on the island. Immediately before the boat accident of 1795, the arrivals each season must have reached the high figure of between ten and fifteen thousand. The boat accident, however, together with other reasons, which we shall notice hereafter, caused the influx of pilgrims at the close of the century to become considerably reduced. Yet, through all its vicissitudes, the Holy Island continued still to be regarded with love and devotion by the faithful children of St. Patrick, who before this sanctuary renewed themselves in piety and the love of God.

THE PILGRIM-TAX-THE FERRY-MEN-THE MOST REV. DR. MURPHY'S REGULATIONS FOR THE PILGRIMAGE-RESCRIPT FROM ROME-ST. MARY'S CHURCH-THE PRESBYTERY-HOSTILE NOTICES OF THE PILGRIMAGE-PRIORS SINCE THE YEAR 1800-INFLUX OF PILGRIMS-THE FAREWELL ODE TO LOUGH DERG.

NE of the most remarkable remnants of the feudal laws, or of the penal laws (it matters little which), that I know of, is the tax or tariff which each pilgrim has to pay towards the "lord of the soil" for the

privilege of obtaining access to the Island of Lough Derg! Not content with obtaining possession of the lands given as a perpetual endowment to this sanctuary, and of which it held undisputed control for over a thousand years, the Protestant bishops of Clogher, after doing their utmost to disparage and to utterly exterminate this pilgrimage, formed the idea of turning it to profitable account, by exacting from each pilgrim a fine for liberty to approach the shrine of his devotion. And thus they who in theory condemned this institution, did not hesitate in practice to appropriate to themselves this iniquitous tax.

The more easily and the more securely to collect this

M

tax, the ferry was rented at a fixed annual sum to a ferryman, who, after paying the stipulated amount to his master, had to depend on the balance of the proceeds for his own behalf. The rent of the ferry generally rose or fell according to the number of pilgrims visiting the island; so that from the rent imposed each year we may form a proximate idea of the number of arrivals at this sanctuary. Towards the latter part of the last century a Protestant family of the name of Johnston rented the ferry at £250 each year. About the beginning of this century one of these Johnstons, who was the ferryman, gave great dissatisfaction, as we shall afterwards see. After him a man named Travers managed the ferry for about ten years. Next came Robert Johnston, who rented the ferry down till 1844. ferrymen came into office, the first of whom was Daniel Campbell, who conducted the ferry in 1845. After him his son John, who rebuilt the ferry-house and also erected a building on the island, which was never completed. It reverted next to his brother, Peter Campbell; then to his brother William, who held it down to the year 1862-3, when Thomas Flood, of Pettigo, got charge of it. He held it till 1876, when his brother Patrick (the present ferryman) secured his right in the ferry. The rent of the ferry was reduced for the Campbells to £150; and since then it has been still further reduced to £50, which is the present rent of the ferry, yearly payable to the present owner of Termon-Dabheoc-Sir John Leslie, Bart., M.P.

At this time Catholic

In order to make up this tax, a fine of 61⁄2d. was formerly imposed on each pilgrim for the "right of way" to

the island. Latterly, however, in consequence of the diminished number of pilgrims, it was deemed necessary to raise this tariff to 8d.

In May, 1798, Dr. James Murphy was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Clogher, and on the death of Bishop Hugh O'Reilly (November 3rd, 1801) succeeded to the mitre of Clogher per coadjutoriam. One of his first cares was to look after the administration of the pilgrimage of Lough Derg; and with this object in view he addressed a list of regulations to the Prior, Father Bellew, and his principal assistant, the Rev. Peter M'Ginn. The document in question is headed-" A few of the many regulations necessary for the orderly administration of the Station of Lough Derg," and bears date-"Tydavnet, May 26th, 1802." This document sets out with a regulation which for many years was strictly adhered to, but which is now obsolete; and it is as follows:

"I hereby prohibit, under pain of suspension ipso facto, any confessor already approved, or who may be approved of this season for Lough Derg, not excepting even the Prior himself, to receive the confession, give the absolution, or admit to the indulgence of the Station of Lough Derg, any pilgrim or penitent who has not complied with his Easter duty this year in his own parish, or who cannot produce a certificate, signed by his own parish priest or ordinary confessor, permitting him to be admitted to the benefit of said indulgence, though he has not complied with said Easter duty.

"And further, I hereby order, under the same pain of suspension, said certificate to be submitted to the Prior

for his approbation of its authenticity before the bearer of it is admitted to confession," &c.

After giving other regulations regarding investing the pilgrims with cords, scapulars, and other religious badges; also with regard to the selling or blessing of such religious badges, &c. ; and likewise concerning the allocation and discharging of intentions for Masses received on the island, next comes the following regulation :

"Fourthly-This regulation regards the teaching of the Catechism on the Island of Lough Derg."

And the communication thus concludes :

"As these, however, or any other regulations that may be adopted, must prove useless if the Messrs. Johnston and their boatmen persevere in their monopolies and in their severities towards the clergy and stationers, you will take care to speak to and settle matters with them if you can; otherwise suspend the station instanter."

What the particular severities and monopolies here complained of against the Johnstons were, I have not learned; but I heard that they established "patterns" at the shore of the lake, where music, dancing, and drinking were introduced, thus tending to bring the place into disrepute, and giving great annoyance and scandal. Father Bellew, however, grappled at once with this difficulty, immediately put a stop to these "patterns," and by his energy and prudence upheld the discipline and order of the pilgrimage. Unlike the first of these Johnstons, who was so harsh and severe towards the pilgrims, and who is said to have admitted to the island all visitors ndiscriminately, against the orders and remonstrances of