mated the Greeks, the wind suddenly became favorable, and the combined fleet set sail from Aulis. IPOMŒA, quamoclit, or scarlet convolvulus. a genus of the monogynia order, and pentandria class of plants: natural order twenty-ninth, campanaceæ. COR. funnel-shaped: the stigma round-headed: CAPS. trilocular. There are several species; but the only one cultivated in our garden is the I. coccinea. It has long, slender, twining stalks, rising upon supports six or seven feet high. The leaves are heart-shaped, pointed, and angulated at the base, and from the sides of the stalk and branches arise many slender footstalks; each supporting several large and beautiful funnel-shaped and scarlet flowers. There is a variety with orange-colored flowers. Both are annuals, rising from seed in spring, flowering in July and August, ripening their seeds in September and October, and totally perishing soon after. They are tender, and must be brought up in a hot-bed till the end of May, or beginning of June, when they may be planted out to adorn the borders, or in pots to move occasionally to any particular place; but, in either case, there must be sticks for them to twine upon. IPSAMBUL, in antiquities, is the name of a celebrated temple excavated out of the solid rock on the banks of the Nile. The side of the river here is formed of sandstone rock in which this temple is cut. The bank runs in a steep ascent, from the river to the desert, until the sand becomes so high as to be on a level with the summit of the rock. The sand drifting downwards, towards the river, had entered the temple and completely blocked up its entrance to many feet above the architrave, so as to conceal the greater part of the stupendous figures, of which a very considerable portion is now visible. The sand is now barred out by palm trunks and large stones, but, unless some more effectual defence is provided, there is reason to fear that the curious traveller will not long be gratified with the sight of a superb monument, which till discovered by Salt in 1817 had remained concealed and buried probably for many ages. We owe the removal of the sand, the uncovering of the façade, and the entrance to the temple, to the exertions of Messrs. Belzoni and Beechey, employed for this purpose by the British consul Mr. Salt. The following account of this curious monument of antiquity is given by lieutenant-colonel Stratton, who visited it in 1820. The sand which drifts against the entrance, says colonel Stratton, is so fine as to resemble a fluid.-While we were ascending our footsteps occasioned such a current of it as to give us great reason to apprehend that the entrance would soon again be blocked up. Commencing at the south end of the façade, there is a sloping projection of thirty feet. At four feet seven inches is the arm of the first colossal figure cut out of, and projecting from, the façade, between which and the figure there is a connecting block of three feet thick. These figures cannot be styled alto relievos; they are in fact statues; they measure twenty-five feet five inches across the shoulders, and four of them occupy the façade, which measures 127 feet. The left shoulder of the first touches the right shoulder of the second, and so on. The rock is brownish and soft, and easily cut by the chisel. The part out of which the statues are formed is whitish, which adds to the effect. They are beautifully cut, and the proportions, notwithstanding their magnitude, and consequent want of models, are so perfectly just, that no feature predominates, and every part appears small, symmetrical, and graceful. The statue to the north, or right hand of the portal, is visible to the elbow: that immediately to the left, or south of the door, is somewhat mutilated: the statue beyond it is visible to below the shoulder; while the second to the north is buried to nearly the forehead. The statues have the high mitred cap, with the serpent or good genius on the forehead. The nose, mouth, and chin, are of the most delicate proportions. The corners of the mouth, almost approaching a smile, give an expression of mildness, while the other features bear a character of firmness. The neck and shoulders are admirably formed, and the muscles of the chest and abdomen are in the happiest repose. The statues are supposed to be naked to the middle, where we perceive a handsome ceinture in zigzag lines, and a dress beneath, striped perpendicularly. Over the architrave of the portal, is an alto relievo of Osiris Hierax, placed in a niche, and measuring twenty-three feet two inches. He holds in both hands the sacred tor, or crux ansata, and has a crown on his head: under his left hand is a female figure in alto relievo, measuring five feet one inch; and under the right a staff, with a fox's head at the top. The deception, arising from the correctness of the proportions, is such, that these figures do not appear one-half of their real height, Two heroes in sculpture, having the bird with expanded wings over them, present to Osiris, with one hand, a figure resembling a monkey, and hold up the other hand. On the entablature are sculptured bulls, geese, hawks, grass-hoppers, anubis's, hieroglyphics, &c. &c. On the summit of the cornice are seated figures of monkeys, or possibly of typhons, indifferently executed. The cornice