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Mr. URBAN, Dublin, March 9. MONGST the various and important articles of Intelligence which fill the columns of your Publication, there are none of more extensive utility, than the Obituary Notices of those who have departed this life in the faith and fear of God, and none which can be perused with greater advantage by those who hope with them to be partakers of a glorious immortality for, whilst the stores of Philosophy, Literature, and Antiquity, claim a share in the attention of well-cultivated minds, yet the first concern of a Christian is, to walk in the steps of his glorified Redeemer.

It is therefore with this impression, that I am induced to request you will favour with a place in your next PubJication, the following remarks occasioned by the Death of the Countess of Bandon, which is recorded in your Number for last July, and where, although she has been justly commended for her benevolence, yet more has been said of the distinguished family from which she was descended, than of that for which she was still more remarkable, the undeviating purity and rectitude of her heart: the adventitious dignity of family and station she shared in common with many others, and she might have been surpassed in them by somebut she was indeed excelled by none in the fervent principles of Religion, which ever animated and expanded her heart.

Those who had the happiness of knowing Lady Bandon will readily acknowledge, that few persons were ever gifted with a sounder and more excellent understanding. This was evident from her Conversation, and from her Letters, which were indeed models of Epistolary Composition. Those most intimate with her father (who for many years occupied the first seat at the Treasury Board of Ireland) discovered in her the same

strength of mind, and energy of disposition, but tempered with the most unassuming modesty of disposition, and blended with the most extensive and general information.

Possessed of more ample means than are commonly allotted even to those of the most elevated rank, she indulged her taste in the formation of a valuable Library, in the cultivation of Botanical and Agricultural pursuits, and in forwarding every useful undertaking; extending her aid to many of the most useful establishments in Dublin, as well as to the Cork Institution and Farming Society of the neighbourhood; whilst the improvements at Castle-Bernard (to which she was much attached, and from which she was seldom long absent), conducted by her own judgment, are sufficient evidences of its correct

ness.

It was, however, for the Christian graces of Charity, that Lady Bandon was most peculiarly and pre-eminently distinguished, and which in her proceeded "out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."

By her sole bounty she supported for many years a school for 24 YOUNG WOMEN, now united to the General Female School of Bandon, of which she was the patroness and foundress, and which is conducted on such an ample scale of liberality, as would do credit to any place in the United Kingdom. On the first opening of this Institution, about three years since, Lady Bandon was truly addressed by an able Clergyman (now also called into eternity), in the emphatic words of Job"When the ear heard her, then it blessed her, and when the eye saw her, it gave witness to her, because she delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon her, and she caused the widow's heart to sing

for

for joy." Never perhaps were the lamentations of the poor, and of the rich, united with greater sincerity, than in bewailing the decease of so venerated a character, which was indeed regarded as a public calamity in the district where she resided, and where her memory is likely to be as long and beneficially remembered, as the good she performed was durable and extensive; thus practically prov ing how greatly the sincere Christian, "who does all to the glory of God," may advance, even in this life, towards that perfection, which is to be consummated hereafter.

Lady Bandon possessed a mind too powerfully susceptible for the human tenement to which it was consigned; and whilst she extended to all within her circle the sympathy of her heart, her death was accelerated by her anxiety for the fate of a much-loved Son; and it pleased the Almighty to summon her to himself, there to receive the reward promised to those who, like her, were "not weary in well doing," before the certainty of a loss which she could not be expected to survive was established.

But it is not for man to arraign the dispensations of Omnipotence, nor for "the thing made, to say to him that formed it, Why hast thou done thus ?" And those who loved this excellent person, should therefore not repine at her translation from the sorrows and trials incident to a probationary state, to that heavenly scene, where she. "enters into the joy of her Lord," and to which she looked forward with the eye of faith under every trial-for there are no afflictions so powerful, and no difficulties so overshadowing, but that through their opacity, the true believer is able to discover, by its powerful influence, the rays of Divine mercy, Although Lady Bandon had not completed her 48th year, she had long since attained to that unspotted life which is described in Scripture to be old age, being made perfect in a short time, she fulfilled a long time- Her soul pleased the Lord, therefore hasted he to take her from among the wicked." away

To dwell longer on the contemplation of such a character, would be most grateful to the writer of these few remarks; and although sensible he is not qualified to render any ade

quate representation of her virtues, he would yet indulge the hope that what has been here said, will not appear tedious to those who admire whatever is most excellent in our nature, and that the merits of her whose character he has attempted to pourtray, will serve as an excuse for the insufficiency of him, who would pay, this tribute of affection to her ever revered memory. Enough how, ever has been said to suggest many more reflections to such as were intimately acquainted with Lady Bandon; and I shall only now (being un willing to occupy too great a share of your Publication, whilst such a variety of communications press on your attention) trespass further on your indulgence by inserting the Inscription on an unostentatious Monument commemorative of her virtues, which has been just erected adjoining that of Judge Bernard, in the Parish Church of Ballymodan, co. Cork.

