The New York herald., 1865-06-20

kyhn the residence o. Sir Charles Coote, bart ana
others too numerous To- mention in newspaper letter
Some Of the places seen were OF very ancient date and
brought vivdy TO my ,emory my early reading OF the
Wars of the Irish chiefs with the towering deeds Of Brian
Boromme and still laiei' the Cromwellian wars
The party reached the Lakes Of Killarney shortly after
three O'CLOCK p M, whe e dinner which had been
aered by telegraph by MI Field, the table Of the
Railroad Hotel At the close Of the repast carriages were
10 Island which us forty Irish miles distant Sew
sra present had visited the lakes before
and expressed desire to delay hour or two to enjoy
ehe beauties of the soenery but Mr. Field who the
acknowledged Chief placing business before pleasure,
posumed at once but with the qualification hst when
she delegates had concluded their mission they might
return and give the Lakes Of Killarney thorough In
spection.
The vehicle prepared for the journey was Q four
wheeled aunting cara carriage indigenous TO ireland
and az think, the most uncomfortable thing In the
world The excitement Of the occasion served to diss
pate many OF the inconveniences which would otherwise
have been experienced Our route was on tho Cahirs-
VEN road In passing through the town of Killarney
shere many things that were novel 70 the visitor
among which were the Roman Catholic cathedral Cor
true lodge Round Castle the ruins of Kifialee church
and Palis Castle, aud the Round Tower Part OF tho
route was along the lake. the islands IN The middle Q!
gigantic eyergreens but assured the interior OF
She islands replee with variety OF scenery On the
margin of lake beautiful gades and lawns, en-
beshcd by thckets Of towering shrubs and evergreens
among which the arburtus and hollies to prcdop
nate Prominent among the islands referred 70 70 innis
fallen, 20 beautifully alluded to by .ss Irish poet
Noore:-
Sweet Innisfallcn, fare thee well
Nay calm and sunshine long be thine;
How fair thou art let others tell,
While but 10 feel how fair be mine, &c.
After losing sight Of the lakes came in view Of the
beautif river Laune which runs parallel TO tho road,
and famous for its salmon fishing Twenty miles from
Killarney the pretty little village Of Rossberg The
other half Of the journey to vaenta was decidedly un.
Interesting and bleak, nothing was to DC seen Dut
barren hills herds OF goats the mud cabins OF the pea
santry sans chmncys. sans windows, sans chairs scns
everything civilized character and peopled only by
hore lcppe
Our party reached Reenard Point extending into the
harbor Of vaena at eleven O'CLOCK AZ nsn rea Soe1 ca
surf boat in waiting to take us across the harbor to
the pretty village Of Knghstow named in honor Of the
Knight OF Keuy) place OF seven hundred Inhabitants.
Good cheer waS awaiting us there efer partakug Of
which we gratefully retired for the night.
Early next morning tue Commission took such convey
ances valentia Island affords and proceeded from
Knightsown 10 the westerly portonyof the island sea
ward 70 survey points on one of which 70 lay the cable
Reaching The village III may call it, the party made
direct diversion to tho southwark until they reached
che margin Of the harbor opposite Aghagadda point
Here by the coast guard barge, under com
nnand of Lieutenant White, Royal Navy, who voluD-
teered his services TO assist the operations OF the day
After consultation II was agreed that Mr. John Temple
the principal engineer OF the commission should accom-
psny Lieutenant White iu making soundings Of the
water the southery shore Of the harbor, while
Others by land examined the westerly shore The COM
mission had 10 guide them in their researches the excel
lent chart Of Vsientia Island and harbo from surveys
Wade O cnST Royo Sv wI' IN ss ana Mr.
pushed his inquiries the south or the har-
km from Kiikca Point to Re ncarrah Point,
while the other party investigated the practi'
cability Of the and outlets from Donnebrook
20 Cromwell Fort, Foilhonmurrum Cn Al the lat
Ger point all part met full discussion and
paison Of observations had. The cliff Is here ity
iset high, the beating long tudinay upon The cable
and thus reducing the risk of that abrasion which
tai 10 submarine teegraphs, TO minimum From a
point the nifty fathoms from land the bottom
which s Of sand, gradually rccedes for miles beyond or
Doonroe Bay near Bray Head, the point at the Port
Nagee entrance to vslena harbor was suggested but
the mssion determined upon its impractca
bty. The question then came back upon the adoption
Of Foilhonmurun Cid, which subsequently, accepted
The commission selected site for the tcle
graphic house. This donc the knight OF Kerry who was
OF the party, told Mr. Field that the telegraph COM
psny could have the land on lease or In perpetuy for
Nominal sum.
The point for the terminus of the telegraph cable hsv
ing determined on, the party started for Bray Hill
Che western or Of vaentia Island Bray Hii at
hs summit IL thousand feet Shove the level; II has
NO woods on t. and but spare pasurage over which the
cattle and sheep Of the peassntry have irec access
There nothing OF importance noticeable except an old
coast naval tower, erected In fcuda times On the sea
n all of the south Irish During gale the waves
dash up sides to several hundred feet, and by thu
constant attron tho island Is by degrees washing away
From the old signal tower at Bray Head looking
eastward, there s an unobstructcd view OF vaentia
Island and hareor In The background are We iei,y
10 the right, Reenard Point, directly opposite
which is the village of Knightstown. The village
has substantial stone houses, neatly whitewashed and
y beyond doubt Of the most thriving little places IN
Ireland Il contains an Episcopal church, small, but
the buildings Of the Royal Coast Guard several well
hed stores, and Is the headquarters OF the Jfeboa'
Association for the south coast Of Ireland Following up
she view towards this point OF observation on the nei
side Of vaenta Island, find the pleasant villages oi
keengass, Reenantina Reenabougan, Dennebrook, Goa
habeg, &c The little farms either side OF the harbor
present themselves in var shades OF green, and make
up scene worthy OF the lmners art On the sea side
the Island oue system OF precipitous and irregular
ens great masses OF rock, In a thousand fantastic
shapes the sea beating against these has worn deep
nssures Into the mountains Evidences or prosperity are
apparent everywhere and vaena Island may, without
hesitation, claim 70 be the most thriving part Of the
sounty Of Kerry.
The shore end Of the old cable was landed on the night
of eth Of August 1851, Doulas bay, the east
france Of the harbor Al that time this thought TO
bs the best site for thai purpose but from subsequent
investigations relative 10 the bottom
u the harbor different opinion has been arrived a by
The Island Of valentla suffered fearfully during the
famine Of 1s4s, and hundreds died OF starvation the
road side or in their miserable dwellings In which their
bodies we're found many weeks after their DEATH un-
buried and presenting horrible signs OF emacation
The island,wil again enjoy consderable Importance
from the fact that will be the terminus OF the great
has beon booked for the month Of July when the Lord
Lieutenant will visit the island 70 take part In the cable
ceremony.
The telegraph company will at once commence thu
srecton OF building al Foilhonmurrum Cn Tor tne &C
eommodaton OF their employees and the housing OF tne
month.
The scientific commission having completed thei
abor made their reports and forwarded them 70 th'
directors IN London In the event just described there
vas unanimity OF feeling which ie the forerunper VI
snecess w slI great sntaprnea