mountain two miles, would not prove a very light labour. I have often desired to know whether such things are to be met with in other parts of Ireland, or whether any one can assign a cause for their construction. In returning back to the road from these gigantic tombs, we passed through a village composed entirely of Protestants, and all of one family and name. They have settled here in their quiet secluded village on the borders of Mulroy Bay, with some good land skirting the shore, and a large tract of mountain pasture for their cattle to range on. We went into their houses, and were received with much simple kindness, refreshed with the best food they could afford-oaten bread, butter, and potatoes;-a fine race of men, a fair family of women, decently clad, sufficiently fed-the ignorance of any thing better than their own state, forming their bliss, it would be cruel to desire to make them wiser-in a worldly sense be this spoken. In a religious view, if they be ignorant --he who knows the value of a soul, would desire to enlighten them. On the other side of the water of Mulroy, is the peninsula of Fannat, which is bounded on the east by Lough Swilly, and on the west by Mulroy Lough; it is a wild mountain district, subject in many places to the blowing of the sand; but containing a great and increasing population. I understand that the Protestants of that district, are blessed with the residence and pastoral labour of a truly pious minister, and that his exertions, his preaching, and example, have had a most beneficial effect on those who attend to his instructions. The Romanists, as I am informed, are a most bigoted and superstitious race, given up to will-worship and saint adoration.? St. Columkill has done wonders for themI was told of a rock in this district on which the glory of Tyrconnel stood, and where he was determined to out Herod St. Patrick— who, good-natured as he was, only sent all the snakes and toads a packing from Croagh Patrick; but upon this rock, St. Columkill mounted and with bell and book, not forgeting the lighting of a holy candle, he cursed all the rats, mice, and earth worms in Fannat; not a tail of a rat, if you gave its weight in gold for it, could be got in the peninsula, the cats were laid aside as sinecurists. Mrs. Florinda M'Swine, a venerable virgin lady, was the only possessor of a grimalkin in the parish, and she retained it more for curiosity than convenience-nay more than that, there was not one earth-worm in the churchyard where the Catholics were interred. Old Johnny M'Alister the sexton, declared that in opening a fresh grave, and when he trundled up a skull, neither Worm crept in, or worm crept out, Or sported the eyes, or the temples about. But in an evil hour, a road was ordered by the higher powers, to be cut through the district, and a black Presbyterian, and withal a Scotchman, was the person appointed to lay out the new line-and what do you think of the man, foul befal his infidelity, he found the holy stone in his way, as he was levelling for the road; and with the scorn of a very chield of John Knox, he ordered his heretic people to knock it out of the way-and would you believe it? from that day forth, rats, and mice,' and frogs came into Fannat with the greatest freedom in the world. A rat was actually seen running across Father M'Mahon, the Priest's kitchen, and it's as true as you 're there, that Farmer M'Cullom gave a fat goose to a Derry cadger, for a young kitten. But there is one standing miracle of Columkill that yet holds out, and we trust that no Scotchman shall be ever able to shorten or mar such a privilege. The holy man has actually conferred on the inhabitants of Fannat, immunity from dying by the rope; do what they will, riot, rob, or rape-send them to Lifford, where, even if Lord was to come down as a special hanging judge, to trythem, still the Fannatians would all get out of dock-they might be sent to sea, to the other side of the world, to see Botany Bay; but every mother's soul would come home to die in Fannat-not an ounce of hemp was or ever shall be expended on one of them. : Not long ago the miracle was tried and to its utmost stretch-Columkill's honour was at stake-two or three fellows had committed an atrocious felony-they were taken and committed to Lifford, witnesses were ready and willing to prove their guilt to the uttermost-thousands trembled for the character of Columkill, 'twas neck or nothing with him as the trial approached all Fannat was on fire with suspense. But, my good Sir, though the whole world knew that hanging was too good for them, yet for the honour of the Saint, it was the delight and glory of the country, that the men came gloriously home without passing under the hands of the hangman. These stories were told me by my friend's herd, Amy M'Ilwee, who sits, or walks, or sleeps, the whole summer day tending cattle, and who seems to think, waking; or dream, sleeping, of nothing but ghosts and witches, and saints-of Oisin and Fin M'Coul and Columkill. Reader it it is well for you that I forget the quarter of Amy's stories.-One he told me, of a ghost |