magic words, characters, or ceremonies, whereby evil spirits, tempests, &c. are supposed to be raised, or driven away. The Romish priests pretend to expel devils, by preparing holy water in a particular manner, and sprinkling it over the possessed, with a number of conjurations and exorcisms.

Some authors make the difference between conjuration and witchcraft to consist in this; that the former effects its end by prayers and invocation of God's name, &c. to compel the devil to do what is desired; so that the conjurer is supposed to be at war with the devil, and that evil spirit to act merely out of constraint; whereas the latter attains its end by an immediate application to the devil himself; and the devil's complaisance is supposed to be the consequence of some compact between them, so that the devil and the witch have a good understanding together. Both these, again, differ from enchantment and sorcery; in that these latter operate secretly and slowly by spells, charms, &c. without ever calling on the devil, or having any conference with him.

**CONN.** See CONN.

**CONNAUGHT**, one of the four provinces of Ireland, bounded on the east by that of Leinster, on the west by the ocean, on the north and north-west by part of the ocean and province of Ulster, and on the south and east by Munster. It is about 130 miles in length, and 84 in breadth. It has no rivers of any great note besides the Shannon. It has several convenient bays and creeks, and is fertile in many places. It had several dangerous bogs, over-run with woods, which are now in some measure cleared away. This province produces abundance of cattle, sheep, deer, hawks, and honey; but the inhabitants being lazy, it is the least cultivated of all the four provinces. It contains 1 archbishopric, 5 bishoprics, 6 counties, 7 market-towns, 8 places of trade, 10 boroughs that send members to parliament, 47,256 houses, 24 old castles, besides fortresses that have been erected of late, and 330 parishes. The principal town is Galway.