tures. In the Brehon laws these are mentioned, and there are fines
inflicted by those laws upon persons who steal from the subterraneous
granaries. All these things show that there was a real foundation for
the stories which were told of the appearance of lights, and of the
sounds of voices, near these places. The persons who had property
concealed there, very willingly countenanced every wonderful relation
that tended to make these places objects of sacred awe or superstitious
terror.

GLOSSARY 12. WEED ASHES.

--By ancient usage in Ireland, all the weeds on a farm belonged to the
farmer's wife, or to the wife of the squire who holds the ground in his
own hands. The great demand for alkaline salts in bleaching rendered
these ashes no inconsiderable perquisite.

GLOSSARY 13. SEALING MONEY.

--Formerly it was the custom in Ireland for tenants to give the squire's
lady from two to fifty guineas as a perquisite upon the sealing of their
leases. The Editor not very long since knew of a baronet's lady
accepting fifty guineas as sealing money, upon closing a bargain for a
considerable farm.

GLOSSARY 14. SIR MURTAGH GREW MAD

--Sir Murtagh grew angry.

GLOSSARY 15. THE WHOLE KITCHEN WAS OUT ON THE STAIRS

--means that all the inhabitants of the kitchen came out of the kitchen,
and stood upon the stairs. These, and similar expressions, show how much
the Irish are disposed to metaphor and amplification.

GLOSSARY 16. FINING DOWN THE YEAR'S RENT.

--When an Irish gentleman, like Sir Kit Rackrent, has lived beyond his
income, and finds himself distressed for ready money, tenants obligingly
offer to take his land at a rent far below the value, and to pay him a
small sum of money in hand, which they call fining down the yearly rent.
The temptation of this ready cash often blinds the landlord to his
future interest.

GLOSSARY 17. DRIVER.

--A man who is employed to drive tenants for rent; that is, to drive the
cattle belonging to tenants to pound. The office of driver is by no
means a sinecure.

GLOSSARY 18. I THOUGHT TO MAKE HIM A PRIEST.

--It was customary amongst those of Thady's rank in Ireland, whenever
they could get a little money, to send their sons abroad to St. Omer's,
or to Spain, to be educated as priests. Now they are educated at
Maynooth. The Editor has lately known a young lad, who began by being a
post-boy, afterwards turn into a carpenter, then quit his plane and
work-