of Ormond's castle at Kilkenny. Yet imposing as Proprietors these castellated residences were in their structure,

of Jamestown, county of Westmeath. Michael Grace of Gracefield Gracefield branch. died 25th of August, 1785, leaving issue (by Mary, daughter and coheir to Nicholas Plunket of Duusoghly castle, county of Dublin) an only daughter Alicia Grace, now of Gracefield, and of Dunsoghly

"Till spread in wide effusion, gently flowing,
Or with Canadian suns, so brightly glowing,"
Onward Saint Lawrence moves his mighty stream
Rich in translucent wave, and summer gleam-
So, in far times, on green lerne's lands,
Rushed to precipitate his mailed bands,
On Cambria's shore collected, strong to gaia
O'er many a bloody heap, or wasted plain,
A diadem's proud wreath, atchiev'd in arms,

By glorious strife, and graced with beauty's charms-
Girt with his peers, on blood cemented throne,
Warrior and prince triumphant Strongbow shone;
Scepter and sword, together wielded, blazed,
Where trembled foes, and proud companions gazed-
Furple and throne, in dim eclipse were shrouded,
While shone more proudly splendid and unclouded,t

• When general Simcoe returned from the government of Canada, which he had ruled with so much advantage to the country and honour to himself, he had unfortunately to complain of broken health, not in consequence of the intense cold, but of the still more intense beat: a horrid climate, exhibiting in borrid force the powers of the

seasons.

It will be recollected, that though Strongbow was the head, Raymond was the very soul of the enterprize. Upon bis secession in anger, when Strongbow deferred conseuting to his marriage with Basilia, the war either stood still, or what was worse, went back. The repentance of Strongbow was immediate, and bis concession complete.

K

Proprietors and rich in recollections, we may congratulate onr selves that we have been reserved for times in which

Gracefield castle, married on the 5th of June, 1792 to Morgan, 3d son of Thomas branch. Kavanagh of Borris, in the county of Carlow, who died 25th of November, 1804— Vid. vol. xviii, page 26, of MS. pedigrees in office of Ulster king at arms.

Where Raymond, e'en as Rome's proud race he shamed,

At once the sword and buckler's glory claimed,*
When as in mystic phrase, with caution bold,
The tale of sorrow sad Basilia told†—

But happier days, in tranquil lapse, succeed
Nor warriors now, in green Ierne, bleed-

Peace, with ber busy sons, triumphant reigns,
O'er golden harvests, and o'er cultured plains—
Among those sons, to mingle virtue sent,

With learned lore, and high accomplishment,

Shone HE, from Clare's and Windsor's lineage sprung ‡
And forth to time by muse historic sang.

Yes-this to thee, O parent, loved, admired

By every virtue in your bosom fired,

Memorial slight inscribed, just serves to tell,
That thou art gone, who, living, lived so well.

• Fabius and Marcellus, the opponents of Hannibal. These great men had each singly the merit, the first of being the shield, the second the sword of Rome. To the Anglo-Norman expedition, Raymond le Gros was both the one and the other.

When Basilia wrote to inform her husband Raymond le Gros, that her brother earl Strongbow was dead, she, fearing lest the letter might be intercepted, used this expression, "the great tooth which bad been so long ailing, has at length fallen out." Raymond succeeded Strongbow as governor of Ireland.

The surname of Basilia was of course that of Clare, as the daughter of Gilbert de Clare earl of Pembroke. The patronymic of Raymond le Gros was de Windsor, as that of Richard Strong-bow was de Clare. Raymond was the grandson of Gerald Fitz-Walter de Windsor, surnamed de Carew.