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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
Inclosed I send to you for the inspection and amusement of the Society four drawings, viz. two views, a plan, and a section of the ruins of a very uncommon building, near Dundalk in Ireland. I had seen in Mr. Wright's Louthiana a neat plan of this building, he calls a ship-temple: he however says, that the name it goes by in the country, is
Fags na ain eighe, or
The one night's work.
page 149 note [a] At the request of Col. Vallancey, I have taken a journey to Dundalk, and made the enclosed drawings of an ancient structure, mentioned in Louthiana to be in the form of an hulk of an antique vessel, and known in that country by the name of the one night's work. I hope that you will find them to your satisfaction.
The method I have taken was this. I took copies of Mr. Wright‘s plan and view, and compared them on the spot. I make no doubt but they were true: however since forty years great alterations have happened, by time and hands of men, who are daily demolishing it, for the sake of the stones, with which they build dry walls, to make the division of their fields. The mount on which the building stands is also in ruins, the walks and slopes being almost confounded together, and in a little time will become a confused heap or single hill.
This building is situated about two miles west of Dundalk in the barony of the same name. It is composed of a brownish grit. The two or three first courses above ground are mostly of large stones, from two to three feet broad, and from twelve to sixteen inches high; the rest above it of stones of all sizes from eight to twelve inches, having now and then a large stone intermixed. The mortar seems not over tenacious, as I was told the stones are easily taken away. The mount had originally two walks round it, with as many slopes, which are almost destroyed. The country about it is very uneven, being composed of hillocks and hollows which prevent the sight to extend to any length.
The drawings consist in a view No. 1, the plan No. 2, the sketch of the back view No. 3, and the section No. 4.
If you require any other information, I beg you will be so kind as to let me know it, and I shall do the best in my power to answer them.
I am with respect &c.
Name in Irish
pronounced by an Irishman, Fas nahin aoidhche;
In English The one nights work.
I got the above of an Irish teacher.
page 151 note [b] Treatise on the Study of Antiquities, part 2, not yet published.
page 152 note [c] Edda. Edit. Goransoni.
page 152 note [d] Tacitus.
page 152 note [e] Bell. Gall. lib. VI. § 21.
page 154 note [f] In a letter addressed to me, Jan. 3, 1783. Printed, in the Collectanea Hibernica, N° XI. p. 427.
page 155 note [g] Cuperi Harp. p. 14.
page 155 note [h] I rather apprehend that this was a particular direction on a particular occasion; see the passage in the fifth book of Saxo Grammaticus.
page 155 note [i] Centurionis vero vel satrapæ corpus rogo, propriâ nave constructo, funerandum constituit. Saxo Grammaticus, lib. v. p. 87. l. 44.
page 155 note [k] Regios vero tumulos ad magnitudinem et figuram carinæ maximæ navis. Steph. ad Sax. Grammat. p. 91.