The construction of a portion of this line between Enfield and Mullingar was, on account of the pulpy and boggy nature of the soil through which it had to pass, an undertaking of much difficulty and forethought, and the success with which it was achieved, and the stability with which its foundation is still preserved, after a period of over thirty years, exhibits the great skill exercised by the engineer of the line, the late George Hemans. In these bogs, some of which are 70 feet deep, Mr. Hemans adopted a complete and careful system of drainage, which renders the upper surface perfectly hard and dry, and only needs the addition of a stout framework of timber on the top to bear safely the heavy traffic which passes over it. The appearance of the country travelled through is extremely varied, presenting exquisite landscapes, fine plantations, natural woods, inland lakes, rich pastures dotted with sheep, fat cattle, and watered with swift-flowing rivers which seem to invite the capitalist to apply their power to some manufacturing purpose; long stretches of bog are met, besides miles of dreary, desolate country, abounding in stone walls. Upon leaving the Broadstone terminus, the traveller passes on his right hand the village of Glasnevin, adjoining which a glimpse may be had of the cemetery, and the Botanic Gardens of the Royal Dublin Society. Further on, on an eminence, is the astronomical observatory of the Royal Dublin Society at Dunsink. On the left side is the Wellington testimonial in the Phoenix Park, before mentioned, and the Magazine, of which Dean Swift thus wrote :— "Behold a proof of Irish sense, Here Irish wit is seen, Where nothing's left that's worth defence, At Castleknock, about four miles from Dublin, are the remains of a castle, crowning a well-wooded artificial hill, which may be seen plainly from the railway. This castle was erected by Hugh Tyrrell, in the reign of Henry II., and was looked upon as a very important fortress; it was taken by Edward Bruce, in 1316, and in 1642 the famous Colonel Monk made an assault on it, killing eighty of its defenders, and hanging as many more. After that time it was abandoned and left to decay. Near Clonsilla are the ruins of an old church and of a tower named Confay Castle, one of those castles built by the English colonists to protect them from the assaults of the Irish. Lucan is chiefly remarkable for its sulphur spa, which is very useful in rheumatism and scorbutic affections. Here is situated a most The Salmon Leap at Leixlip. 281 charming demesne, abounding in scenic beauty and romantic glades, which the proprietor, Colonel Vesey, has generously thrown open to the public. The Dublin and Lucan Steam Tram Co., during the summer months, run extra trains to this favourite resort, and if the tourist has leisure and desires really to enjoy seeing the valley of the Liffey, which at this point presents scenery equal to any in Ireland, he should alight at Leixlip. And walk to Newbridge about a mile distant. Adjoining the village of Leixlip is the salmon leap, a series of beautiful cascades formed by the river rushing through a bed of rocks and finally falling over a steep ledge up which the salmon may be seen leaping during the spawning season. The castle, which is still in repair, rises proudly with its ivy clothed towers above the surrounding woods. This building was erected by Adam FitzHereford, one of the Norman invaders of Ireland. By following a path leading by the road from the salmon leap the tourist will arrive at Newbridge, a most ancient structure, perhaps the most ancient of its class in Ireland, since the removal of the bridges of Athlone and Thomond on the Shannon. It was built in 1368 by John Le Decer, Mayor of Dublin. Close by are the ruins of St. Wolstan's Monastery, founded about the year 1262, by Adam FitzHereford. The name Leixlip is purely Danish, and is derived from lax, the Scandinavian for salmon. If time permits, a visit may be made to Castletown, the seat of the Connolly family. The house, which stands in a noble, richly wooded demesne, is one of the finest country residences in Ireland, and is said to contain a window for every day in the year. It was built by Thomas Connolly (the great Commoner), son of the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. This "fine old Irish gentleman," who found an income of £30,000 a year much too small an allowance to meet the demands of what he considered as his modest necessary requirements, was so lavish and indiscriminate in his hospitality that, as legend relates, "he once afforded a day's hunting and a night's entertainment to the devil, who proved himself the most entertaining companion and the prettiest gentleman of the party." (What must the other gentlemen have been like?) Before reaching Maynooth, Carton, the demesne of the Duke of Leinster, extends for a considerable distance along the railway, and comprises an area of about 1,000 acres. It is traversed by the little river Rye, which, dammed with barriers at intervals, forms here and there artificial lakes, which greatly enhance the beauty of the grounds. The house is of Grecian architecture, built in the last century from designs by Richard Cassell. Maynooth Was in former times the chief stronghold of the FitzGeralds of Kildare. A considerable part of the castle, consisting of a massive keep, and several of the towers which stood along its outward walls, still remain as evidences of the immense strength of this Anglo-Norman fortress. The sloping banks of its dried-up fosse are now covered with trees planted by the late Duke of Leinster. This castle was erected in 1426 by John, sixth Earl of Kildare. It was taken after a siege by Sir William Brereton, in the reign of Henry VIII.; but it was restored to Gerald, the seventh Earl, together with the estates which had been confiscated by the rebellion of Silken Thomas. Maynooth is now of importance as being the seat of the Royal College of St. Patrick, devoted to the preparation of youths for the Roman Catholic ministry. It was first opened in 1795; since that time it has received many additions, but the principal one was that in recent years, designed by Pugin, from which it derives its present characteristically collegiate appearance. It contains accommodation for a large number of students, a noble hall, and a library, and there is a magnificent cloister in the early English style of architecture. The Parish Church of Maynooth is an exceedingly beautiful building of the fifteenth century; it has a massive tower at its west end, no doubt used formerly as a belfry, and also as occasion required, as a place of refuge in troublous times. The windows are remarkably elegant, and minute in their details. The fine round tower of Taghadoe lies within a short distance of Maynooth. Between Fernslock and Enfield may be seen a large mound, with a venerable ash tree on the summit; this may be regarded as a good specimen of the ancient sepulchral mounds which are common in Ireland, and which are generally upon examination found to contain deposits of some kind, cinerary urns, human remains, flint implements, and so forth. Immediately adjoining this mound are the ruins of the ancient church of Cloncurry, from which the present nobleman of that name derives his title. About half way between Moyvalley and the Hill of Down, the train crosses the river Boyne, which takes its rise not far from this, in the neighbourhood of the neat village of Edenderry. The river may be seen from the railway, passing under a bridge, but its picturesque |