bears sculptures of serpents, surmounted by globes. From the cornice to the architrave, the space measures sixty-five feet: the height of the façade may be 100 feet. We enter the temple through a small hole made in the sand, under the architrave, part of which has been chipped off to facilitate the entrance, which is much choked up by the sand. The façade, as well as the entrance and interior of the temple, are all cut out of the rock, and the great colossal figures, though projecting so considerably, form a part of the same rock. The first chamber has eight square pillars resting on pedestals, which do not appear in the plan, but which are merely square projections extending six inches or so beyond the pillars. Each of these pillars has on its front a large colossal statue of the same block with the pillar. These statues, which are about twenty-two feet high, have their arms crossed, holding the crooks and flagellum: they wear the mitred cap, and are, in all respects, well formed; the pupil of the eye is painted black; and also the eye-brow, which, beyond the natural arch, is extended artificially by a straight line in black. They are naked to the ceinture, which is fastened by a clasp; below it is a close-fitting dress, reaching nearly to the knee, bearing an ornament or pouch in front, not unlike that of the present Highlanders of Scotland. These statues are covered with stucco, painted in rich and variegated colors: their noses are slightly aquiline; the under lip projects a little; the corners of the mouth express a smile; the chin is finely formed; the eye large and full; the eye-brow well arched; and the face very handsome. The expression is serene and benignant, and they resemble much the Jupiter mansuetus of the Romans. The ceiling is painted in blue and red, having a rich border, with large expanded wings. The paintings on the wall represent the hero in his car he is in the act of discharging an arrow from his bow; his aim is sure; his mien determined; he wears a helmeted cap; his face and arms are naked; and he has bracelets, armlets, and collar. His dress reaches below his knee: he has a girdle, and the reins are fastened round his body. On the side of the car, which is painted blue, yellow, and red, is a quiver. The horses in the car have their nostrils open. They are rampant, snorting, and covered with rich trappings, and plumes on their heads. They are stallions, with long tails, and their eyes partly covered with blinkers. They have no bits, but are restrained by a nose band. The hero is followed by three comparatively small chariots, each containing two persons, one of whom drives, while the other carries a bow, arrows, and a shield covered with a leopard's skin. The hero and his people are in the act of storming a fortress, and the artist has seized the moment of surrender. The fortress consists of two stories, From the first we see some of the enemy tumbling headlong; others transfixed with darts; others at the base on their knees, with their bodies bent in supplication. One has a dart sticking under his eye; another is pulling one from his head; and many have their hands raised in token of surrender. In a second row are placed the old men, as being unfit for the first ranks: their countenances are impressed with grief and despair, and their hands are raised. In the upper story, two men hold out a censer of burning incense, and behind are two females supplicating mercy with extended hands,-but the unerring darts of the hero have already transfixed them Under the walls is seen a peasant running away, and casting a scared look behind him. He is endeavouring to drive before him five oxen, who, in scampering off, seem, by their tails flying in the air, to participate in the general panic. The hero appears transfixing with a spear a prisoner of distinction, trampling others under foot, holding a number by the hair of the head with his left hand, while he prepares to strike off their heads with the right. A mulatto is seen, driving before him a group of prisoners, tour of whom are black, four tawny, and four white. The features are characteristic of the different climates, and show that the conquests of the hero had extended over various parts of the globe. From the different dimensions of the figures, we may infer that the ancient Egyptians expressed strength and power by comparative size. Thus, the hero is immensely colossal, the chief of the enemy is very large, and the person who conducts the prisoners is large, while the prisoners themselves are pygmies. On another wall, the hero, grateful for his victories, makes offerings to a male deity painted black; and to Isis Lunata he offers incense, in token of his farther gratitude to Osiris Hierax. On the adjoining wall are rejoicings, chariot races, processions, &c. The hero and his people are distinguished from the enemy by the difference of costume, of chariots, of shields, &c. The hero is throughout a portrait, though his dresses are various. Sometimes he has the short warlike dress and helmet, and at other times the long loose robe of ceremony, and high cap. On another pannel we observed a chariot fight. The horses appear tumbling and confounded with men. Some horses are struck in the chest, others in the head, writhing in pain, the equi exanimes;-seven chariots on each