that almost half of Ireland is said to be within the bounds of Clonmacnoise.' It was believed that all persons interred within its precincts ensured to themselves an immediate ascent to heaven. On this account it was selected as a burial place by many kings and princes. But its sanctity did not prevent its being frequently plundered and burned by royal robbers, as well as marauders of a meaner

sort.

There is a melancholy anti-climax in the fact that a little building called Teampul Conor, said to have been founded in the tenth century, having been repaired and slated in the modern style, and the windows closed up with jealous care by wooden shutters, is occupied as the parish church, for the accommodation of the very few Protestants in the neighbourhood. Even the Rev. Mr. Otway admits that though it might deserve attention elsewhere, it looked altogether out of place in this scene of ruins.

The tourist must keep his car at Clonmacnoise, as no conveyances are to be had there. He may return as we did, by driving to the Prospect station, on his way to Tullamore, the county town. This would give him an opportunity of visiting Clara, a small town to which a branch comes from each of the railways-the Great Southern and Western and the Midland Great Western. It is celebrated for its mills, to which wheat is brought in large quantities by the surrounding farmers. The Messrs. Goodbody, of the Society of Friends, are large mill-owners, and give a great deal of employment. They have also an establishment for the manufacture of sacks, the machinery being driven by the most powerful water-wheel in Ireland. They also have lately added steam-power: The hemp and other raw materials are imported, and every process connected with the manufacture, even to the sewing of the sacks, is performed on the premises, giving employment to hundreds of women and girls. Very nice slated cottages are built by the proprietors for their workpeople. We found them clean and comfortable. Some families earn as much as 30s. a week. This shows what could be done, with profit, for the employment of the people in a thousand localities, by the judicious outlay of capital, in utilizing resources now running to waste. The business

given to one of the railways in this little town is something

enormous.

Tullamore is the Assizes town for the King's County. It is a substantial, clean, stirring town, having a number of flourishing business establishments, well supported by a thriving agricultural population, and a considerable middle class. The county court-house and jail are fine buildings on an elevated site. The parish church stands on a hill, about half-a-mile out of town. Among other buildings are the Roman Catholic church, Dissenting chapels, barracks, market-house, and Union workhouse. There is a large distillery and brewery. It is the principal town on the line of the Grand Canal, and has water communication with Ballinasloe and Limerick, as well as with Dublin.

Tullamore owes its prosperity in a great measure, if not its existence, to the liberality and fostering care of its noble proprietor, the Earl of Charleville, who converted a straggling group of thatched cabins into a town with regular streets, handsome buildings, and all the accommodation required by an industrious and thriving population. The linen manufacture was introduced, and it was not his fault if it did not flourish. The market-house, which is very well adapted for its purpose, was built at his lordship's expense.

Charleville Forest, his lordship's demesne, comprises 1,500 acres, and extends to the suburbs. The mansion is one of the most splendid in the United Kingdom. The undulating hills covered with forest trees, the luxuriant growth of an endless variety of shrubs and evergreens, the various cascades at different falls of the River Cladagh, the Cladagh, the grottoes, rustic bridges, and lakes, produce effects at once highly picturesque and sweetly tranquil. The taste and skill by which art has been made to assume the appearance of nature are conspicuous throughout those charming landscapes. The house is at present occupied by Lord Charleville's relative and agent, the Hon. Major Bury, Charles William Bury, Esq., of Charleville Forest, was raised to the peerage of Ireland as Baron Tullamore, in 1797; created Viscount Charleville in 1800, and Earl of Charleville in 1806. The present peer succeeded his father as fourth Earl, 19th January 1859.

About 7 miles from Tullamore is Geashill, now one of the most interesting places in the South, much visited by tourists to see the improvements on the English system' carried on by Lord Digby. But independent of this, the place possesses an historical interest that makes it worthy of notice. The estate of Geashill formerly belonged to the Irish chief, O'Dempsey; it afterwards passed to the Geraldines. Sir Robert Digby, who represented Athy in Parliament in 1613, married Lettice, daughter and heiress of Gerald, Lord Offaley, who was created Baroness of Offaley for life, and brought into the Digby family the Barony of Geashill. Their eldest. son, Robert, was elevated to the peerage of Ireland, as Baron Digby, in 1620. Lady Offaley survived her husband, and in 1641 she defended her castle against the Irish until relieved by Sir Richard Grenville.