"Near this place are deposited the mortal remains of Harriet Catherine Countess of Bandon, daughter of Richard Earl of Shannon, and wife of Francis

Earl of Bandon, by whom this monument is erected. In her the dignified graces of superior life were, by a rare felicity of combination, united with the unremitting exercise of virtues truly Christian. May her unaffected piety, conjugal affection, parental tenderness, and charity alive to every call of distress, prove as beneficial in their example as they have been lamented in their loss! She died at Castle Bernard, on the 7th of July, 1815, in the 48th year of her age.

The same monument is also destined to record the memory of two of her sons, the Hon. Francis Bernard, Lieut. of the 9th Light Drag. who died in Portugal, in the service of his Country, the 24th of Jan. 1813, in the 24th year of his age; and the Hon. Henry Boyle Bernard, Cornet of the King's Dragoon Guards, who gloriously fell in the battle of Waterloo, on the 18th of June, 1815, in the 18th year of his age. Yours, &c.

PEREGRINUS.

arranged, and the engravings nearly completed. The Antiquary, who knows the difficulty of collecting modern information respecting any par

dicular district, will make allowance for the greater difficulty and delay that must arise in the investigation of those remote times, from which no information can be collected from printed documents. All therefore must be done by personal and minute investigation. We must not suffer ourselves to be led away by the seductions of fancy and romance; but, adhering to the motto prefixed to my first Volume, must speak from facts, not theory.

Every attention has been paid to the illustration by surveys and views of the Grand British Temple at Abury, near Marlborough. The strong bulwark named Wansdyke, has been surveyed and traced in its course from near the Severn, throughout Somersetshire, and the whole of Wilt shire, into Berkshire; and some idea will be formed of the Ancient British. Ridgeways, by a minute description of the one which I have followed for many miles over the bills in South and North Wiltshire, and throughout the whole of Berkshire by the Vale of White Horse. These researches will form the most novel and interesting features of the livraison which I hope shortly to lay before the publick. Here will terminate the His tory of the British Era in Wiltshire: but it is my intention, in a future livraison, to trace the conquests of the Romans, and by their roads, anosaics, towns, and camps, endea your to throw some new light upon that people during their residence in Britain or at least to hand down to posterity those remains which the wreck of time has still left to us.

Silbury Hill. This stupendous and artificial mound of earth cannot fail to arrest the attention of every passenger from Marlborough to Bath. Au attempt was made to open it some years ago by a Dorsetshire gentle man, Colonel Drax; but, having hitherto been unsuccessful in obtaining an exact detail of his researches, I shall esteem myself highly obliged to you, or ny of your numerous Readers and Correspondents, for such information, conveyed to me by letter, or through the medium of Mr. Nichols.

RICHARD COLT HOARE.

Tour through various parts of FLAN DERS, GERMANY, and HOLLAND, in 1815. (Continued from p. 108.) Mr. URBAN, March 5.

Mirks. This town is very neatly built, the streets are regular, spacious, and well paved, and the environs are truly delightful. The tower is a fine lofty building. If a traveller wishes to see Dunkirk and its barbour, with the adjoining country, in perfection, he ought to go to the top of this tower, provided be can submit to the fatigue of ascending near 300 steps. If he has a taste for the beauties of nature and art, he will be amply recompensed for his trouble, The varied prospects of land and water which present themselves from this high eminence form a magnificent coup d'œil. The sand hills and the British Channel on one side, with the rich and extensive plains of Flanders in every other direction, exhibit a contrasted scene of grandeur and beauty rarely to be met with, and well calculated to improve and exalt the feelings of a devout mind.

Y last letter left me at Dun

I was told that in a clear day one may count from the summit of this tower the men of war in the Downs, and see various parts of the English coast, by the help of glasses. The Maison de Ville is a handsome edifice, as are likewise some of the churches, and of the buildings connected with the garrison. To an inteliigent traveller, who is well versed in modern history, Dunkirk is an interesting place. At an early period, under the government of the Counts of Flanders, it rose into commercial consequence. It was first fortified in the tenth century, and appears to have become a place of considerable importance during the course of the thirteenth century. Under the sway of the Burgundian Princes, and their successors of the Austrian line, Dunkirk shared amply in the prosperity which the Netherlands enjoyed in these golden days beyond all other parts of Europe. In the war which broke out between France and Spain, after the abdication of Charles the Fifth, Dunkirk had a full taste of the bitter waters which then began to flow in Flanders: During the 17th century, it was alternately in the hands of the French and Spaniards. After several years of destructive,

but