LISMORE, 30 m. from Waterford, and now a scene of desolation, formerly an university, bishop's see, and a city! Here is a handsome stone bridge of twelve arches, erected across the river by the munificence of the Devonshire family, to whom the castle and estate belong; the castle now undergoing a complete repair. On the approach towards the town of Lismore the road falls into a beautiful glen which proceeds in a winding direction; whilst the sides of the mountains by which it is formed, are clothed with a profusion of oak and ash. A stream of considerable size, which discharges itself into the Blackwater at the town, runs through the glen, and adds considerably to its beauties. This fine scenery lasts for about two miles. Near the town are the remains of the immense Castle once the residence of the brave but unfortunate Sir Walter Raleigh. It is an interesting object, and appears once to have been a place of some strength, boldly situated on the verge of a rocky hill, rising almost perpendicularly to a considerable height over the river Blackwater, upon which the principal window of the great room of the Castle looks down, and from whence, it is said, James II. started back with horror. This Castle is of very high antiquity, having been built by King John upon the ruins of the Abbey of St. Carthagh. Dr. Smith, speaking of the view from the great window of the Castle, observes, that "opposite to it there opens a wide glen wooded on both sides, and pleasantly watered by a small river which, at the distance of a mile, winds off to the west side of the great mountain of Knock-mill-down, 4 m. N. from it, and which exactly facing this window appears like a vast cone or sugar-loaf. To the west is a full prospect of the salmon-fishery, where the weirs are of a considerable length, traversing the river,--the working and the noise of the water through them (that here runs pretty rapid) forms a kind of artificial cataract, and resembles the sound of such, which, though not high, is of a considerable extent, and adds a lulling softness to the beauty of the scene. Above the weirs, the sides of the river are beautifully variegated with woods, lawns, and cornfields." See the old Cathedral fitted up as a modern Ch. See view from the noble bridge, particularly pointed out by Mr. Curwen, exhibiting the majestic rock on which the Castle stands, the valley on the S. side of the river, which, though confined, is extremely luxuriant, and the hills rising boldly on the northern bank towards Cappoquin. Sir R. C. Hoare observes, that though the scenery on the Blackwater cannot be compared with that on the Wye, the Dart, or the Tamar, in England, yet he is inclined to think it cannot, for the long continuance of 20 m., be surpassed or even rivalled by any other stream in Ireland. It affords some good subjects, he adds, for the portfolio; of which the most striking and best adapted to the pencil are those at Balinatry,