August 15. To Belleisle, the charming seat of the Earl of Ross. It is
an island in Loch Earne, of two hundred Irish acres, every part of it
hill, dale, and gentle declivities; it has a great deal of wood, much of
which is old, and forms both deep shades and open, cheerful groves. The
trees hang on the slopes, and consequently show themselves to the best
advantage. All this is exceedingly pretty, but it is rendered trebly so
by the situation. A reach of the lake passes before the house, which is
situated near the banks among some fine woods, which give both beauty and
shelter. This sheet of water, which is three miles over, is bounded in
front by an island of thick wood, and by a bold circular hill which is
his lordship's deer park; this hill is backed by a considerable mountain.
To the right are four or five fine clumps of dark wood--so many islands
which rise boldly from the lake; the water breaks in straits between
them, and forms a scene extremely picturesque. On the other side the
lake stretches behind wood in a strait which forms Belleisle. Lord Ross
has made walks round the island, from which there is a considerable
variety of prospect. A temple is built on a gentle hill, commanding the
view of the wooded islands above-mentioned, but the most pleasing
prospect of them is coming out from the grotto. They appear in an
uncommon beauty; two seem to join, and the water which flows between
takes the appearance of a fine bay, projecting deep into a dark wood:
nothing can be more beautiful. The park hill rises above them, and the
whole is backed with mountains. The home scene at your feet also is
pretty; a lawn scattered with trees that forms the margin of the lake,
closing gradually in a thick wood of tall trees, above the tops of which
is a distant view of Cultiegh mountain, which is there seen in its
proudest solemnity.
They plough all with horses three or four in a plough, and all abreast.
Here let it be remarked that they very commonly plough and harrow with
their horses drawing by the tail: it is done every season. Nothing can
put them beside this, and they insist that, take a horse tired in traces
and put him to work by the tail, he will draw better: quite fresh again.
Indignant reader, this is no jest of mine, but cruel, stubborn, barbarous
truth. It is so all over Cavan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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