Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-16

hence the result is that the larger porUoi nav
turned their attention to the stock ana GARY
business. and there is but little employment Tor
the poor who have no other resource but tnelr
labour. There is an entire absence OF enterprise;
which, to considerable extent Is peculiar 10 al
Catholic countries Their religion is a per1ecIt
incubus upon the energies of the country, ana
their clergy set Of Vampires, sucking Its lie 5
blood
| But to our excursion the country from the
CITY to the town of Bray (at which point we
shall leave the train) is gently rolling, and most
" set in grass. We passed some few helds OF
wheat; one of 10 acres, from which the farmer
realized last year, for the wheat grown upon 1t,
S25O0 dollars. Considerable ground is in cult,
vation in potatoes and various roots, intended
for their stock during the winter The prospect
for an abundant crop, both in roots and cereais'
throughout Ireland, is very fattering, and which,
if not injured, will materially lessen the demand
for shipments from our country. The fields are
generally small, enclosed with o handsome thorn
hedge, giving to the country novel and agree
able aspect, particularly to one who has been ac-
customed to seeing the serpentine unslghtly
fences of the old Dominion. Arrived at the
town of Bray; rather pretty town; streets
wide, with good buildings and superior Hotel
where the wants of the epicures are Literally
provided for, and particularly in the line OF line
trout, caught in the Dargle river, hard by. Our
first business was to procure car, q kind OF
nondescript vehicle, of two wheels, and no top,
vet quite comfortable to ride in. This we ac-
complished at 10 shilings per day, (s2.5O) which
gave us entire control of it for the time stpula-
| ted. Leaving Bray, we soon crossed the Dargle
river on bridge resembling, in some respects
the ruins of an old fortress from its massive but
dilapidated abutments and fixed our course for
the Wicklow Mountains. A short drive brought
us to ST. Valerie, the beautiful seat of the Right
Hon. Judge Champion, and on the left the prince
ly residence of the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert.
| Both are points of much attraction. The
lawns around their mansions, are highly orna-
mented, their parks with lofty oaks and man.
moth elms, richly carpeted with grass, with nu-
merous deer leaping and skipping, never fail to
interest the traveller. Following the Dargle
river we soon commenced ascending hill; on
reaching its summit we had splendid view OF
Bray Head, one of the lofty peaks of the Wick
low Mountains. We soon reached Shangonah
Castle, once the strong hold of the Walsh fami-
ly, but now in ruins. Our guide related incl
dents and legends in connexion with the Castle
sufficient to fill a small volume. A few miles
beyond the Castle we came to a singular re-
mains of antiquity, called Cromlechs. or Drnid's
Affairs. To me they very much resembled some
old heathen tombs | subsequently met with. A
short distance beyond the Cromlechs we reached
the summit of Killing Hill. The view from this
elevated position exhibits delightful comolna-
ton of healthy mountains, sterile rocks, OF wild
ravines, wooded glens, and lovely valleys. In
the North is the Hook Mountains in the West
the Wicklow Mountains, and in the South the
Tn 10
". the magnificent residence of Miss Byrne, q
descendant of the chieftains who, in the days of
feudalism, mustered the wild clans of the noun
tains. Nearly in the same direction is seen the
ruined Churches of Rathmichael and Tulia.-
The former place was of considerable note in an
cient times, as the remains of an old round low
er clearly indicate 1t is said to have been
erected by the Danes, and to have been dedica-
ted to St. Olave. In short distance we reach
ed the Glen of the Dargle. 1t is favorite haunt
of artists. 1t is deep dark glen in the noun
tain, through which the Dargle river rushes with
fearful rapidity over the rocks, forming either
cascades or continuous rapids. The carriage
way winds along sometimes on o level with the
water, and then at other points the river is far
down in deep, dark ravine, almost lost to view
by over-hanging lodges and thick foliage of the
trees but still its hoarse murmurings fall on the
ear breaking the otherwise profound stiffness OF
this wild and lonely spot On both sides we
were shut in by lofty mountains whose heath
crowned SUBMITS seemed to pierce the clouds
Following the carriage way we next reach
>nnt known as Lovers Leap. 1t is lofty cliff
lr, height, projecting over the river,
80 feet IN 49,, wing and dashing with
which, far below. is 1ou.... Wild legend
wild violence DER its rocky bed. 49,.
is connected with this spot which invests it Will
additional interest. Leaving the Glen of the
Dargle short drive brought us in view of the
Glencree Mountains and Vale The scenery is
romantic and beautiful. The Glencree Noun
tains rising in wild grandeur, its barren slopes,
and deep glens give to it a lonely and dreary as
pect; while at its base is the beautiful Vale of
Glencree with its green pastures and thickly
dotted humble homes of the peasantry, with the
occasional princely mansion of some Nobleman.
lovely stream of water meanders through its
rich meadows greatly enhancing its beauty
This spot is not without its historic associations.
The rebellion of 179S called the bold clans from
the mountains, to strike for their countrys free
dom, but they fell on the banks of this little
stream, mngling their blood with the waters of
the Glencree. The guide directed our attention
to an old Castle on the slope of the mountain
which was occupied by the Rebels at that time.
1t is now fortress in the possession of her Ma
jesty's troops. Descending the mountain we
reached Tinnahinch, the seat of James Grattan,
Esq, son of the celebrated Irish orator and
statesman. The estate was presented to the late
Henry Grattan by the Irish Parliament for his
successful efforts in obtaining free trade with
Great Britain. We next passed Brushy Park, ,on
the right the residence of Col. Howard, and the
left Charleville the fine mansion and estate of
the Earl of RathdOwn. A short turn in the
road brought us in view of Lord Powerscourt's
domains. His mansion is large baronial struc-
ture, with buttresses and massive towers, ,impart-
ing to it the appearance of an old fortress The
estate consists of twenty-six thousand acres of
land, comprising within its extent every variety
of scenery and soil. At the base of the noun
tain we reached the Porter's Lodge, the entrance
to his Deer Park Here allow me to remark that
upon every Nobleman's possessions, at the en-
trance to the Avenue leading to his mansion, to
his park, or wherever the visitor is admitted is
Porter's Lodge. After registering your name
the iron gate is thrown open, and you are invi-
ted to drive in. Having entered the Powers
court Park, it was not long before we saw deer,
and variety of smaller game. Passing through
dark glen, we emerged into wide Amphithe-
atre, formed by lofty and rugged ranges of noun
tains. In front of us was the magnificent Pow
erscourt Waterfall. AS the water leaps from
point to point, from the summit of the mountain
it forms broad and beautiful sheet of spray
which is enchanting to the visitor, and mingled
emotions of delight and awe are called FORTH
The wild and sombre aspect Of the heath-crown-
ed mountains stupendous grandeur of some
towering cliff-the waters of the glensloraine,
leaping from cliff to cliff, demand for this point
the highest degree of interest. The river falls
800 feet. 1t is more beautiful than useful. The
next point on leaving Powerscourt is the Castle
of Kevin, formerly noted as the strong hold of
the oToole's It is called Glendeaugh, Or in