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 tremulous 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 neighhouring 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 car, 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.'

Mr. Holmes concludes this passage with a few lines of poetry, which are distinguished by incongruity of metaphor, grammatical inaccuracy, and obscurity. We know not from what source he derived them, nor whether he has fairly quoted them: but we do adjudge that, like other offenders, they be "taken to the place whence they came, and thence to the place of execution."

As an instance of the author's own poetical prose, we insert his description of the chace, and the sufferings of the persecuted deer; which, perhaps, from those who have no relish for the diversion, will excite a commiserating sensation :

We propose leaving Killarny to morrow morning, and shall direct our course towards Cork;. I, however, cannot quit it without speaking of the novelties of the chace, which here is enjoyed in a manner peculiar to the spot. The echoes caused by this sport reverberate the sounds in a manner not to be believed by any but those who have heard them; the duration of a single sound being near a minute, and yet the repercussions are innumerable, and the variety inconceivable. The deer are roused from the deep woods which ɛkirt the lake by hunters used to the sport on foot, as horses are useless, not being able to make their way through the bottoms, nor

It frequently occurs, that in the extent of fifty yards, one will meet with twenty different kinds of trees, all flourishing, particularly the arbutus; and, among the whole, perhaps, one cart load of earth could not be collected. The roots force themselves through the interstices of the rocks, twining round their bases, and seem to be in search of soil.'

rise the steep declivities. The hills are lined with hardy peasants, who encounter the most imminent danger and extreme fatigue to assist and enjoy the chace; while on the lake are scattered numerous beats, full of anxious spectators. The animal darting from his covert, makes towards the soft lawns, which sometimes verge upon the lake; and bounding along the shore, he is hotly pursued by his loud-tongued enemies, whose various notes, and the cheering shouts of the men along the hills, joined with the sounding horns through the woods and on the lake, cause one continued roll of harmonic He now looks upthunder among the hills and hanging forests. wards, and panting seeks the rocky eminence, but in vain; his lofty antlers, once his pride, are now, alas, his ruin!-He presses on, plunging in entangled boughs and thickets, which cruelly retard his progress, till glancing backwards, he sees his open-mouthed enemies gaining on his heels, then downwards again he bounds and gains the shore; but here he is assailed by the loud shouts and horns, of the He hesitates-once enjoying spectators in their crowded boats.

more looks upward; but the hills are insurmountable, and his favourite shades now oppose his flight and refuse him shelter. A moment longer he stops-looks back :-the roarings of the dogs are in his ears their eager mouths send forth the cry of death as they gain upon his lagging steps-the big tears start from his distracted eyes, which are fixed in ardent gaze upon the lake, his last and sad retreat. Suddenly, in desperation, he plunges from the bank, and gives his ample breast unto the wave. But, alas! his fate is fixed-he gains but a few minutes respite-the shouting boatmen surround the victim-he is dragged with ropes into their boat-and, with peals of exultation that thunder through the woods, he is brought to land.

Thus snatching his life from the cruel pack, he, fainting, yields it to relentless man.'

After having conducted us through a very interesting tract of country, and amused us with various anecdotes and some historical information, Mr. H. brings us at length to the venerable castle of Lismore, in the county of Waterford, of which we have this account:

On entering Lismore, the traveller is struck with its venerable castle, lifting its high embattled towers in a kind of melancholy grandeur, bordering on sadness; the antient avenue, whose tall dark trees shed a gloom over the outer gate-house, gives its neglected front a deeper and more solemn shade. On the angles are ruined towers of prodigious strength, in the same roofless state that the wars of 1641 left them. Within the great gate-house there is a spacious court; on each side are the ranges of offices belonging to the castle, which faces the entrance, and forms a parallelogram. Over the gatehouse are the arms of the first Earl of Cork, who beautified and enlarged it. Descending on the eastern side to the bridge, we were charmed with its grand elevation; the north front rising from a perpendicular range of wooded rock, overhanging the Blackwater. The broad and Imagination cannot paint a more romantic scene.

placid river, from which, on the left, arise lofty and richly covered

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rocks,

rocks, to a fearful height, crowned with nodding groves, in some parts ranging down from the steep summit, cast their green branches in the stream; while, in others, they are separated by the jutting heads of moss-clad rocks, whose variegated sides of grey and spangled brown, contrast in a lively manner with the varied foliage. Over all, the ivied windows and pointed turrets lifting themselves high above the trees, which half disclose their antique casements, finish the picture to the left. On the right the shores are diversified by wood and lawn, and behind opens a deep and thickly wooded glen, through which a small river, called Oon-a-shad, winds into the Blackwater; to the west, the salmon weirs traverse the river for a considerable way, and form several agreeable falls, the soft lulling sound of which greatly heightens the beauty of the whole.'

In a note, Mr. H. gives some particulars respecting the gold mine of Wicklow, which we have occasionally mentioned from other sources:

