eminent judge, I need hardly say how delighted the Munster Bar were when he gave us the pleasure of his company. He was a most accomplished man, and no one enjoyed the society of intellectual minds

more.

Besides Dr. Anster, other members of the Munster Circuit gained distinction in various fields of literature. Dr. Kenealy, a native of the county Cork, and for a time on the Munster Circuit, published a work called "Brallaghan, or the Deipnosophists," displaying much classical ability. His translation of the poem on Castle Hyde into Greek verse is admirable. He did not obtain practice on the Circuit, and soon left the Irish for the English Bar.

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Michael Joseph Barry, also a native of Cork, was favourably known as a writer by his excellent poems in this Magazine. His Kisshogue Papers," composed in the style of the "Ingoldsby Legends," are little, if at all, inferior, to those humorous tales. In conjunction with the present Judge Keogh, Mr. Barry compiled a work on "Chancery Practice," which displayed much research.

Another barrister of the same name, the late Mr. Michael Barry, the Professor of Law in the Cork College, I was told, occasionally obtained briefs intended for the writer on Chancery Practice, and also invitations to parties meant for the author of the lively Kisshogue Papers. The frequency of these mistakes elicited the following jeu d'esprit from the injured poet:

"No wonder my namesake my anger provokes,

For he's feed for my law, and he's fed for my jokes."

Mr. Heron, Q.C., has published an interesting "History of the

University of Dublin," and some legal works relating to the Irish Land Laws, which display great knowledge of his subject. The late John F. Maguire, M.P., occasionally joined the Bar Mess. He, too, was a varied and able writer, as his "Irish in America," "The Life of Father Mathew," and other works prove. Isaac Butt, M.P., Q.C., also contributed largely, as I have already mentioned, to enrich the pages of this Magazine by his contributions, chiefly political. He has written a novel, "The Pass of Barnesmore," a work on Italy, and several essays on various subjects.

While on Circuit, our kind friends in Cork were profuse in their hospitality, and one of the banquets

-which my memory recalls from its singularity-was given in true Celtic style, by the late venerable Father Matt Horgan, Parish Priest of Blarney.

It was a bright summer day during the Summer Assizes, when, accompanied by Frank Walsh, John Francis Maguire, and other Cork notabilities, I drove to Father Matt's dinner party. He received

us in the banquetting hall-a large barn. In the centre of this barn a long table literally groaned beneath such a profusion of solids and fluids as I never beheld placed upon a table before or since. Here sirloins of beef jostled legs of mutton, rows of chickens alternated with hams and tongues, while whisky by the gallons and stacks of sugar by the loaf showed our worthy host resolved if any one went away hungry or thirsty, the fault was his own.

Father Matt himself was the very type of a hospitable Irishman. Tall and strong-limbed, though his silver locks showed the frosts of Time had touched his head, his words of welcome soon satisfied me they failed to reach his heart. We sat to our plentiful repast, and the appetite caused by the drive, and the air, and

the good fellowship, soon made considerable inroads upon the viands; while, after dinner, the flowing bowl went its circling round. Father Matt was a man of considerable antiquarian research, and the round tower at Blarney owed its erection to him.

Another pleasure we derived was from the exercise of hospitality. When a member of one of the other Circuits in Ireland or England, or a former member of our own, happened to be in the Assize town at the same time with us, he was usually invited to dine with us at the Bar Mess. The sight of old, once familiar, faces, was sure to awaken the memories of the past, and we sought to entertain our former companions with our best

cheer.

Our brethren who attended as Special Counsel were always honorary members of our mess, and many pleasant recollections are derived from some of those eminent members of other Circuits amongst us.

The Bar always patronize the drama, and both in Limerick and Cork the theatrical managers usually succeed in collecting a good company, and there is sure to be a performance under the special patronage of the members of the Bar. At Limerick a theatre was built in Cornwallis-street, in 1770, which was a celebrated one in its day. It afforded the citizens the opportunity of witnessing the performances of the brightest stars of the theatrical firmament. Here David Garrick, Mossop, Barry, Ryder, Mrs. Siddons, Mr. Kean, Mr. Kemble, Macklin, George Frederick Cooke, Miss Farren, &c., delighted the spectators by the representation of the works of our best dramatists.

But the play-going citizens of

Limerick were not solely indebted to foreign aid to support the stage. A very excellent corps of amateurs performed with decided success. One of them was well-known to us in his own distinguished and respected character, the late Sir Mathew Barrington.* Others, whose taste and talent were often displayed upon the boards in support of local characters, were Messrs. John M'Auliff, Pierce Brett, John Gubbins, George Hogan, Andrew Tracey, and William Glover.

We are told that from this old theatre, one night the celebrated comedian, George Frederick Cooke, staggered forth intoxicated. He had taken more whisky than his brain could carry, and arrayed in the dress in which he performed Petruchio, in the " Taming of the Shrew," set forth to return to his hotel. Missing his way, he was attracted by the light in a window, and entered a poor, humble house, in one of the narrow lanes, where the inmates were waking a corpse. A group of aged crones were keening over the deceased, deceased, when Cooke suddenly entered. He scared the assemblage by his strange appearance, and advancing towards the bed, on which the body lay, he addressed the mourners with::

"How now, ye secret, black and midnight hags, what is't ye do ?"

We can readily believe the comedy in which he lately played was very nearly followed by a tragedy, but he managed to get to his hotel.

