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great part of Lecale to the east (the division of Lecale contains Down. patrick, Strangford, Killough, Ardglass, and Dundrum).

Tollymore Park, Lord Roden. Few, if any, noblemen, either in Ireland or in the sister kingdom, can boast a residence placed in so singular and romantic a situation. The approach to it, under a Gothic gateway, is truly prepossessing. A lofty and extended range of well-wooded mountains, diversified in their forms, meet the eye in front; of these, Sleive Donard is the highest, and has two Carnedds to grace its summit; but the Diamond Rock is most conspicuous, from its very rugged form. The situation of this mansion-house is very singular, and I may say unique; for independent of this grand inland scenery, immediately opposite the win. dows, it has a full view, to the left, of the Ocean and the Isle of Man. The adjoining demesne has the beautiful accompaniment of a rapid moun⚫tain stream, which pursues its course, embosomed in thick woods, through a deep channel of indented rocks, and forms in its progress several cataracts; one of which, at some distance from the house, is well worth noticing. The plantations are very extensive, and are increased annually by Lord Roden.

From Tollymore Park to Hill Town, eight miles. On leaving Lord Roden's Park, a desert succeeds a paradise.On approaching Hill Town, see the village of Rathfriland upon an emibence to the right; and an earthen work planted with fir-trees on the left, with a craggy hill, that looks well, beyond it. Hill Town is a small village with a few houses and a turretted church. From Hill Town to Ross Trevor, county of Down, six miles-a rich and pleasing view of Carlingford Bay, which is so completely land-locked and surrounded by mountains, that it appears rather like a large lake than the sea.

oak wood, and feathered down to the water's edge. Underneath it is a little quay, from whence there is a walk of three quarters of a mile along the banks of the bay, completely arboured over by oak trees. A good road is continued along the coast, under the Mourne Mountains, to Dundrum Bay. I have seen no place with a more pleasing.combination of rural beauties; mountains agreeably varied with wood, heath, and down, on one side; others on the opposite coast singularly cultivated in small portions or stripes, resembling a quilt of patch work; between then an extended channel of water, on the banks of which is the town of Carlingford, with its ruined abbies and castle; a purling brook, fine trees, neatly whitened cottages.

From Ross Trevor to Newry, county of Down and Armagh, seven miles. The whole line of coast presents a continuation of gentlemens' houses, low and neat, and whitened cottages, as far as Warren's Point, a village much frequented by sea-bathers. The estuary now contracts itself into a narrower channel, and assumes the name of the Narrow Water. The ferry, and adjoining old castle, afford a good subject for the pencil. A most excellent level road continues its track on the water's edge; rugged and barren mountains; rising immediately from its banks; trees and partial cultivation afterwards clothe their declivities, and whitened houses, ships, and barges, tend to animate the scene. At the upper end of the channel, which is nearly straight, the town of Newry opens itself to view. A most beautiful and interesting drive.

Newry is a large irregular town, situated on the side of a hill, by a river of the same name, from the Narrow Water above described. It has a communication with Lough Neagh to the north, and with the estuary of Carlingford Bay to the south, by means of a canal. Vessels of two hundred The entrance to the village of Ross tons can come up to the town. Here Trevor is particularly striking, through is a considerable linen manufacture, a an irregular grove of tall and aged trade extensive in shipping, and a large ash-trees, the sea and whitened houses exportation of butter. Buildings have glimmering between them; a truly ru- and are increasing, and it may be conral village retirement, and command-sidered as a large flourishing commerng within its immediate neighbour- cial town. It is a borough, and sends hood more agremens than the geneone member to Parliament. There is a rality of sea places; a dry soil, shady druidical monument on the banks of walka, diversified rides, and good bath- the canal, about two miles north of Newry, also a large Cairn, or heap of stones.

The most striking feature of this place is a lofty mountain covered with Europ. May. Fol. LXXIII. Jan. 1818.

F

From Newry to Dundalk, county of Louth, ten miles--Pass through the little village of Jonesborough; and on descending skirt the rich plantations of Mr. Fortescue, at Ravensdale Park, backed by a fine heathy mountain. Continue to descend towards Dundalk. See on the left a rugged hill, well wooded, and the bay; coast flat. The soil becomes, richer and better cultivated, and an occasional wheat field appears. See on the right a raised earthen work, with a building upon it, and beneath it a castle with a church in ruins.

