the rights and privileges of the Secular Princes, and on the liberties and immunities of the Catholic Church in Germany, May 17, 1818. The APPENDIX to the Essay contains some curious and interesting articles of antiquarian information." The first is designed to shew, that Ire land was better known than Britain, to the early navigators and traders of Phoenicia, Carthage, Greece, and Spain; and to amend, and modernize, Ptolomy's ancient Geography of Ireland, about A.D. 150, by correcting mistakes, and annexing the mo dern names of places, in the Map of Ireland published by Bertius, and republished by Dr. O'Conor in his Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores veleres, Vol. I. quarto, 1813. The second is intended to explain the origin and design of the ancient Round Towers of Ireland, from their resemblance to the Round Pillars of Palestine, which were erected in honour of the Baals, the Sun and Moon, the earliest species of Idolatry, (Job xxxi. 26-28. Deut. iv. 19.) and to shew, that the Catacombs under the latter, were principally intended for sepulchres of their sacred animals, the Bull, the Crocodile, &c. The third contains an improved edition of St. Patrick's Confession, or Epistle to the Irish; written in Latin, not long before his decease, and republished by that emi-, nent Irish scholar, Dr. O'Conor, from two of the oldest Irish MSS.-the Cottonian of 800 years standing, and the Armagh of 1000. The fourth contains also an improved edition of Fiech's Irish Poem, or Panegyric on St. Patrick, written soon after his death, and republished also by Dr, O'Conor, ibid. from the old Donegal MS., with a New. Latin Version. From his Version, chiefly, is given a New English Translation; with Notes, explanatory of obscurities and difficulties, by the help of Vallancey's Collec-. tanea de Rebus Hibernicis, Vol. VI. and other Irish documents. The fifth gives an account of some An~ tique Medals of our Blessed Saviour, both Silver and Brass, found in the British Isles, whose age and authenticity is examined. May the mass of evidence adduced in this Essay, from original and authentic sources, to prove the purity and simplicity of the Primitive Religion, and independence of the Ecclesiastical Regimen of the British Isles, contribute, with the Divine Blessing, to bring back these "lost sheep, who have erred" from the good old way, and “strayed" into the deceitful and dangerous paths of Popery; so that with "the remnant that is left" of the Reformed Church, we may quickly become, one fold under one Shepherd, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS, the true Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls. Killesandra, 13th April, 1819. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Original independence of the primitive Churches, planted by the Apostles, p. 1.-recognized, and confirmed by the four first General Councils, p. 2. Early ambition of the Church of Rome, p. 2; her aggrandize- ment, by a refined and systematic course of policy, p. 3. Establishment of the modern Church of Rome, by the Church, NOT the Holy Catholic Church, p. 7, 8.-II. NOT the mother and mistress of all Churches, p. 8, 9.-III. NOT founded by St. Peter, p. 9. St. Peter visited Rome after St. Paul, and for a short time, p. 11-26. The Church, NOT founded upon Peter, but upon the rock CHRIST, p. 27-35.-Peter's privileges, not exclusive, p. 36-38.-V. The Roman Pontiff, NOT the Vicar of Christ, p. 38. Historical survey of the rise of the pontifical title |