evils, to encourage the investment of capital and the industry of the population, to alleviate the distresses and wants of the poor, to extend the prosperity and comfort of the entire county of Londonderry, and thereby to offer an example to the whole kingdom of Ireland."

It will be seen that the Haberdashers, the Vintners, the Goldsmiths, and the Merchant Tailors, have alienated their estates, by letting them in perpetuity; that the Salters and Skinners hold estates let on terminable. leases, which in a few years will expire; while the Ironmongers, Clothworkers, Drapers, Fishmongers, Grocers, and Mercers have their estates in their own hands, which are now let to the occupying tenants. Now, although the Irish Society had, by virtue of the discretion vested in it by the charter, conveyed several allotments of territory in the province of Ulster, to the twelve principal companies of the city of London and their associates, still it retained the paramount duty of "management, control, and visitation, for the perpetual maintenance of those important public purposes, in consideration of which," as was emphatically observed by the Lord Chancellor, (in 1836) "the Crown parted with large possessions for the benefit of that part of the King's dominions."

A suit is still pending between the Companies and the Society-the former contending that the Irish Society are mere trustees for them, bound to account to them, and without any right or discretionary power to apply any part of the income of the property vested in them for any public, charitable, or other purpose. The Irish Society admit that they have, for themselves, no beneficial interest in the property, and that they are trustees for the companies of any surplus which may remain after answering certain public purposes, but they claim to have a discretionary power to apply so much of the income as they may think fit for those public purposes, without being liable to account for the same to the companies. There are two other parties to the suit-the City of London claiming for itself a species of visitatorial or superintending power, enabling it to control the conduct and proceedings of the Irish Society; and the Attorney-General, who, on the behalf of the Crown, "suggests" that the rents and profits are applicable to public purposes.

It is sufficiently obvious that a continuation of this trust to the Irish Society is calculated greatly to benefit and improve the condition of the county of Londonderry, inasmuch as they are, thus, in the position of Trustees only for so much surplus as may remain after they have expended all sums they may consider needful for carrying out the original purpose of the Grant; -so they were considered by Lord Langdale, Master of the Rolls, in giving judgment in the case of the Skinners' Company, 19th Nov. 1838. His lord

ship determined that "the powers given to the Irish Society for the general operation of the Plantation were of a general and public or political nature ; that the property remaining vested in the Society is applicable towards such general operation; and that the Companies of London, though interested in any surplus which may remain after the general purposes are answered, are not entitled to control the exercise of the powers which are given for general and public purposes."

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The case is still undecided-for an appeal has been made to the highest Court; but two decisions have been given in favour of the Irish Society, and the result is scarcely problematical; there can be little doubt that ere long the whole of the revenues derived by the London Companies from their Irish estates will be expended in improving them-so long, at least, as improvement shall be required; and that will be, we imagine, to the end of time. Judging from the Societies' " Reports," and from our own knowledge of the condition of the several localities over which they exercise jurisdiction, most important consequences will follow the final settlement of this question. They appear to have enquired concerning nearly every topic worthy of attention-the state of the schools throughout the districts; the character of the various farms and holdings; the nature of the soil, and the best means of enriching it; the places most favourable for planting; the judicious management of fisheries; the practicability of draining bogs, fertilising mountains, and reclaiming "slobs" the advantages that may be derived from forming canals; the making of high roads and bye roads; the reformation of habitations for the humbler classes, by erecting substantial cottages in lieu of miserable hovels; in short, the attention of the Society, as the governing body, has been within the last twelve or fifteen years, continually, and it would seem steadily, directed to a complete regeneration of the county, in order that they may bring to bear upon its natural advantages the advantages of experience, judgment, and capital.

Still-we borrow the words of Mr. Tite, architect to the Society, in his Report," dated October, 1834-" The Society must always be placed, to a certaint extent, in the class of those who have caused and do still cause much of the misery and wretchedness prevailing in Ireland :-viz., absentee landlords, and therefore, without adverting to the objects of their establishment, as stated in their charter, it becomes their most obvious duty to obtain by all means an intimate acquaintance with their Tenantry, and to endeavour, directly, or indirectly, to afford them that support, assistance, and encouragement, which, in their operation, contribute as much to the interest of the Landlord as to the well-being and comfort of the Tenantry."

Tullaghan

DONEGAL.

THE maritime county of Donegal, in the province of Ulster, is bounded on the east and south-east by the counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, and Fermanagh (from that of Londonderry it is separated by Lough Foyle); on the south by Donegal Bay and the northern extremity of the county of Leitrim; and on the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises, according to the Ordnance Survey, an area of 1,165,107 statute acres, of which only 520,736 are cultivated land, the unimproved mountain and bog amounting to no less than 644,371 statute acres. In 1821, the population was 248,270, and 294,104 in 1831. It is divided into the baronies of Raphoe, Kilmacrenan, Inishowen, Tyrhugh, Bannagh, and Boylagh. Its principal towns are Donegal, Ballyshannon, Killybegs, Lifford, Letterkenny, St. Johnstown, and Stranorlar. Prior to the Union, it sent to Parliament twelve members; it is now represented by two-for the county. The most elevated of its mountains is Errigal, which rises 2463 feet above the level of the sea. It abounds in lakes, generally small, although some of them are very extensive. Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle are both connected with it, the former exclusively; and its southern border is washed by the waters of Lough Erne. Its three principal rivers bear the same names-the Swilly, the Foyle, and the Erne; but it abounds with water, and from its mountainous character, huge “falls " are encountered in astonishing numbers.

From the immense proportion of waste land, the reader may form some idea of the barren aspect of the county; and, at the same time, of its surpassing grandeur-for wild and rude magnificence it is, indeed, unequalled in Ireland; it presents a succession of mountains, down every one of which rushes some rapid river, supplying a lake in the valley, that again sends forth its current, tributary to the sea which may be almost said to surround itfor the extensive loughs that bound it on the east and south are nearly as effectual barriers as the Atlantic, that washes its northern, western, and southwestern coasts. Soon after passing the liberties of Londonderry-proceeding northward—we enter upon the barony of Inishowen-a huge peninsula