Dundalk is a large town, with some wide streets, one of which is a mile in length. The seat of the Clanbrassil family, now descended to Lord Roden, slands in the middle of it-a spacious garden and demesne extends behind the house, well wooded, but neglected; the meadows are very rich, possess some good situations for a mansion house.

From Dundalk to Dunleer, in the county of Louth, ten miles. It is a small town, with nothing remarkable.In going to Dunleer, near Lurgan Green, is a seat of Lord Clermont.-At a short distance to the right are the remains of a fine round tower at Drumiskin. Pass through Castle Bellingham-See a ruined church on the right, and an earthen work on the left. Trees and gentlemen's seats increase.

From Dunleer to Slane, county of Meath, fourteen miles.-The ruins at Monasterboice form a singular and interesting group; the precincts of a small church-yard contain two perfect stone crosses, and one imperfect; a large round tower, and the shell of two chapels. The round tower maintains its usual position to the northwest of the church. The loftiest of the two crosses, which is situated between the two churches, is called St. Boyne's Cross; but the other, on the southern side of the church-yard, is equally rich in point of sculpture.

From Monasterboice, I proceeded to Collon, where the spirited exertions of Mr. Foster are evident in every road, hedge, and cottage; his plantations are very extensive, and increasing annually. -The ruins of Mellifont; alas! how are the mighty fallen! two inconsiderable buildings mark the site of this once sumptuous monastery of the Cistertian order. Small, however, as are the remains, they have still their interest, and deservedly claim the traveller's attention.-I before said, that

these ruins were reduced to two imperfect buildings; the one a square or oblong chapel, which, from the remains of its groined roof, and windows, seem to have been executed in a good stile. It was also once decorated with a very richly sculptured doorway. Adjoining this chapel, is an octagonal building in tolerable good preservation, and of an uncommon shape and design.

Slane, a neat little village situated on the banks of the river Boyne. Adjoining the town are some extensive and productive flour mills; and near them is an entrance gateway to the demesne of Lord Conyngham, Slane Castle; slender and meagre, according to the Gothic costume of modern architects the mansion-house is also castellated.

Ruins of an abbey-The Hermitage of Eric was situated close to the river, and some trifling remains of it are still visible in Lord Conyngham's grounds.

New Grange Monument is in this county, at a short distance from the river Boyne.-Cavern.-" At the entrance, the gallery is three feet wide and two high. At thirteen feet from the entrance, it is about two feet two inches wide. The length of the gal lery, from its mouth to the beginning of the dome, is sixty-two feet; from thence to the upper part of the dome, eleven feet, six inches; the whole length, seventy-one and a half feet. The dome, or cave, with the long gallery, gives the exact figure of a cross: the length between the arms of the cross is twenty feet; the dome forms an octagon twenty feet high, with an area of about seventeen feet: it is composed of long flat stones, the upper projecting a little below the lower, aud closed in and capped with a flat flag.

Ledwich observes, " That the Monument of New Grange, near Drogheda, will at once shew the paganism of the Irish, and exhibit it as an admirable instance of its remains.-The Irish Ostmen embraced the faith about 853; and in this century, I think, we may date the construction of the Mount at New Grange; it was made, and adorned with every sepulchral honour, to the memory of some illustrious Northern chief.

This tract of country seems to be particularly rich in similar antiquities: there is a cavern in Lord Netterville's park; another lately discovered in Mrs. M'Gwire's domain; and I passed, in my way to New Grange, a large raised

mound, which bore a great resemblance to its elevated neighbour. I also observed, in a field adjoining the New Grange, a smaller sepulchral tumulus, that might easily be opened; and another raised earthen work nearer Lord Netterville's park.

Slane to Navan, county of Meath, six miles. Many natural beauties on the banks of the Boyne.-See on the left a castle near the river; and on the right, at Donaghmore, a large round tower, nearly perfect, a small portion only of the stone roof having fallen. -Near the town of Navan, I observed on the right a raised earthen work.

Navan is a market and post-town, situated at the couflux of the rivers Blackwater and Boyne-Ruins of an abbey in the burial ground are the remains of many aucient tombs, with figures in basso relievo.

From Navan to Trim, county of Meath, eight miles. -See on the left a ruined church, mansion-house, and earthen work; another dilapidated church and close to the Boyne is a small chapel in ruins. At a short distance from hence, and within sight, stands Bective Abbey, situated on the banks of the said river, and presenting rather a castellated than a monastic

exterior.

