e the ground that was before
barren," I pity them.

In concocting this Note, I have had before me the following:

1. Lysons's _Environs of London_, 1795, where will be found a short notice
of Blake. The author, following Gough, makes my subject a madman, and says
his scheme "failed after laying out 5000l. upon it."

2. _Sermon preached for Charity-schools_, by Dr. Kennett, 1706.

3. _Sermons of Dr. Smalridge and T. Yulden_, 1710 and 1728. These divines
give the precedence to Westminster School, "erected 1688."

4. _Wodrow's Letters_, edited by Dr. McCrie, 3 vols., Edin. 1843.

5. _Pietas Hallensis_: or an Abstract of the Marvellous Footsteps of Divine
Providence, in the building of a very large Hospital, or rather a Spacious
College, for Charitable and Excellent Uses; and in the maintaining of many
Orphans, and other Poor People therein at Glaucha, near Halle in Prussia,
related by the Rev. A. H. Franck, 3 parts, 12mo., London, 1707-16. Let the
curious reader compare this with Blake's book.

J. O.

* * * * *

FOLK LORE.

_Legends of the County Clare._--About nine miles westward from the town of
Ennis, in the midst of some of the wildest scenery in Ireland, lies the
small but very beautiful Lake of Inchiquin, famous throughout the
neighbouring country for its red trout, and for being in winter the haunt
of almost all the various kinds of waterfowl, including the wild swan, that
are to be found in Ireland, while the woods that border one of its sides
are amply stocked with woodcocks. At one extremity of the lake are the
ruins of the Castle of Inchiquin, part of which is built on a rock
projecting into the lake, there about one hundred feet deep, and this
legend is related of the old castle:--Once upon a time, the chieftain of
the Quins, whose stronghold it was, found in one of the caves (many of
which are in the limestone hills that surround the lake) a lady of great
beauty, fast asleep. While gazing on her in rapt admiration she awoke, and,
according to the customs of the Heroic Age, soon consented to become his
bride, merely stipulating that no one bearing the name of O'Brien should be
allowed to enter the castle gate: this being agreed to, the wedding was
celebrated with all due pomp, and in process of time one lovely boy blessed
their union. Among the other rejoicings at the birth of an heir to the
chief of the clan, a grand hunting-match took place, and the chase having
termi