side, two men and two horses to each. These representations are followed by presentations to Priapus, who is painted black. The hero is ultimately received among the gods, Osiris, Sothis, Isis Lunata, &c., and this apotheosis is represented both in statuary and in painting. Annexed is a ground plan of this noble temple : town of considerable antiquity, and was twice plundered by the Danes in 991 and 1000. It had the privilege of a mint in the time of the Saxon heptarchy, and had several charters granted to it, the first by king John, and the last by Charles II. It is celebrated as being the birth place of cardinal Wolsey. It has twelve churches, several meeting houses, a town hall, an excellent market, a hall for county sessions, a free school founded in the time of queen Elizabeth, and several charity schools. It has a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and five chartered fairs for cattle, &c. It had formerly a considerable manufactory for baize, which has long since been discontinued. Its chief trade is in corn, which is exported to London, Liverpool, &c., and in foreign timber. It is governed by a high steward, a recorder, two bailiffs, twelve portmen, two coroners, a town clerk, and twentyfour common-council-men; sends two representatives to parliament, and gives the title of viscount to the duke of Grafton. IQUEIQUY, or IQUIQUE, an island in the Pacific Ocean, near the coast of Peru, about a mile in circumference, situated in a small gulf, which affords shelter for vessels, but no fresh water. It is inhabited by Indians and slaves belonging to the Spaniards, who are employed in collecting a yellow earth, formed by the dung of birds, as manure for vines, and with which eight or ten ships have been loaded annually for a century. S. lat 20° 20'. IQUISENQUI, one of the islands of Japan, situated near the south-east coast of the island of Ximo. This island is very small. Lat. 32° N., 'ong 132° 40′ E. IRAK, the most extensive province of Persia, occupying the greater part of the ancient Media, is bounded on the south by Fars and Khuzistan, on the east by Khorassan and the Great Salt desert, on the west by Kurdistan, and on the north by Azerbijan, Ghilan, and Mazanderan. It is chiefly covered with chains of barren mountains, separated from each other by long valleys about ten or twelve miles in breadth. They are generally devoid of any timber, and even the valleys are for the most part uncultivated. The land is, perhaps, in general good, and capable of yielding corn; but want of security of property, and a deficiency of population, have been the causes of the present desolate appearance of these plains. It is divided into five districts, i. e. Ispahan, Tehraun, Naen, Mullager, and Kermanshaw. She liked not his desire ; For this the' avenging power employs his darts, We are here in the country surrounded with blessings and pleasures, without any occasion of exercising our irascible faculties. Digby to Pope. I know more than one instance of irascible passions subdued by a vegetable diet. Arbuthnot on Aliments. IRASCIBLE, in the old philosophy, was applied to an appetite of the soul, where anger, and the difficult or odious, were supposed to reside. Of other passions which animate us against things the eleven kinds of passions attributed to the soul, philosophers ascribe five to the irascible appetite, viz. wrath, boldness, fear, hope, and despair; the other six are charged on the concupiscible appetite, viz. pleasure, pain, desire, aversion, love, and hatred. Plato divided the soul into three parts; the reasonable, irascible, and concupiscible parts. The last two, according to that philosopher, are the corporeal and mortal parts of the soul, which give rise to our passions. He fixed the seat of the irascible appetite in the the two sources of blood and spirits, which alone heart, and of the concupiscible in the liver, as affect the mind. IRBIT, or IRBITSKAIA, a town of Russia, in the government of Perm, on the river Irbit, and the frontiers of Siberia. It contains about 3400 inhabitants, and is noted for a yearly market held in January, the season for travelling on the ice, and frequented not only by Russians and Siberians, but by Tartars, Armenians, and Greeks. This town is consequently an entrepôt for Siberian furs, and other Asiatic merchandise passing into Europe. Near it is a large iron-work, which yields nearly 2000 tons of iron a year. 142 miles north-east of Ekaterinenburg. Long 62° 50′ E., lat. 57° 35′ N. IRELAND. IRELAND, the second in magnitude of the British Isles, is situated to the west of Great Britain, in the Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded on the north-west and south by the Atlantic, and on the east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St. George's Channel, which separate it from England. Its greatest length, i. e. from Fair-Head in the north, to Mizen-Head in the south, measures about 300 miles, and its maximum breadth, which is between Carnsore in Wexford, and Emlagh Rash, in Mayo, about 110 miles. The superficial contents are said to amount to 19,436,000 English acres, but this rests solely on the authority of Dr. Beauford, who derived the amount principally from a measurement of the county maps-documents, with few exceptions, lamentably incorrect: of some