Had MacMurrough’s son been put to death by O’Connor, in that awful manner above delineated, with such external parade, and such mysterious pomp, think you that Cambrensis, who never omitted _even the most trivial feature_ of a narrative, would have been blind to a particular, which must have interested all his readers? Yet, as to the reality of this--Mr. P----’s insinuation notwithstanding--Cambrensis is silent and mute as the grave! A fact which was thought worthy to be commemorated in _fresco_ must have been equally eligible as a phenomenon in _writing_. The O’Connors, therefore, whom Mr. P---- would install as the authors of this device, must have retained some _documentary_ register thereof: and, though it is well known, that there is not a family in the kingdom, who have preserved the records of their house with such industry or minuteness as _they_ have, yet is there not so much as the _semblance_ of an allusion to be traced amongst them, to this _mysterious representation_! Nay, if O’Connor had put to death MacMurrough’s son, with such circumstances of torture and savage insensibility, is it probable that he would himself be the person to immortalise his disgrace, by depicting it upon such a chronicle? And if the virtue of the nation were not previously outraged by the _hellishness_ of the crime itself, would it not now blaze forth in holy indignation at the infatuated _vanity_ of the monster, who, not satisfied with the murder of his innocent _victim_, must deluge his _country_ also in gore, by associating it, to forthcoming ages, with this outline of his barbarity? Yes, sir, if they were _silent_ as to the _crime_, they would be _eloquent_ as to the _painting_! And it is not only that they would _demolish_ the _structure_ within which it was _inscribed_, but every _quill_ within the realm would become a _pen_, every _liquid_ be converted into _ink_, and every _hand_ be made that of a _writer_ to rescue the _island’s_ fame from identity with the traitor’s _cause_; and confine to his own and his loathed head the withering execrations of posterity! Instead of which, however, not a syllable is uttered, on paper or on parchment, allusive to the tragedy! Not a _presage_ is imparted by mournful _banshee_! nor _elegy_ sung by familiar _mna-caointha_! No _historian_ records the heart-rending _tale_! nor does _gipsy_ retail it in itinerant _ditty_! But the _mystery_ of sorrow, and the _sanctity_ of _truth_, that _hallowed the scene which this temple commemorates_, has, still further, exerted its protecting instrumentality, and besides the _moving evidences imprinted_ upon its _interior_, has added those also of _exclusion from without_, and prevented the iniquity of _profane_ appropriation, by the occurrence of any equivocal record!