Among the notable residents or natives of Limerick, who distinguished themselves in the theatrical profession, were Andrew Cherry and Miss Catherine Hayes. Cherry composed the "Soldier's Daughter" and "The Travellers," to which Dibdin contributed the songs. He was originally a printer, and em

ployed in the printing office of the Limerick Journal newspaper. The vicissitudes of an actor's life were experienced by him. At one time on the verge of starvation as a strolling player, then for several years one of the leading comedians at Covent Garden. He must have been a witty man, judging from the following anecdote. Once, when asked to form part of a company by a manager who had not fulfilled a former engagement, he replied, Sir, you have bitten me once, and I am resolved you shall not make two bites of A. Cherry."

Edmund Kean appears to have been unpopular in Limerick. The Assembly Rooms, on Charlotte Quay, opened on September 13th 1824, with "Richard III.," Kean playing Richard. He played for five nights to empty houses, and, though engaged for twelve nights, threw up his engagement in disgust. On a subsequent visit he was better supported, and played alternately tragedy and comedy.

The present Theatre Royal, in Henry Street, was built by Mr. Joseph Fogarty, in 1841.

The habits and manners of the play going gentry of Limerick have happily changed since O'Connell's time, as the following anecdote shows. At the Bar Mess, during the Spring Assizes of 1812, one of the bar, Mr. Standish O'Grady, addressing O'Connell, who sat next him at table, said, "I am going to the play, O'Connell, will you come ?"

No, indeed," replied O'Connell, "the bills inform us the play to-night is under the patronage of the Grand Jury. I have had some unpleasant experience of those gentlemen, and can assure you they are not the most agreeable companions in a box after dinner."

O'Connell and several others of the Bar sat chatting at the Bar Mess, and before they separated for the night were joined by O'Grady.

"I thought, Standish," said Dan, 'you were at the theatre."

"I went there, sure enough," replied O'Grady, "and, Dan, you are quite right. I was shown into the centre box, and made myself comfortable in the front row, when a dozen noisy fellows came in. On seeing one of them had his head close to a peg on which I had placed my hat, I said to him, very civilly, I hope my hat does not obstruct your view. If so, pray allow me to remove it.'

Faith, my tight fellow,' he replied, you may take your oath it doesn't, for if it did, I'd kick it into the pit, and yourself after it.' Now, as this fellow and his companions looked as if they thought the kicking affair would be prime fun, and as I dislike being kicked in or out of a theatre, I made no remonstrance, but put on my hat and left the box."

I here conclude my "History of the Munster Circuit." I have followed its course from the days of Queen Elizabeth to the reign of our Most Gracious Sovereign, Queen Victoria. I have shown that during three centuries we have had upright judges, able advocates, and impartial jurors. I have preserved the names and recorded the achievements of our most distinguished barristers; their fame is our inheritance, and it is, certainly, a source of pride for me to reflect, that for learning, for ability, for high principle, for every attribute which distinguishes men as barristers and as gentlemen, the members of the Munster Circuit to-day may challenge competition with their renowned predecessors. If my history merits their approval, I shall be sincerely happy. Of those who were my beloved companions upon the Circuit for the greater part of my time, many are passed away, while others enjoy the honours of the profession, and now adorn the bench.

To the majority even of the reading public the history of the period preceding the Reformation is almost entirely unknown. Until about half a century ago the history of the Middle Ages was a sealed book. Yet that period with all its darkness and ignorance is rich in lessons of practical importance, rich in examples of heroic devotion and noble fortitude, rich, too, in what is grand and romantic, as well as in faith and singleness of purpose.

The Medieval Church numbers among its Apostles St. Patrick, and Columba, Columbanus, and Eligius, Boniface, the Apostle of the Teutons, and the Father of German Christianity, and Raymond Lull, the great Apostle of the Moslems, who sealed with his blood outside the walls of Bugia his testimony to the religion of the Cross; Sturmi, and Anskar, Otho, and Olaf, and Adalbert; men who toiled and suffered, and died for Jesus of Nazareth.

From a very early period Ireland was conspicuous for learning and piety. "Antiquo tempore," says Alcuin, "doctissimi solebant magistri de de Hiberniâ Britanniam, Galliam, Italiam Venire, et multos per ecclesias Christi fecisse profectus."*

Christianity had been introduced into Ireland by St. Patrick as early as 430, and spread rapidly over the whole island.

The leader of the earliest band which started forth to evangelize the continent of Europe was Columbanus, a pupil of the Irish Monastery of Bangor. From 590 to 615 this ardent missionary laboured in Gaul, Switzerland, and Italy.

In Gaul the Monasteries of Luxeuil, Fontenay, and Anagrey arose out of his exertions, but becoming obnoxious to the Burgundian Court and to the native clergy, he was compelled to remove into Switzerland, and finally into Italy, where he died in 615, at the Monastery of Bobbio.

It was no easy task which lay before those early missionaries; just as in earlier times Christianity saved from the wreck all that was pure and beautiful in the civilization of Greece and Rome, when the Iron Kingdom was rent and shattered before the savage onslaught of the war-loving hordes of the north, so now, the nations of the north were to be evangelized, and the pure morality and peaceful precepts of the Gospel were to be preached to Celt, and Teuton, Goth, and Sclave. It certainly required men of earnest purpose, deep piety, and heroic devotion to pierce the vast forests which lay along the Rhine, and preach Christ crucified among the votaries of Druidism, and to the worshippers of Odin, Thor, and Frêyr; to trace the galleys of the Northmen, and bear