Trim. Of the ruins within its walls, the castle is the most prominent feature, both from its dimensions, and situation on the banks of the river Borne. No less than four religious establishments have been recorded by Mr. Archdale, as existing at Trim: there are two others in its immediate Beighbourhood that deserve notice. The priory of Newtown, situated on the northern banks of the river Boyne. At a short distance from Newtown Abbey, but on the opposite banks of the ver Boyne, and immediately adjoining a bridge over that river, are the remaias of a priory of St. John the Bap

tt

From Trim to Kilcock, eleven miles. From Kilcock, county of Kildare, to Dablin, sixteen miles.

Passing through Maynooth and Leix lip, I varied the road to Dublin, by the recommendation of my friends; and crowing the Liffey near Lucan, county of Dublin, continued to follow its northern banks, through a narrow vale, well wooded, and richly varied with gentlemen's seats. The southern dedivities of the banks facing the river,

and which, till within these few years, produced only fern and furze, are now allotted to extensive and profitable plantations of strawberry plants.

Enter the Phoenix Park, which, on this side, presented more natural beauties than I could have imagined; and a most advantageous, and even picturesque view of the City of Dublin. (To be continued.)

FRAGMENTA.

BEING THOUGHTS, OBSERVATIONS, RE-
FLECTIONS, AND CRITICISMS, WITH
ANECDOTES AND CHARACTERS ANCIENT

AND MODERN.

No. XXIII.

VIRTUE AND VICE.

YASUISTRY is not a favorite science

Cin the present age, else the following questions respecting the exact limits of virtue and vice might be submitted to a modern Suarez, or a Bellarmine, without impropriety.

of humanity? There are many persons In what consists precisely the virtue existing, who, setting aside every precept of religion, would actually and literally suffer more pain by refusing to relieve a wretch in actual distress, of money necessary for that relief. Do than by depriving themselves of the sum these persons acquire any additional merit in the sight of Heaven, by luxu riously indulging their own inclinations?

vice in the article of intemperance? Where shall we fix the exact point of Shall the puling sinner, who grows confused and ridiculous after three glasses sure hereafter, than that jolly fellow who of port, be liable to a more severe censwallows bottle after bottle and bow! after bowl; who sees his convivial friends totter and sink from their chairs; who, in fine, after drinking a

triumphant farewell bumper over the home, and cast up the week's account fallen around him, can walk coolly of his house-keeping without an error before he goes to bed? Such variation may be found between one drinker and another. But who shall settle whether the sin be actually constituted by deprivation of reason, or by indulgence of appetite?

The casuists might also amuse them. selves with settling, whether the fol lowing action should be ranged under

the banners of justice or inhumanity. We once had a friend who studied at a celebrated university; and having a strong predilection for anatomy, took great pleasure in attending on dissections. One evening, he, with many others, were anxiously attending the commencement of that operation on the body of a notorious malefactor, which lay stretched out on the table before them; the surgeon, who had been placing it in a proper position, turning to the company, addressed them thus:"I am pretty certain, gentlemen, from the warmth of the subject, and the flexibility of the limbs, that, by a proper degree of attention and care, the vital heat would return, and life in consequence take place. But then, when it is considered what a rascal we should again have amongst us; that he was executed for having murdered a girl who was with child by him; and that, were he to be restored to life, he would probably murder somebody else: when all these things are coolly considered, I own it is my opinion, that we had better proceed with the dissection." With these words be plunged the knife into the breast of the carcase, and precluded at once all dread of future assassinations or hopes of future repentance.

WAGERS.

Our novel and essay writers are, in general, very severe on the custom of deciding disputes in conversation by a bet. Undoubtedly this practice, when it tends to supercede argument, is very absurd; but a person who will assert a fact, yet when that fact is controverted refuse to stake some trifling sum on the truth of it, seems to expect the company should put a greater confidence in his judgment or memory than he does himself. There is a story told of a man who, on persisting in asserting the veracity of some improbable adven ture he was relating, was asked by one of the company if he would bet any thing on the truth of it: "No," he replied, "I will not bet upon it, but

I'll swear to it."*

* More consistent, as it proceeded from conviction, but not much more rational, was the answer of the good old Bishop Latimer, who had, at a controversial conference,been out-talked by younger divines, and out-argued by those who were more studied in the fathers, “I cannot talk for my religion, but I am ready to die for it."

