roughly incised in the bronze. The middle pin, on the contrary, is
one of the finest kind; the head is ornamented with jewellery and
goldsmith's work, the stem is of bronze. The pin beside it is of silver
gilt, the centre decorated with a raised garnet. I have placed in front
of them a very remarkable specimen of a double pin, connected by a
chain, exactly similar to such as were universally fashionable a few
years ago. Though fashion may be "ever changing," it is not "ever new."

[Illustration: Fig. 223.]

The ancient Irish brooch was unlike others worn in Scotland or England.
It had a long central pin, with an open ring at its summit, allowing
free motion to the bar which passed through it, and formed a
half-circle, supporting a lunette-shaped pendant, covered with elaborate
decoration and jewellery. They varied in size and decoration according
to the rank of the wearer. The highest price of a silver one for a king,
according to Vallancey, was thirty heifers, when made of refined silver;
the lowest value attached to them being three heifers. I have seen a
very large specimen, of the intrinsic value of three pounds. The pin is
91/2 inches long, and the circular brooch 5 inches in diameter. Larger
specimens have been found and mistaken for poniards. They were made thus
large and strong to pass easily through the thick woollen garments
necessary to the cold, wet climate.

[Illustration: Fig. 224.]

This old style of design in ornament continued in use in Ireland until
the twelfth or thirteenth century--in fact, until the inhabitants had
destroyed its civilisation by internecine war. Many works, like the bell
of St. Patrick at Belfast, might, at the first glance, be attributed to
the same era as the famous "Durham book," or book of St. Cuthbert, now
one of the chief treasures of the British Museum library, and which is
believed to have been executed as early as the seventh century by
Eadfrith, afterwards of Lindisfarne, who died in 721. We are, however,
certain as to the date of the bell, for an inscription is upon it,
stating it was made to the order of Donnell O'Lochlain, one of the old
Irish kings, who came to the throne in 1083, and died in 1121.

[Illustration: Fig. 225.]

The first brooch discovered in Ireland is in the possession of Mr.
Waterhouse, the goldsmith, of Dublin. It is represented in Fig. 224,
and is engraved the full size of the original, but the length of the
long plain pin has been curtailed. It