with any other feeling than that of idle and ignorant curiosity. Their ears have been poisoned with the burlesque and lying tales (inventions of the last half century) which the wretched men and women, miscalled guides, of the places have composed for the entertainment of the thoughtless. They wander unmoved among shrines which, nearly thirteen centuries ago, were raised in honour of their God by men joyous and thankful in the feeling of certain immortality-men whose fathers in their youth had reverenced the Druid as a more than human

counsellor. That several of the existing churches formed part of the original foundation their style of architecture sufficiently indicates.

The noble doorway of "the Ladys' Church," a modern name, is, perhaps, the grandest of its kind remaining, and exhibits, in a striking degree, that early Greek form which is so very commonly found in the doorways and other openings of our most ancient churches and round towers, and even, though more rudely, developed in the cathairs (cahers) and other Irish remains of the Pagan era.

The remarkable building called "St. Kevin's Kitchen" is not the least interesting object in the group. Its high-pitched roof of stone remains in a perfect state. A doorway in the western gable displays an

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instance of the lintel surmounted by an arch. The chancel, which a few years ago remained, though of great antiquity and stone-roofed, appears to have been an addition, and a portion of the ancient east window may still be observed in the wall just above the head of the choir-arch,

which was not formed in the usual manner, but cut out of the masonry. The little tower upon the west end appears to be the earliest example of a belfry springing from a roof or gable; but this, as well as the sacristy, is of later date than the rest of the building.

Trinity Church, perhaps, in a greater degree than any coeval structure in Leinster, retains the original character of its various features. It possesses a magnificent specimen of the square-headed doorway, a choir-arch, of its period certainly the finest in Ireland, chancel windows with heads semi-circular or triangular; in short, almost every characteristic of the most ancient style of church architecture in Ireland, and each perfect in its way. In that singularly interesting ruin, styled the Monastery, are columns which, upon their capitals, exhibit ornamental culpture of a style peculiar to monuments of the ninth and tenth centuries. These in England would be pronounced Norman, more particularly as the arch which they were designed to sustain dis

played a variety of the zig-zag or cheveron moulding, as may be seen from several of its stones which yet remain.

The Refeart, or Royal Cemetery Church, though less imposing in its general appearance than several of the equally ancient remains in the more eastern part of the glen, on account of its association with the life of the founder, is not surpassed in interest by any of the others. In the cemetery of this (Refeart) church was preserved, a few years since, an ancient inscribed tombstone, popularly called King O'Toole's monument, but it has disappeared, "the guides" having sold it in small pieces to tourists scarcely less ignorant than themselves. The large structure standing within the enclosure of the cemetery, a little eastward from the round tower, is popularly styled the "Cathedral," and appears, from its name, dimensions, and position, to have been anciently the Daimhliag-mor, or chief church of the establishment. Notwithstanding its state of dilapidation (very recently the officers of the Board of Works have done much to conserve this and the other monuments of the place), there are in Ireland few structures of the same antiquity and extent that retain so many original features. The tower adjoining is one of the largest and most perfectly preserved now remaining. Its semi-circular doorway head, carved out of a single stone, may be looked upon as a good example of that peculiar mode of construction.

A caiseal, or wall, appears usually to have enclosed the greater number of the ancient Irish monastic establishments. That such a work anciently existed at Glendalough is certain, though scarcely a vestige of it at present remains above ground. One of the gateways, however, until a comparatively recent period, stood in a nearly perfect state.

It is described and engraved by Dr. Petrie's Essay on the Round Towers, page 447, and his prophecy, that for want of care this monument, unique in its kind, would soon cease to exist, became half fulfilled shortly afterwards by the fall of the principal arch. The stones, however, were collected, and the building has been restored.

I have but slightly glanced at the greater and more generally interesting ruins of this celebrated glen. It also contains numerous relics, such as monumental stones, crosses, &c., &c., which, by a visitor, should not be overlooked. That the singular chamber called "St. Kevin's Bed" is altogether a work of art cannot be satisfactorily demonstrated. Though, to a certain extent, its artificial character is distinctly marked, it is quite possible that a natural cavity, the sides of which have been roughly hewn and squared, may have existed previously. The Bed, which is situated in an almost overhanging rock