WEALTH.

and few, very few in proportion, can All people want to be extremely rich, have that wish gratified: now, as authors are, by prescription, excluded from receiving any considerable benefits from Plutus, it seems to be a duty, incumbent on that literary branch of the disappointed to present as many motives for consolation as possible to their anxious brethren.

panied either by a profusion, which soon Extreme wealth is generally accomannihilates the treasure it preys upon, or a suspicion, which reuders all its enjoyments tasteless.

Wit very seldom honours the exceeding rich man with a visit. The first Lord Halifax, although, by poetic license, characterised as being

"Himself as rich as fifty Jews," was no Croesus; or were he so, he was the only one. None but himself, of all the followers of Apollo, seem to have risen above mediocrity in point of fortune, and very few have even attained to that bumble state.

In our own time, a little observation will convince us, that few bright productions have flowed from the pens of enormously wealthy writers. Some degree of indigence, indeed, seems necessary as a spur to genius.

We are told that Petrarch would not possession of the object of his verse espouse his Laura, when a widow, lest suredly this consideration ought to premight damp his poetic fire. Most as vent some of the brightest of our modern writers from wishing for 20,000l. prizes in the lottery.

Poverty is longer lived than wealth. For one suicide, who from “embarThames, how many hundreds perish by rassed circumstances" plunges into the the pleasant and tardy, but sure and certain, poison of exquisite cookery.

It was the observation of a physician, who was remarkable for his practice in cases of insanity, that the South-Sea year had supplied him with an amazing increase of patients, but that among them all there was not one whose dehis money; they were all to be numlirium was brought on by the loss of bered among the fortunate stock-sel

lers.

The purses of the apparently wealthy are frequently as ill-provided as those among the lowest of their inferiors. In short, as the following tale will

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prove, a man may be actually too great to have a peony in his pocket. About sixty years ago, some alterations were making in a part of Kensington Gardeas, and the good old George the Second used to take pleasure, at times, in overlooking the workmen. Among these, there chanced to be an halfwitted fellow, who never could be brought to comprehend why he might not be as free with the King, as with any other person for whom he had been used to work. One day, finding what he thought a proper opportunity, he grinned in the face of his Sovereign, and with great earnestness demanded "something to drink." Displeased at the boldness of the request, yet ashamed to deny it, the King mechanically em

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ployed both his hands in search of coin, To the Editor of the European Magazine, and finding none, replied with dignity, and his usual German accent, "I have

ao money in my pockets."-" Nor I

seither," returned the ideot: "I can't think where it is all gone, for my part!" -The Sovereign frowned at the repartee, which, like many another joke, was prejudicial to its maker, and the fool was employed no longer near the palace. Had he lived a couple of centures earlier, his buffoonery might have gained him a place about court.

To the Editor of the European Magazine.

SIR.

It is possible that the folloly been put meat, which has recently been put into my hands, may occasion a smile with some of your numerous readers; I therefore send it to you, in case you deem it worthy of a place in your valuable Magazine. I beg at the same time to make one observation to such of your readers as have not entered into the HOLY STATE OF MATRIMONY, lest the perusal of this document should operate so forcibly upon their minds as to damp their matrimonial ardour; namely, that although certainly the newspapers have of late furnished too many instances to the contrary, yet so fully sensible am I of the real hap piness of a married state, that I have entered a second time into the list of Benedicts. The French, like other nations, are so jealous of the comforts of John Bull's fire-side, that they gladly embrace every opportunity of represeating us in a contemptible light, even at the expense of truth-but we will for

SIR.

THE writer of

on Mar

Triage, in orted in the Literary

Garden for September last, did most assuredly intend to include the subject of religion under the head of Virtuous Principles; and from the general tenor of the essay, it is to be presumed, that religion is the basis upon which most of the observations it contains are founded.

But that virtuous principles and religion are synonymous, he does not contend; and on deeper reflexion, occarespondent Albert, he is eager to consioned by the suggestions of your Corfess his error in omitting to treat sepa

rately or more comprehensively of that which he thinks with him is certainly the most essential.

To the remarks of Albert, therefore, as admirably supplying the deficiency, he feels himself, and should imagine your readers felt also, much indebted.

The song says,

"A very good wife is a very good thing,

But the puzzle is how to get ber." This, Sir, I do not hesitate to pronounce an iniquitous lampoon. That Albert at least, if he is not already a husband, in justice to his proper notions on the subject, may, with all like Albert, so find it, is, Mr. Editor, the sincere wish of

Your occasional Contributor, A BACHELOR. January 8, 1818.

P. S. The date of my letter leads me to observe, that, according to the Athenians, the times of the year most proper for marriage were some of the winter

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