counties, indeed, no maps whatever have yet been published. Mr. Wakefield's return of the acreable contents of Ireland must be even more inaccurate; for, since he differs from Dr. Beauford, he must have departed from his mode of forming an estimate, and there was no other except by an actual survey, which it is needless to say he did not execute. The eastern coast is but little indented with harbours; but the south and west possess many sinuosities, affording numerous basins fit for the reception and safe-accommodation of shipping. The cove of Cork is quite unrivalled as a natural asylum; Bantry Bay, the Killeries, and others on the west, are almost equally safe and sheltered; while Loughs Swilly and Foyle, on the north, though not perfectly free from danger, afford great commercial advantages, and are valuable auxiliaries to extensive inland navigation. Such are the superficies and general character of the coast of the island, but a more minute detail of the topography and present state of Ireland, will be found at the close of this article, as well as some suggestions for rendering its natural resources available for the amelioration of the present depressed condition of its peasantry. PART I. THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. The history of Ireland may be divided into the four following periods:- the first, or remote part, called the Scythian; the second, or Milesian; the third, or Christian æra; and the fourth, or since the English invasion. 1. Of the Scythian era of Irish history.-The Irish are attached, like other nations, to that dignity which belongs to antiquity: its venerated name for them, appears to possess qualities of a peculiarly attractive character, and it is to this fondness and devotion to the preservation and recovery of their ancient records, that the distrust of foreign historians in Irish chronicles is perhaps attributable. Zeal to restore, and anxiety to obtain belief, have excited a suspicion which the foreigner does not care to take the trouble of removing. The early history of Ireland is not more deeply sunk in uncertainty, or more intimately involved in fable and romance, than other early records. The history of ancient Greece is a tissue of absurdities; the story of ancient Rome consists of a series of agreeable fables— tales suited to the anxiously inquisitive ear of infancy. But these initial fictions do not appear to have cast discredit on the subsequent pages of these histories-the chaff has been separated from the wheat-the dross from the pure metalby the discernment of the classical writer; and his judgment has been exercised in the appropriation of his belief. This principle is a wise and necessary one-one which must always be admitted when the objects to be described are separated from us, not by centuries of time only but by millenia; when records have become illegible, unintelligible, or obsolete; when they have been carried away by the literary spoliator, or, from the perishable nature of their materials, have yielded to decay. Ireland still boasts the possession of her bardic records, the psalters of her great religious institutions, the traditions of her children, and her perdurable monuments of stone, all which exhibit to the inquiring eye living testimony of her ancient learning, sanctity, and civilisation. These internal evidences are supported and confirmed by the concurrent testimony of accredited historians in all cases where collateral testimony can be expected. This being admitted, we at least place the ancient Irish history upon as sound and as solid a pedestal, as the historians of other countries have raised for the fabled deities of their early ages; and the following sketch is submitted as an abbreviation of its earlier records. From Magog, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah (though after an interval of several generations), was sprung Phenius, who became king of one of the Scythias, and was a contemporary of the lawgiver Moses. The sons of Magog are not named by Moses, but Josephus (who acknowledges this fact) calls the Phenicians Magogians, adding, that they styled themselves Scythians. The Spanish authorities place the Irish Scythians between the Caspian and Euxine seas (probably in the ancient Iberia); but, as there were upwards of fifty districts bearing the appellation of Scythia, an attempt at local accuracy, in this instance, would be vain. Sir Walter Raleigh has, satisfactorily enough, pointed out the country of the Magogians, which he places on the northern boundary of the present Phoenicia. So, also, Ezekiel, chap. xxxviii., fully refutes the Spanish antiquarians, as far as relates to the exact position which they have assigned to the Irish Scythians. Josephus, again, seems disposed to establish the Magogians in a country still more northerly, and assures us, that Tyre was actually founded by Tyras, the brother of Magog, in the country since denominated Phoenicia; and that, subsequently, upon the migration, or flight, of the Erythreans, and their reception in this country, it received the name of Phoenicia, which, in the Scythian tongue, is synonymous with Erythrea. Some, however, derive this name from powvises, palm trees, with which that province abounded; while others think the origin of the title to have been Phoenix, the brother of |