THE ANCIENT CATHEDRAL OF ARMAGH.

GOOD authorities agree in the opinion that St. Patrick did not begin to erect the Cathedral until 458, three years after his arrival in Armagh. The original walls beyond doubt, occupied a part of the site of the present edifice, and must have been within the area now used for burial purposes. This was the " bill of sallows, " granted by Daire, in addition to the low ground where St. Patrick first made a residence. In the historical sketch of the city, frequent reference is made to the burning of the Cathedral. The Danes had no

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respect for its sacred character, and in the midst of savage warfare Irish chiefs and English adventurers also allowed it to be plundered by their followers. It was destroyed by lightning in 995. Brian Boru, in 1002, [sic 1004] some time after he had succeeded Malachy as King of Ireland, made a visit to the Cathedral, and left upon the high altar as alms, twenty-eight ounces of gold. He also made an endowment of gold and cattle. His remains and those of his sons were interred here in 1014, immediately after the battle of Clontarf, which ended in the crushing defeat of the Danes. From the time the Cathedral was destroyed by lightning, 995, it was not fully roofed until 1125, a space of 130 years. Patrick O 'Scanlon, who was elevated to the primacy in 1261, and died in nine years afterward, restored and enlarged the Cathedral. In 1405 it was again destroyed by fire. The Lord Deputy, Sussex, in 1561, used it as a storehouse for provisions, and fortified it by the erection of ramparts. He was then engaged in a campaign against Shane O 'Neill and his Scotch allies. Shane destroyed the Cathedral and the city five years later, so that it might not afford habitation to his enemies. After the battle of the Yellow Ford, the remains of Marshal Bagnall were interred within the Cathedral. The fortifications of Lord Sussex were used a: second time by the English on that occasion, and the Church as a refuge.
Christopher Hampton, who become Primate in 1613, restored the Cathedral. The celebrated James Ussher, D.D., was appointed to the primacy in 1624. During his time the question of precedence, in regard to the Irish bishops, long a cause of extreme annoyance, was settled in favor of Armagh. Sir Phelim O 'Neill, in 1641, caused the Cathedral as well as the city to be destroyed by fire. John Bramhall, who was primate for three years, 1660 -1663, left £500 to the fund for the restoration of the Cathedral. His successor, Primate Margetson, promoted a subscription with this view, and drew largely on his own private means, so that the work might be accomplished. Thomas Lindsay, D.D., translated to the primacy from Raphoe. 1714, presented an organ and a peal of six bells. Primate Boulter, celebrated for his munificence, contributed toward extensive improvements in the Cathedral, 1739. Richard Robinson, D.D., Baron Rokeby, was spared for 29 years in the office of Primate, 1765-94, to effect a great change in the appearance of the Cathedral as well as in the entire city of Armagh. It was his intention that the Cathedral should have a tower over loo feet high. The erection of this had been more than half completed when fears began to be entertained regarding its safety. The Primate, to guard against the possibility of a

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catastrophe, had most of it removed, and a tower put up so low that its solidity could not be questioned. He intended to have built a much finer tower at the west side, but died before initiating the project. The work of restoration was continued by his successor, Primate Newcombe. The Hon. William Stuart, D.D., who became Primate in 1800, also helped to improve the Cathedral. He was succeeded by Lord John George Beresford in 1822. Primate Beresford lost no time in demonstrating to the people of Armagh what was meant by "a lordly way." He decided that the ancient cathedral should be put into better shape. Mr. Cottingham, a London architect of repute, was engaged for the purpose, and although he at first estimated that everything needful could be accomplished at an expense of £8,000, he was, at a later period, virtually given a carte blanche, so that the restoration might be made as perfect as possible. The undertaking was begun in 1834, and the Cathedral was reopened in 1840. It entailed a total expenditure of nearly £36,000. Of this amount Lord John George Beresford contributed about £26,000, and the balance was made up by subscription. An important feature of the new work was the substitution of more solid masonry for the piers of the tower erected by Primate Robinson. A splendid organ, costing £1,200, replaced the instrument which was the gift of Primate Robinson. this was presented by Lord J. G. Beresford. The cathedral walls are of sandstone, and the style of architecture Gothic. Lord J. G. Beresford increased the number of bells in the tower from six to eight. Within a short distance of the ancient cathedral there was a round tower with conical cap, like the perfect specimen in the demesne of Mr. Geo. Clarke, D.L., Antrim. The cap is said to have been thrown down during a storm in 1121, and of the rest of the tower nothing is now visible. At the beginning of the present year, 1888, further alterations and improvements were being effected in the Cathedral. The interior is dignified by clustered columns, and is rich in memorial sculptures by Roubiliac, Rysbrack, Marochetti, Nollekins, and others. Among those who are commemorated are Sir Thomas Molyneux, Bart., M.D., a lineal descendant of Sir Thomas Molyneux, Knt., Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer in the reign of Elizabeth, died 1703; Andrew Craig, LL.D.; Alex. Duke-Simpson, Captain 13th Prince Albert 's Light Infantry, 1874; Peter Drelincourt, LL.D., Dean of Armagh, 1720; Rev. Alexander Irwin, Precentor of Armagh Cathedral, 1872; Lord John George Beresford, D.D., Primate, died 1862 ; Turner Macan, Captain 16th Hussars, 1836; Thomas Osborne Kidd, R.N., killed in the attack on the Redan, 1855 ; Rev. Thomas Carpendale, A.M., 1817;

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Lt.-Col. Saml. Kelly, of the East India Company, 1840 ; Colonel Wm. Kelly, C.B., 24th Regt., a brave officer, who served under the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War, died 1818 ; Elizabeth, wife of Primate Marcus Gervais Beresford, died 1870; Rev. James Jones, Chancellor of Armagh Cathedral for 30 years, died 1871 ; the Hon. Wm. Stuart, D.D., Primate, died 1822; Richard Robinson, D.D., Primate. 1794; Marcus Gervais Beresford, D.D., Primate, died 1886; William Viscount Charlemont, 1671 ; Baron Caulfield; Joshua MacGeough, 1756; Wm. MacGeough, 1771; Joshua MacGeough, 1817; William MacGeough Bond, 1866. There are several memorial windows in stained glass. One of the finest of the number was erected to the memory of Lord John George Beresford, by the clergy and laity of the Archiepiscopal diocese. Five in the east end were erected by Lord John George Beresford. Of these one specially commemorates J. E. Jackson, M.A., Dean of Armagh. He died in 1841, after the restoration of the cathedral, in the work of which he had given " zealous and effectual assistance." The other windows commemorate Lady Catherine Beresford, 1843 ; Lady Anne Beresford, 1841 ; William Blacker, 1850 ; Rev. Samuel Blacker, LL.D., 1840; Rev. Cosby Stopford Mangan, 1862; Rev. Richard Allott, 1858; Wm. Lodge Kidd, M.D., died 1851.
The monuments in the burial-ground attached to the Cathedral, so far as historic interest is concerned, are a blank. The sponge of time would have been ample for wiping out the inscriptions, even if it were not aided by the batterings and burnings of Danish and other barbarians. Several of the kings and chieftains of Ireland were laid to rest here, but there is nothing legible in the way of record bearing date anterior to 1638. The burial-ground and Cathedral occupy a little over two acres.