lyfagh O More, the antient proprietary of Leix, being intrufted by lord Mortimer, who had married lord Brecknock's only daughter, with the care and protection of his eftates; affumed the name of O More, took eight caftles one evening, deftroyed Duamafe (Duna- speaks in his hiftory of Ireland: "Sir maft), and recovered that whole country; Charles Coote going to Bir, was to pafs de fervo Dominus, de fubjecto Princeps a cause way which the rebels had broken affectus, faith friar Clynn in his annals." up, and had caft up a ditch at the end of Such is the account given by Davis, corro- it; but Coote made thirty of his dragoons borating what hath been advanced con- alight, and in perfon led them on, and cerning Dunamafe and its caftles. beat off the Irish with the laughter of forty rebels and their captain; and then relieved the caftlus of Bir, Burras and Knocknamafe, (Dunamafe).' In the year 1329, under the government of Sir John Darcy, Dunamafe and other cattles were recovered from the Irish; but fuch at that time was the debility of the English adminiftration in this kingdom, that there was very little fecurity for property against the rapacity of the firft invader. The O Mores again feized on Du namafe, about the 18th of Edward the third, but were difpoffeffed in two years after; for by a plea-roll of the 20th of Edward the third it appears, that Connel O More of Leix, who after rebellion had fubmitted himself at Athy to Walter Birmingham, jufticiary of Ireland, acknowledged that he held his manor of Bellet and other his lands in Leix, of Roger Mortimer, as of his manor of Donmaske (Dunamafe.) In the year 1398, the fame Mortimer, carl of March and Ulfter and lord of Dunamafe, being lieutenant of Ireland, bad his paternal caftle repaired, and its works enlarged; it is probable he would have vifited his cates in Leix, had he not been unfortunately flain in an engagement with the O Byrnes, at Kells in Offory, the twentieth of July this year. Very little remarkable is recorded of Dunamafe for fome fucceeding centuries, but its change of mafters in the perpetual convulfions which this nation experienced. In the reign of the elder James, this with the other fortreffes of the kingdom was put into a defensive state. It was found, that the conftruction of caftles and ftrong houfes, were the only certain means of fecuring the allegiance of the natives, and the poffeffions of the English. Hence in the space of thirteen years, from the flight of Tyrone and Tyrconnel in 1606 to 1619, (the time Pynnar made his furvey) there were built in the fix efcheated counties of Ulfter, one hundred and eighty-feven caftles with bawns without caftles. Under the administration of the Earl of Strafford, as Borlafe acquaints us, many new caftles were built and the old epaired; amid this attention, Dunamafe was not neglect ed, as we shall now fee. In the beginning of the Irish rebellion, the infurgents fecured Maryborough, Dunamafe, Carlow and other ftrong holds. The earl of Ormond arriving at Athy from Dublin, in April 1642, detached parties to the relief of thofe fortreffes. Of one of thefe detachments Sir Richard Cox thus On the retreat of Ormond, these forts fubmitted to general Prefton, but were re-taken by the king's forces, and continued in their poffeffion until the year 1646, when Owen Roe O Neil entered the Queen's County, committing every act of outrage and cruelty; he took Dyfart, Maryborough, Cullenbrack, Sheehen alias Diden, Bealaroyn, Caftlereban, &c. Dunamafe within a small mile of Dyfart did not elcape. In 1648, O Neil offered to furrender bis garrifons in the Queen's County to colonel Jones, and to lay down his arms, provided he and the confederate catholics might have the privileges confirmed to them which they enjoyed in the reign of king James; but this was not accepted; the next year lord Catlehaven drove O Neil out of the country. In July 1650, Maryborough, Dunamafe and the neighbouring forts furrendered to the colonels Heufon and Reynolds ; Dunamafe was blown up and effectually dif mantled, as were the reft. Let us now proceed to a defcription of this antient fortrefs: - The entrance is S. W. and faces the road to Stradbally; here was the barbican which ferved for a watch-tower, and was joined to the ditch by a draw-bridge. On each fide of the barbican were ditches, as far as the hill was acceffible, and the outward ballium was flanked with two towers or bastions; the first gateway is feven feet wide, and the walls fix feet thick; it has a § machicolation over it, for pouring down melted lead or fcalding water; the wall of this ballium is a parapet, crenellated, and to the N. E. is twenty feet