STANFORD LIBRARY

NEW SERIES.

THE

ANALECTIC MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1820.

ART. I.-Excursion from Edinburgh to Dublin.

[Continued.]

Dublin, April, 21. AT half past ten on the evening of the 19th, we again entered the coach, and resumed our journey towards this city. The night was clear the stars were bright, and the coach lamps admitted our seeing every thing immediately along the road, with tolerable distinctness. Our route from Newry was by Dundalk, Castle Bellingham, Dunleer, Drogheda, Balruddery, and Swords. It gave us pleasure to be informed that we should lose nothing of particular interest, for the next twenty-five miles. Between Newry and Dundalk, we travelled some high and rugged ground-the road chiefly ascending for the first five miles, and descending the remaining five. At Dundalk, a very pleasant and intelligent gentleman joined us, and continued in company till our arrival here. He was returning from the north, where he had been on a visit to the Giant's Causeway;-and gave much information respecting the comparative state of Ulster, and also of Leinster, another of the four Irish provinces, which we were just entering. Day dawned upon us at half past three; half an hour before our arrival at Drogheda. That town is large, and the streets through which we drove, appeared well built; chiefly of brick. It is situated on the Boyne, a river famous for the battle which was fought on its banks in 1690, by king William against the forces of James 2d. The field of action was two miles distant from Drogheda, up the river. A splendid monument marks the spot. I beheld the stream with interest; and recalled the emotions which I had often felt in my early boyhood on listening to the fine tune of the Boyne Water.'At Swords we saw a remarkably curious tower, the date and precise object of which are wholly unknown. It is built of stone, and is seventy or eighty feet in height. It tapers gradually from the base, and is of narrow circuit compared with its altitude. There are a number of loop-holes cut through its walls similar to those seen in the old English feudal castles.* Near it are the ruins of a * Since writing the above I have conversed with two or three gentlemen who have inquired much into the antiquities of Ireland, respecting this and similar

church, the tower of which is very perfect;-and at a little remove further the noble remains of an immense Gothic pile, which, from the parapets upon the walls and the embattled turrets at the angles, several of which remain entire,-seems to have been a castle, formerly. of great strength. There are several other mutilated edifices. around, and some small mounds, or raths. Swords was formerly a city of great consequence, and the seat, if I mistake not, of the ancient kings of Leinster and Ulster. It is now very much reduced, and exhibits little else than the ruins of its former grandeur.-The remainder of our ride to Dublin, distant eight miles, was through a pleasing and picturesque country:-rather too flat perhaps, but diversified with some gentle swells-A range of high grounds, or mountains, bounded the prospect to the west and north. Three miles from Dublin, we first came in sight of this magnificent city. The view was striking, although not quite as much so as was anticipated. As we approached, however, it improved very much. The houses appeared regularly built, and evidently not so high as many in Edinburgh. They are composed of brick chiefly; and give a fine relief to the deep verdure of the parks and pleasure grounds which environ the city. We did not perceive so many spires and domes rising from the town, as we wished and indeed expected to see. The suburbs also through which we drove were far from looking well; and in fact would have disappointed us exceedingly had we not have been prepared for seeing them. But on escaping these, we entered some fine streets, and soon came into Rutland Square, which was magnificent indeed. The trees and small-wood in the central area were in full leaf. We proceeded next through Sackville street, resembling, though not quite so broad, the upper part of Market-street in Philadelphia. A noble monument is erected at the head of it in honour of Nelson;-on the four sides of the pedestal of which, the names of St. Vincent, Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar are severally inscribed. I estimated its height at 150 feet. Similar, though not quite so costly monuments in memory of this hero, I met every where in the three kingdoms. Leaving this, we crossed the Liffey by the Carlisle bridge, entered Westmoreland street and soon found ourselves in a spacious area which we easily distinguished as the college green. Here I alighted with Mr. ****;-and having ordered a porter, we repaired to the Commercial Buildings; a splendid hotel, which was a few yards distant.

We were surprised on coming into this city, to find many shops open, (it being Sunday,) and numbers of people employed apparently as in week days. Our fellow passenger had apprised us that this would be the case; and explained it by saying that a large

towers which are found in the country. They confirm the opinion that they defy alls atisfactory research:-but think that they are Druidical structures, originally intended as places of worship. Their date therefore, they suppose, to be anterior to the introduction of christianity into Ireland. (Dublin, April, 28.)