In the county of Wicklow there is a mine of gold, which is but lately, and imperfectly known to the public, although it has for many years back been enriching a few families of farmers and peasants. In England, many doubt its existence, and notwithstanding its being in the hands of the crown, the same spiritless exertions are visible with it, as in most other works of the kind. It is situated about eight miles from Rathdrum, and four from Acklow: the hills are very lofty, and do not produce heath, which most mountains of their magnitude do; but rather a good kind of herbage, totally uncultivated, inhabited only by goats and sheep. The highest of those hills is called Crowhan; it is bounded by several lesser hills whose bases join and form a small glen, through which runs an inconsiderable stream. Near the top of the Crowhan, a great Cliff is observable; from which issues a spring, taking its course nearly in a straight line through the mountain: in its way it is joined by two smaller streams at right angles. From this it flows on through a little valley 4 or 5 miles to the sea: this is called Ranalaigh, and in this narrow valley, not more than 20 yards in breadth, the first quantity of gold was found. The largest piece was taken up by a party of six men, who went to work in a small shaking bog. It weighed twenty-two ounces, and was purchased by Mr. Camac on the spot, for sixty-eight guineas; it exceeds by eight ounces the largest piece ever found in South America, or elsewhere. The only ore to be found, is a singular ore of iron, Pyrites, among the smaller hills, but none on the great Crowhan. The gold has been found no higher than where the iron is visible; it has been got in large quantities in a kind of slaty rock, the crevices of which are filled with a blackish earth, and small fragments of quartz. The general appearance of the stones which compose the lesser hills, is a wavy argillaceous shistous, differing very much in colour and texture, as red, brown, and blue; the latter seems to be most general. The quartz are singular in their whiteness, and run in veins through the shistous, in which masses of the gold were found. The shistous does not split into regular slates, but is quite splintery. Amongst this, about two feet below the sur

face

face, were found considerable quantities of gold; but the greater part amongst the sand and gravel of the banks of the stream.'

This volume is decorated with several neatly executed engravings in acquatinta, presenting views of the Rock of Cashel, Ross Castle, Lismore Castle, &c.

ART. XI. The Modern Land Steward; in which the Duties and Functions of Stewardship are considered and explained. With their several Relations to the Interests of the Landlord, Tenant, and the Public. Including various and appropriate Information on Rural and Economical Affairs. By the Author of the New Farmer's Calendar, &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 420. 108. 6d. Boards. Symonds.

T

o gentlemen of landed property, and to their confidential agents, this volume may be of considerable utility. If the author had not already recommended himself to the public by his New Farmer's Calendar *, and other works, the judi-' cious observations and useful hints here offered would place him in the list of those rural counsellors who are capable of giving advice, and to whose opinion some deference is due, though it may not be implicitly followed. His sentiments on general subjects expand beyond the narrow boundaries of vulgar prejudice, and his good sense is forcibly recommended to us by its acting in concert with a humane disposition. He candidly owns that he has availed himself of

See Rev. Vol. xxxiii. N. S. p. 140.

all

+We much applaud his protests against cruelty in killing animals for food, and in impaling worms and frogs in the amusement (as it is called) of fishing. On the former subject, we are gratified by the following intelligence: Lord Carrington, president of the Board of Agriculture, in the true spirit of practical humanity, some time since requested Messrs. Mellish to make trial at the Victualling Of fice, of the slaughtering knife for laying oxen. Those gentlemen complied, and with a commendable zeal and perseverance, totally overcame the obstinate prejudices of their servants, in consequence of which, the method of laying oxen with the knife, instead of the old cruel, laborious, and troublesome method, has met the most complete success. The animal falls senseless in an instant, and not only the head and neck, but the carcase in general, is found to be in a much superior condition, to that in which it had used to be, after the numerous and uncertain blows, bruises, and frights, too commonly attendant on the old method.'- In the same way, we are assured by the Rev. Mr. Marshall, cels and fish of all kinds may be instantaneously killed, an incision being made with a sharp-pointed penknife, or punctures with a bodkin, longitudinally, into the brain, about half

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all the assistance and information within his reach, and particularly acknowleges his obligations to two preceding works of the same kind, viz. "The Duty and Office of a Land Steward," by Edward Laurence, an eminent land-surveyer in the reigns of Anne and George I., and the "Complete Steward," by John Mordant, in 1761. It is the wish of this author that the volume now before us should be considered as a companion to his New Farmer's Calendar; and indeed the latter part of it forms no improper snpplement to that work.

In the Preliminary Observations, the subjects of Agriculture and Commerce are generally discussed, the causes of scarcity are considered, and the author's opinion is freely given respecting the impolitic operations of the corn-laws:

Previously to the present century, and indeed until within the last thirty, or forty years, the portion of land under culture, for the production of bread corn, seems to have been fully adequate to the subsistence of the number of people, at a reasonable rate, with an occasional surplus for exportation. This being granted, it may seem strange, that so great inconvenience to the public, and distress to the poor, on account of the dearness of corn, should have recurred at such frequent periods. It evidently proves the existence of an error somewhere; and as we have none to charge to the account of nature, in any sense, no doubt can remain that the blame attaches exclusively

half an inch or an inch above the eyes, according to the size of the fish: a method which will be remembered by those, who generously wish to lessen the unnecessary sufferings of animal nature.'

In

His opinion of the barbarity of some fishers cannot be better substantiated than by his own testimony, p. 310. I cannot help expressing my detestation and entering my protest against the infernal barbarity of empaling alive, upon the hook, large animals, such as fish, and frogs, endowed no doubt with an exquisite sense of feeling, for the purpose of baits. I am a great lover of fish and fishing, but would go eternally without their profit, obtained by such infamous and morally dishonest means. I entertain some hope, that the worm divided in half, soon loses his sensibility, but there are plenty of dead and artificial baits, as well as of certain methods of taking pike and the larger fish. my boyish days, I spent several years in Suffolk, near a river abounding in pike. There was a fellow in the neighbourhood, a ropemaker, who used to lay a vast number of night lines, the hooks baited with large green frogs, roach, or perch with the fins cut off: it will never be out of my recollection, what a roguish and indefatigable pleasure I took in destroying this hard-hearted fisherman's lines, and putting an end to the misery of the tortured victims. I should conceive, I cannot be less than one hundred and fifty hooks and lines in his debt: yet such is the irregularity of the human mind, with all my innate and almost phrenzical detestation of barbarity, I have occasionally, adult been cruel to brute animals, a subject for my even in my never ending regret.'

age,