high, with long chinks and oillet holes. The distance between tower and tower is one hundred and feventy-four feet. Between the outward and inward ballia is a length of one hundred feet, the gate of the latter is placed in a tower, and over NOTE S. Ballium is the space immediat within the outer wall. Machicolations are small ftone jections, fupported by brackets, open intervals at bottom, or a ki of grates for the ufes mentioned. H 2 it ! it was a guard room; in the thicknefs of the de paffages admitting but one perjy, at a ti ve, and he by no means corFarm this fecond tower begins ex wall that furrounds the fummit of he has its circumference is 1086 fect; the area is rot perfectly circular, thongh cracy i, as far as the projections f the rock will admit: oster at top is 362 feet. The y an elliptical conoid in om its bafe to its vertex, it ידי ר! A Cras feet. ner wall, at proper diftances, had the foundations ftill appear; on t of the bill stood the keep or donjon: fome, and not improbably, have fap oled this to be the chapel: it is east and eft, and the eastern window intire. was this appropriation to a religious fe, that perhaps, stopped the fury of the fanatic defroyers of this building, and left it untouched. Contiguous to this was a dwelling houfe, feventy-two feet long and twenty one wide; on this were platforms and embattled parapets, from whence the garrifon might fee and command the exterior works The houfe was divided into apartments, and vaults ran under the whole. To the N. W. was a well of excellent water; and on the weft was, what tradition calls, a prifon; but it feems to have been a poftern. The naked rock appears on the N E. fide, and the approach to the other parts was difficult and dan gerous. When whole and complete it was a beautiful model of military architecture, and even at this day prefents the curious vifitant with noble ruins of its former grandeur. Publius Lentulus, his Epifle to the Senate of Rome, in the Days of Tiberius Caefar, concerning Jefus Chrijt. T HERE appeared in these our days, a man of great virtue named Jefus Chrift, who is yet living amongst us, and of the gentiles is accepted for a prophet of truth, but his own difciples call him the fon of God. He raifeth the dead, and coreth all manner of difeafes. A man of ftature fomewhat tall and comely, with a very reverend countenance fuch as the beholders may both fear and love: his hair of the colour of a filberd full ripe and plain almost down to his ears, but from his ears downwards fomewhat curled, and more orient of colour waving about his fhoulders, in the midst of his head goeth a feam or partition, after the manner of the Nazarites. His forehead very plain and smooth: his face without fpot or wrinkle, beautified with a comely red; his nofe and mouth To formed as nothing can be reprehended, His beard fomewhat thick, agreeable in colour to the hair of his head, not of any great length, but forked in the midst of His eyes, an innocent and mature look. clear and quick. In reproving he is terrible, in admonishing courteous and fair fpoken; pleafant in fpeech, mixed with gravity. It cannot be remembered that any have feen him laugh, but many have feen him weep. In proportion of body well thaped and ftrait; his hands delectable to behold. In fpeaking very temperate, modeft, and wife. A man for his fingular beauty furpaffing the children of men. Publius Lentulus was an officer of high rank in the Roman army, then in Judea, and the only perfon of that nation who fent any account to Rome of fo extraordinary an event as mentioned by Velleius Paterculus. A Sketches of Domestic Life. S the diftreffes originating from love have been numerous and afflictive, the young people of both sexes cannot be too frequently, too powerfully warned again the dangers to which they expofe themfelves by fuffering that paffion to take poffeffion of their hearts. Cleora, the daughter of a merchant who was not in affluent circumftances, had beauty fufficient to attract the notice, and to win the affection of a young gentleman of family and fortune; who foon found means to get accefs to her, concealing his rank from her father, that he might not entertain fufpicions with regard to his fecret defigns.-Camillus fucceeded fo well in his amorous manœuvres, that Cleora became quite enchanted with him; and indeed his personal advantages and intellectual accomplishments were fufficient to juftify all her prejudices and prepoffeffions in his favour. As foon as Camillus difcovered the impreflion which he had made on Cleora's heart, he propofed a private marriage to her, informing her, at the fame time, that he had no hopes of his father's confent.