the Milesian race.

To Lord Kingston's, to whom I had a letter, but unfortunately for me he
was at Spa. Walked down to Longford Hill to view the lake. It is one of
the most delicious scenes I ever beheld; a lake of five miles by four,
which fills the bottom of a gentle valley almost of a circular form,
bounded very boldly by the mountains. Those to the left rise in a noble
slope; they lower rather in front, and let in a view of Strand mountain,
near Sligo, above twenty miles off. To the right you look over a small
part of a bog to a large extent of cultivated hill, with the blue
mountains beyond. Were this little piece of bog planted, the view would
be more complete; the hill on which you stand has a foliage of well-grown
trees, which form the southern shore. You look down on six islands, all
wooded, and on a fine promontory to the left, which shoots far into the
lake. Nothing can be more pleasing than their uncommon variety. The
first is small (Rock Island), tufted with trees, under the shade of which
is an ancient building, once the residence of Macdermot. The next a
mixture of lawn and wood. The third, which appears to join this, is of a
darker shade, yet not so thick but you can see the bright lawn under the
trees. House Island is one fine, thick wood, which admits not a gleam of
light, a contrast to the silver bosom of the lake. Church Island is at a
greater distance; this is also a clump, and rises boldly. Rock Island is
of wood; it opens in the centre and shows a lawn with a building on it.
It is impossible to imagine a more pleasing and cheerful scene. Passed
the chapel to Smithfield Hill, which is a fine rising ground, quite
surrounded with plantations. From hence the view is changed; here the
promontory appears very bold, and over its neck you see another wooded
island in a most picturesque situation. Nothing can be more picturesque
than Rock Island, its ruin overhung with ivy. The other islands assume
fresh and varied outlines, and form upon the whole one of the most
luxuriant scenes I have met with.

The views of the lake and environs are very fine as you go to Boyle; the
woods unite into a large mass, and contrast the bright sheet of water
with their dark shades.

The lands about Kingston are very fine, a rich, dry, yellow, sandy loam,
the finest soil that I have seen in Ireland; all grass, and covered with
very fine bullocks, cows, and sheep. The farms rise to five hundred
acres, and a