objects will fatigue the sight, and baffle reflection; they require digestion; and when it is interrupted, confusion must arise, and the last object will erase from the mind the image of the first. After a pleasing kind of tumult of the mind had subsided, occasioned by the first impression made upon us by this magnificent scene, we moved slowly on, descending by Lord Kenmare's deer park wall, into the town of Killarny. It is exceedingly neat and clean, and thriving fast, both from the great encouragement given by Lord Kenmare to settlers, and from the prodigious influx of visitors to the lakes; the houses in general are good, and an appearance of comfort pervades the whole. His lordship's house adjoins the town, and the beautiful gardens spread themselves to the edge of the lake, finely planted, and preserved with care.

This morning we prepared for an excursion on the lakes. The boats are stationed at Ross Island, about a mile and a half from town; it is rather a peninsula, being separated from the main land only by a cut through a morass, over which there is a bridge.

Ross castle stands on this island, formerly the seat of O'Donoghoe Ross, one of the most ancient families in this county. It lies close to the water side, beautifully backed by wood, which covers almost the whole of the island; the banks, in most places, are hid by thick and hanging foliage. The castle is now in tolerable repair, having a garrison, with a governor appointed for it, upon the establishment. In the year 1641, it was held by Lord Muskerry, against the English, commanded by Ludlow, with Lord Broghil and Sir Hardress Waller, who besieged it with four thousand infantry, and two hundrea cavalry; it was surrendered upon capitulation. Having embarked, and taken on board two men with horns, and two small pieces

of cannon, we stretched across the lower lake, to the base of Glenaá mountain, where we deposited our provisions in the cottage; and shaping our course towards the upper lake, we entered between the two mountains of Glenaá and Turc, a narrow canal, or river, which issues from the upper to the lower lake. Here the most wildly diversified scenery unfolds itself, that the enthusiastic imagination can conceive. The rugged and precipitate base of Turc, contrasted with the opposite richly wooded sides of Glenaá, whose romantic groves, falling to the waves, cast a deep and solemn shade around; whilst on the other side, rock piled on rock, flung in wild confusion along the banks covered with crawling ivy, and from their interstices, bursting numerous shrubs, in flower, and bearing fruit; quickly the scene would change; the nountains retire suddenly and leave us in a plain, of perhaps three hundred yards in breadth; the green lawn spotted with groups of oak, holly, and wild ash; again the hills approach, and environ us with dark precipices and nodding woods; awhile the course seems lost, we are suspended in doubt; till turning short, we penetrate a deep and gloomy shade, hid from the blaze of day by the umbrageous arms of the trees, which, interwoven together, form an imperious canopy. Once more we are launched into an amphitheatre of lofty rocks, clad with countless shrubs and forest trees, which, shooting from their bare sides, send forth their twisting roots towards the earth. Arriving underneath the Eagle rock, we stopped, and, landing on the opposite bank, stood lost in admiration, not unmixed with terror.

Its sublime height, girt with a waving forest, whose aspiring trees lift their tall shade high amongst the craggy eminences, the haunt of eagles and various birds of prey; at its base, the tremu

lous wave reflected all again with varied beauty. But how can I describe the wonders of its many echoes, which, on the explosion of the cannon, burst with tenfold magnitude from its rugged cliffs, rolling with majestic horror round the neighbouring hills, each seeming to repel the thunder as it comes, till by reiterated peals, it sinks into hollow murmurs among the distant hills, and is for a few moments lost; but, from the silent pause, the distant sound again strikes faintly on the ear, and by degrees, with collected force, grows louder, till at last it faintly dies away to utter silence!

Just at this awful period, the bugle horn sounded, and there issued from the grots and steep recesses of the mountain, innumerable sounds, like celestial voices, diffusing inexpressible pleasure, each wood and rocky dell prolonging the notes, which, floating on the agitated air, fell behind the hills, and mingled into one grand chord of most angelic harmony, that like

"A solemn breathing sound,

Rose like a stream of rich distilled perfumes, that stole upon the air,

That even silence was took ere she was aware, And wish'd she might deny her nature, and be never more;

Still to be so displaced."

From this enchanting spot we proceeded on to the old Wier bridge, a rude and picturesque object, where quitting the boat, we betook ourselves to the bank, whilst the boatmen prepared to drag the boat through a fall of water, which passes with great impetuosity under the arch; through it they conveyed ropes to the other side, and, with the most painful exertions, pulled it up through the fall into the higher stream, which is elevated about ten or fifteen feet. Thus continuing our course, we at length entered the upper lake through a nar

row channel formed by two projecting cliffs, called Colman's Eye. This lake is surrounded by mountains of a fearful height, fringed with forests, which creep up their sides to various distances, From the glassy surface, emerge huge rocks, crowned with arbutus, displaying its bright green leaves of gayest verdure, blended with its scarlet fruit and snowy blossoms. Some immense islands lift their bare and craggy summits high above others, from whose fantastical shapes the boatmen have named them, one, the man of war, another, the church, and so on, according as there is an assimilation. The shores are mostly bold and steep, abounding with the most surprizing variety of shrubs and plants.

Here spring the living herbs profusely wild

O'er all the green deep earth, beyond the power
Of botanist to number up their tribes;
Whether he steals along the lonely dale

In silent search, or climbs the mountain rock,
Fired by the nodding verdure of the brow,
With such a liberal hand hath nature flung

Their seeds abroad, blown them about in winds
Innumerous, mix'd them in the nursing mold.

At the farthest extremity of the lake arose M'Gillycuddy's Rock; its many pointed head immersed in mists and storms; along its prodigious furrows we could distinctly trace the cataracts, swollen by recent raius, tumbling with fury, and glistening like liquid silver. In a little time we observed its forky summit pierce through the clouds, and the grey mists slow descending, like a great curtain half way down, through which the sun darted his rays, partially illumining its huge side and base. We landed on Romans' Island, where we found a small cabin, built by the person from whom the island takes its name: he was a singular character, and retired here to enjoy the pleasures of his rod

and gun. It is finely situated, commanding a delightful prospect of the circumjacent hills, with the numerous islands scattered over the lake. Embarking again, we crossed to the shore, and wound round the woody promontories of those stupendous mountains, proceeding to the very extremity. We approached the rocks as near as the land would permit, but all was involved in shadows, clouds and darkness; we could scarce see upwards an hundred feet.

We now bent our course homeward; passing again through Colman's Eye, we entered the beautiful canal, or passage to the lower lake. When we arrived within a quarter of a mile of the old Weir bridge, we felt ourselves gently urged on by the current; the boatmen drew in their oars, and we committed ourselves to the guidance of the stream; trimming the boat well, and observing our balance, we found ourselves hurried on towards the arch with encreased velocity; till, with the torrent, we were swept through the arch and down the fall, with a force that must alarm any person looking at us from the bank. As we approached it, the boatmen mentioned an accident having happened to a boat, which was broken to atoms down the fall, by not having sufficient water to carry it clear over the rocks, which by no means tended to quiet my fears for our own fate; however, we had a fine sweep of water, and were launched pleasantly into the lower stream. On our arrival at Glenaá cottage, we found a comfortable dinner ready for us, attended by every thing which could heighten enjoyment. About six o'clock we got on board, and winding round the fanciful shore which separates Mucruss lake from the lower, we returned to Ross castle.