-However, added he, as he is far advanced in years, we may conceal it during his lifeThe moment I am my own mafter it fhall be publickly folemnized." Deluded by this flattering fpeech, Cleora rafhly gave her confent, and they were married, but in an illegal manner. When the ceremony was over, Cleora was easily ́prevailed upon by her fuppofed husband to accompany him to Ireland. There, during a twelve month, they lived, and no visible abatement of affection-appeared on the fide of Camillus; it feemed indeed to derive new frength from the birth of a daughter. Cleora's happiness, however was, was but of a fhort duration. Camillus, who was by no means a novice in love affairs, growing weary of his companion be. fore the fecond year was expired, returned to England, telling her business of importance required his abfence, but that he would difpatch it as foon as he poffibly could, and fly to her fond arms on the wings of love. Cleora, at firft, endured his abfence from her with all the calmness of refignation, fill confoling herself with the hopes of his speedy return; but, finding that it greatly exceeded the time he had mentioned to ber, she was extremely alarmed. She did sot immediately harbour doubts of his fidelity; the fource of her difquiet was a fincere concern for his fafety. She wrote feveral letters to him, and having received no answer, concluded that he had met with fome accident; the therefore, fet off without delay for England, not being able to bear that state of fufpence which drove peace from her mind, and rendered the pain of her heart more acute. Upon her arrival, the made the ftricteft enquiries after Camillus, of whofe treachery the foon received the most glaring proofs.-He went fo far indeed as to deny that the was his wife, and to filence her fcruples upon that head, fent her the Marriage-A&t to read. Cleora, though treated in this very unjuft, injurious manner, at firft endeavoured by remonftrances, equally tender and fubmiffive, to recover his loft affection: but on being informed that he had entered into a connection with a French lady of great beauty, and was going with her to Paris, her love was converted into refentment, and her refentment foon blazed into rage. She inftantly refolved to fatisfy her revenge, or to perish in the attempt. In order to carry this fpirited defign into execution, the thought it expedient to difguife herself, and having left her daughter to the care of a friend in whom the could fafely confide, embarked for France, as a Gentleman upon his travels, and in a few days arrived at Paris. Taking lodgings immediately in the Fauxbourgh St. Germain's, the frequented all the public houfes which English gentlemen viated. Yet in spite of all her diligence in the inquifitive ftyle, the could gain no intelligence of Camillus, during a relidence of eight months at Paris: the therefore began to despair of meeting with him, and concluding that he was gone to fome other place, determined to return to her own country. The fame night happening to pafs through an obfcure lane, the heard the clafhing of fwords, and by the light of the on perceived one man defending himself with difficulty against two. Difappointed in love, fhe was indifferent about life, and with a degree of courage not common in her fex, attacked one of the affailants, whom the wounded; in confequence of this wound he fled, and his companion, feeing he had now two adverfaries to encounter, joined him in his flight. Cleora, perceiving that the perfon whom he had refcued was very much weakened by lofs of blood, and that his wounds had a dangerous appearance, ordered him to be conveyed to a neighbouring hotel, and put to bed. She then difpatched a meffenger for a furgeon, who, having examined his wounds, declared that they were mortal, and that he did not believe he could live three days. Camillus, as soon as he was in fome measure come to himself, defired to fee his benefactor, who accordingly waited on him. How great was their mutual furprize, when Cleora difcovered in the perfon whom he had fo generously defended, the faffe Camillus, by whom the had been cruelly deferted while he, on the other hand, beheld his injured wife! The violent agitation into which this unexpected interview had thrown him, was foon followed by a flood of tears: a thoufand times he implored her pardon, and fhe, feeing her once lov'd husband in fo affecting a fituation, felt all her refentment fubfide-felt all her tenderness return. She now repeatedly affured him of her immoveable love, and mixed no upbraidings with her affurances: their fubfequent interviews were not lefs conjugal and