The village of Geashill is situated on a hill that seems to rise out of the surrounding bog. The ruins of the castle, which still remain are picturesque, surrounded by fine plantations, and close to it is a very pretty, commodious cottage, the residence of the agent, Henry Trench, Esq., J.P., who succeeded his father, William Steuart Trench, Esq. This gentleman has given an exceedingly interesting history of the Geashill estate in his Realities of Irish life. When he became agent in 1857 the present landlord, who had recently succeeded to the estate, received threatening notices, that he would certainly meet 'a bloody death' if he persisted in his legal proceedings against the tenants, with a view to the breaking of their leases. Those leases were long and beneficial ones generally, granted by the late Lord Digby, who had only a life interest in the estate. Hence the leases were legally invalid at his death. They were 120 in number, and were valued at £30,600 for the terms still unexpired. The leaseholders were generally substantial yeomanry, some gentlemen farmers, descendants of English settlers. late landlord, who was enormously rich, willed away from his successor, a cousin, everything in his power. The latter therefore, did not feel himself bound to respect leases which were legally invalid. The tenants refusing to surrender them were served with ejectments, and were threatened with eviction and the loss of all their investments. Consequently the

The

country was dreadfully excited, a lawless spirit took possession of the people, and serious outrages were apprehended. It was under these circumstances that Mr. Trench became agent of the property, having already distinguished himself by his extraordinary ability and tact in dealing with similar cases as the agent of other English proprietors. The result of his exertions was a compromise. The English executors of the late lord were induced to advance the value of the leases, £30,600, to be distributed among the tenants, under a guarantee from Lord Digby that this sum should cover all possible claims. The leases were consequently surrendered, with the understanding that the tenants should pay an advanced rent, remaining either as tenants at will, or taking leases for 21 years, the landlord erecting the buildings and making other permanent improvements, and charging interest for the outlay. There were besides numerous squatters, who had reclaimed patches of bog on the road-side, where they multiplied exceedingly, and survived the famine, having acquired, by long possession, a title as good as Lord Digby himself. These were all bought up and cleared off; their huts and garden fences were levelled, the ploughshare went through them; new fences, inclosing the common, were made along the road at each side. The bog was drained, manured, and converted into pasture, and there remain now no traces of the numerous habitations that clustered along the road for miles, between Tullamore and Geashill. Since then the progress of improvements has been something marvellous. Drainage on a comprehensive scale has been carried on with an outflow into the deepened Brosna, handsome villas have been erected as dwelling-houses for the farmers, and pretty cottages for the labourers. The village has assumed a new and modern aspect. Trees have been planted in various directions, and vast tracts of deep bog, which produced only 3s. to 5s. an acre, have been so improved by draining and top-dressing, that the land now sets at £2 an acre. Among the interesting objects which the visitor sees here, are the Russian huts for the labourers engaged in draining the bog. They are composed entirely of wood, and so constructed, that they can be put up and closely jointed without any nails, and removed, as they may

be required, from one locality to another. Mr. Trench, the agent, has superintended these improvements with admirable. energy, skill, and prudence, and has succeeded in conciliating the people, and reconciling them to the changes, by his unwearied kindness of disposition and affability of manner. Lord Digby's outlay has been great, but it has been wonderfully reproductive, and as Mr. Steuart Trench says emphatically, 'It pays.'

THE COUNTY TIPPERARY.

The Great Southern and Western Railway bisects the county of Tipperary, which it enters within a short distance of the town of Templemore. It is situated in the province of Munster, and is bounded on the south by Waterford, on the west by Cork, Limerick, Clare, and Galway, on the north by Galway and King's County, on the east by King's, Queen's, and Kilkenny. Its greatest length north and south is 70 miles; its greatest breadth east and west is 40 miles. Its area is 1,659 square miles, or 1,061,731 acres, of which 843,887 are arable; 178,183 uncultivated; 23,779 in plantations; 2,359 in towns; and 13,523 under water. The county lies for the most part in the basin of the river Suir, which rises near Templemore, and after winding through the county a distance of about 76 miles, forms the boundary with Waterford. The other rivers are the Nore, the Nenagh, and the Brosna. There are numerous lakes, but none of any magnitude. The principal mountains are the Galtees (3,000 feet), Knockmealdown (2,700), and Slieve-en-Man (2,364), on the south. On the west the Keeper mountains (2,100), and on the east the Slievedaragh hills. The Devil's Bit mountains rise abruptly from a defile near Roscrea, and extend south-west to the vicinity of Borrisoleigh, the highest summit being 1,583 feet. A narrow ridge, called the Slievena-Muck mountains, extends from the boundary line of Limerick to the town of Tipperary, and along the north side of the celebrated Glen of Aherlow. The soil of the plain is rich, calcareous loam, in some places very deep, especially in the Golden Vale, in the centre of which stands the town of Tipperary. There is a similar fertile district in the north of the county, around Templemore and Golden.