Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-11-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
sketchs OF Foreign Travel.
By Coz. Jxo. T. GIBsox.
(Conttnued.)

Continued.
On the 9th day of April, in the
morning-and a lovely morning it was
with the bold, lofty and green coast
of ireland extending for miles and
miles in view, after a passage of ten
days exactly, was landed, with four
or five Irish-American young women
and a young man, who were on a visit
to their native land, on little steamer
that seemed to be waiting for us in
the llarbor of Cork, some distance
out from shore. There was no freight
discharged here, only mail bags
The delay of the ship was, of course,
but for a moment. 1 could not for
bear to behold her as she steamed
away, grandly and maiestically, up
the channel towards Liverpool, where
she expected to land her passengers
early the next morning. My eyes fol-
lowed her till she was clear out of
sight, for she had brought me so COM
fortably, so carefully, and so safely
over the great deep.
There were only four men, includ-
ing the commander, on the little
steamer that took us up to Queens
town, distance of four or five miles.
They were genuine Ir;shmen, heavy
set and stalwart looking, with coarse
and thick hair and beard which was
of sandy color. Upon very polite
request, opened my baggage for in
spection, which was very respectfully
and only cursOrily made. Answering
in the negative the question whether
l had any cigars or tobacco ended the
matter. You are allowed one hum
dred cigars, and, 1 believe, a certain
quantity of tobacco, free of duty
The vast revenues of England are de-
rived principally from beer, spirits,
cigars and tobacco. And some one
in position to know, has stated that
the wheels of the British government
would instantly stop were this source
of supply cut off.
Queenstown is situated on q very
steep, rocky hill of a shaly char
actcr, with but one street at its base
along the water. The system of
streets is zigzag, and to get to point
above you have to go long distance
to the left, then TO the right, and so
on till you reach the brow of the hill
or plateau. 1t has number of fine
dwellings, with spacious yards cmbel-
lished with trees, shrubs and. flowers,
and at this time, April 9th, with fully
developed foliage. 1t does not seem
to be place of much business. AS
a place for invalids requiring an
equablc and mild climate, it is famous.
1t overlOOks the broad haTbor of Cork,
with its charming landscapes on either
hand as you steam up to the city from
the landing of the ocean steamers at
Roches Point, and is at the mouth of
tile most beautiful Lee, which leads
up to Cork about twelve miles distant.
In its front are several small islands,
one named Spike Island, upon which
there is a convict prison with some
400 prisoners. This prison IS soon
to be removed. The government has
upon these islands an armory, pow
der magazines and ordinance stores,
i'll immense stone buildings. The pow
der magazine consists of six cham
bers, excavated in the solid rock, and
contains 10000 barrels of powder
Upon Hawlbowiine, another island,
is tank which will hold 5000 tons
of fresh water. A war vessel lies at
anchor very near and in front of the
town. 1t is a very quiet city, with
no throng ever save when the en-
igrants by the thousands come from
the interior to take passage for our
Continent, Australia or other lands to
which they swarm. There are sew
eral bathing points adjoining and on
the Lee between Queenstown and
Cork, with their neat and attractive
cottages. In Queenstown crows are
quite numerous, and are as tame as
chickens. They are on the house
tops. on the boats and in the streets.
and like the English sparrow, feed
upon the offal of the street.
The spring season here resembles
that of the Valley of Virginia, but is
somewhat in advance Of it. I found
in bloom the modest and humble little
PInk-edged daisy, such as that found
in the White mountains of New Hamp-
shire and, as am told, il the Alps,
and the easter flowers, buttercups,
hyacinths, &c. For the first time I
saw the thorny shrub, called here
furze, and in Scotland and England
whin. 1t has pretty yellow flowers,
and seems to be partial to poor land.
lit is common to the united kingdom.