affectionate. Camillus, being acquainted with his condition by the furgeon who attended him, made his will, and fettled a confiderable eftate, which had been lately left him by his father, upon Cleora; who, on his dying a few days afterwards, fincerely lamented his lofs. Returning foon to England, the lived from that time in the molt retired manner, and the fuperintendance of her daughter's education employed the greatest part of her attention. The British Theatre. Drury-Lane. pantomime, partly new and partly old, called "Lun's Ghoft; or, The New Year's Gift," was performed at this theatre. HURSDAY evening, January 3, a This is like the garment of a botching taylor, confifting of a variety of stølen pieces, and a flip or two of new cloth. We were not aware, that the expence of wit in the conftruction of any pantomime was fo great as to render borrowing at all ad vantageous. Some diffatisfied writers have alledged that hints and chara&ers have MONDAY evening, Jan. 21, a lady whofe name is Barnes, appeared for the first time at this theatre, in the part of Alicia, in Jane Shore. The uncommon merit of Mrs. Yates in the character of Jane Shore has often drawn us to the theatre; but we have not feen the part of Alicia performed even by Mrs. Crawford without fome degree of difguft. Indeed, we have long been of opinion, that the part itflf is not well written. The contratted paffions of the two friends in the utmost extremities of rage and diftrefs were judiciously imagined; but the language and action of Alicia are too outrageous to be an imitation of nature. Even Mrs. Crawford did not perceive this, and heightened by her manner the original fault of the author. Mifs Young, who is a very coarfe copyift of Mrs. Crawford, makes bad worfe. It is not therefore to be fuppofed that Mrs. Barnes (as he is called) fhould avoid this error of ranting and mouthing, when all the affiftance and inftruction fhe could well have had tended to that effect; and when the must have feen that thofe in poffeffion of the part were applauded whenever they fereamed out a word, or stamped the ftage like a porter. Mrs. Barnes's person is tolerable, rather too fhort, and in too good condition for the ftage. Her countenance is regular, but will not admit of a variety of expreffion. Her voice is clear, but her ear is not capable of directing it. If Mrs. Barnes fucceeds on the stage, it will not be in fo high a line as that the attempted. Opera House. Arcefle or the Triumph of Conjugal Love. verre. Admetus and his queen refort to the temple in order to celebrate the anniverfary of their marriage, and adorn the altar with feftoons and garlands of flowers. Mirth and feftivity fucceed to this religious ceremony; and in their dance, the royal pair exprefs the happiness and love they bear each other. But this felicity is short lived in the midst of their rejoicings, Admetus and his courtiers are terrified by the fudden and ominous roaring of the thunder, Alathes of lightning pierce swift through the clouds, the altar is in Rames, and the following infeription, written in letters of fire, complete the confternation of the spectators. Admetus muft inftantly die-or another for bim! This oracle plunges Alcefte into the utmoft defpair. Admetus already feels the approach of the king of terrors-The agonies of death affail him. In vain does Alcefte implore the pity of the gods; they are deaf to her prayers: in vain does the afflicted queen claim the affiftance of the furrounding courtiers; a reverential awe keeps them at a distance. Alcefte unable to refift the impulfe of conjugal love, devotes herself to the infernal deities, and gives up her life to purchase that of her royal confort.-She ftabs herself, and expires in the arms of her women. Now that the fatal oracle is fulfilled, Admetus revives: the firft ufe he makes of his powers is to look for Alcefte, whom he fees veiled and supported by her attendance. With flow and trembling fteps he advances, lifts up her veil with all the emotions of fear and terror. At fight of her death firuck countenance he farts back with horror. The fatal weapon drenched in the blood of Alcefte he takes up, and offers to ftab himself. He is difarmed, and running to his dear Alcefte, falls at her feet; and overcome at laft by the fevere conflict of love and rage, falls motionless in the arms of his courtiers. At this diftreffing crifis, Apollo, the tutelary god of the king of Argos, appears RIDAY, January 11, a new dance was carried in a cloud, accompanied by Hebe, F performed at the opera house, the Iris, Cupid, and Hymen. The latter fubject of which is as follows: an extinguished torch, and lights it up at that |