CHAPTER IV.

Eaton Hall—Bangor-Tubular and Suspension Bridges-HolyheadDublin-Effect of late twilight and early daybreak-Conciliation Hall Every element of prosperity in the country and people, needing only a wise and paternal Government-Trinity CollegeSt. Patrick's Cathedral-Phoenix Park.

ATON Hall, the princely mansion of the Marquis

JATON

The re

structure, now in process of renovation. pairs and alterations have been progressing for the last five years, and, it is supposed, will not be completed in less than two or three years more. The estimated cost of additions and alterations, when completed, is three hundred thousand pounds. This sum, however enormous it must appear, and really is, is but a small matter to a man of the Marquis' wealth, as his annual income is said to be four hundred thousand pounds. He has three other seats in different parts of the kingdom, besides his house' in London. The beauty and extent of the grounds attached to Eaton Hall, are worthy the magnificence which the house will display when finished. The estate extends about thirteen miles in length, and seven in breadth. It comprises almost all sorts of scenery; elegant lawns and forests, with large herds of deer; avenues, lanes and walks innumerable, laid out in serpentine form. The waving lines of avenues and hedges, without angles or corners, are very pleasing to the eye and give much variety to the landscape.

We were very politely (for a fee) shown through the gardens, by the gardener. They are kept in fine or der, and produce, in abundance, the best varieties of grapes, pine apples, peaches, nectarines, &c., which we found in every state, from the green to the ripe fruit. These are regularly sent up to London,London is always up, from whatever part of the kingdom you may be—or wherever the family are at the time.

Our next stage was to Bangor, where we stopped to see the far-famed and really wonderful Tubular and Suspension Bridges, over the Menai Straits. The Great Britannia Tubular Bridge was built for the Liverpool and Holyhead Railroad. It is construct ed of wrought iron plates, riveted together, and rests upon three massive stone towers, and two abutments, one at either end. Some idea may be had of its immensity, from the fact that the weight of iron in it is ten thousand tons, and it is secured by two million rivets; the entire length being over one thousand five hundred feet, and the bottom of it is one hundred and two feet above high water. As may be supposed, the expansion and contraction of this immense mass of iron, caused by the change of temperature, is considerable; the difference in its length between summer and winter, being about twelve inches. To accommodate this variation, the ends of the bridge rest upon cast iron rollers, so that no difficulty can arise from it.

The Suspension Bridge is quite as wonderful, and both display the triumphs of science and art, to a

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degree that must strike the unscientific beholder with astonishment almost with awe.

From here, we proceeded to Holyhead, where we took the steamer for Dublin. She left at two A. M., which was some time after daylight. The shortness of the nights, in this latitude, at this season of the year (close of May,) is very remarkable to those unaccustomed to it. The daylight continues until about nine P. M., and the day breaks again about one A. M. To awake, an hour or two after retiring, as we frequently did, on account of the unaccustomed light, and, upon examination, find it to be only one or two o'clock, and yet broad day, has a singular effect upon the feelings. We could hardly realize it, and were at first, on these occasions, for the moment, almost induced to believe that the fault was in our watches. It is like being in a different world, and tended as much as any thing else to make us feel that we were in a strange land. The difference is not so much in the longer visits of the sun, but mostly in the length of the morning and evening twilight; the light remaining long after sunset, and returning hours before sunrise.

Dublin is certainly a very fine city, and has many interesting associations. Conciliation Hall, for instance, which was the gathering place where the people rallied around DANIEL O'CONNELL, and other great leaders, who advocated Repeal; where they, almost every day, for years, listened to the stirring and indignant eloquence with which these idols of the country dilated upon the injuries and miseries of

poor down-trodden Ireland, must ever be regarded as a temple of liberty, by Irishmen, and all others, who sympathize with them in their wrongs; and I venture to say, that no human heart that sees the want and suffering of the Irish people, and compares it with the beauty and fertility of the island, its capacities for contributing all that makes life comfortable and happy, and witnesses the energetic character of the people, impulsive and inconstant, it may be, but laborious and easily encouraged to effort, can fail to be convinced that this state of things is not owing to any natural, unavoidable causes, but must arise, as it undoubtedly does, from misgovernment. We find every element of prosperity in the country and people; soil and climate, adapted to the highest culture; commodious harbors, capable of accommodating the most extensive commerce, and evidently nothing wanting, but a wise, paternal government, to develop these natural resources into the fertile means of unbounded prosperity. Who can withhold their sympathy from a people thus depressed, and deprived by the iron hand of power, of all hopes of enjoying the advan tages to which "Nature's God entitles them?" May the day soon come, when a wiser and kinder policy shall rule the councils of England, or when the Irish people, firm and united in the cause of their country, shall assume their inalienable right to govern themselves.

Trinity College is famous as a seat of learning ; it is an immense and highly ornamental building;

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being laid out in three spacious quadrangles, with a large park. The library contains two hundred thousand volumes; a great number of marble busts of distinguished men, rare manuscripts, &c.

St. Patrick's Cathedral is a venerable pile, and has the banners of all the knights of St. Patrick, suspended from the walls.

Phoenix Park, adjoining the city, has beautiful drives and walks; comprises nearly two thousand acres. It contains the Vice-Regal Lodge, and a few other dwellings, of government officers; the Hibernian School and Farm, the Powder Magazine, Military Infirmary, Police Barracks, Gardensof the Zoological Society, Review Grounds for the troops of the garrison, &c., leaving about one thousand three hundred acres of the park open to the public, which is laid out in drives and walks. The Wellington testimonial, as it is called, is in the park; an immense shaft of granite, two hundred and five feet high. There are large groves of hawthorn trees, which were in full bloom; many of them very old, and of large size.

The jaunting-cars, which are the vehicles in principal use, as hacks in Dublin, and are common throughout Ireland, are curious affairs, certainly, and appeared very awkward to us. They are uncovered, with seats on each side, facing outwards, and a step to rest your feet on, so that the passengers (two on a side,) sit back to back, and ride sidewise. We chartered one, for the curiosity of the thing, and visited Donnybrook, celebrated in Irish