1778 Tour

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1778.

HAVING heard much of the beauties of a part of the Queen's county, I had not before seen, I took that line of country in my way on a journey to Dublin.

FROM Mitchelstown to Cashel, the road leads as far as Galbally in the route already travelled from Cullen; towards Cashel the country is various. The only object deserving attention, are the plantations of Thomastown, the seat of Francis Mathew, Esq; they consist chiefly of hedge-row trees in double and treble rows, are well grown, and of such extent as to form an uncommon woodland scene in Ireland. Found the widow Holland's inn, at Cashel, clean and very civil. Take the road to Urlingford. The rich sheep pastures, part of the famous golden vale, reach between three and four miles, from Cashel to the great bog by Botany Hill, noted for producing a greater variety of plants than common. That bog is separated by only small tracts of land, from the string of bogs which extend through the Queen's County, from the great bog of Allen; it is here of considerable extent, and exceedingly improvable. Then enter a low marshy bad country, which grows worse after passing the 66th mile stone, and successive bogs in it. Breakfast at Johnstown, a regular village on a slight eminence, built by Mr. Hayley; it is near the Spaw of Ballyspellin. Rows of trees are planted; but their heads all cut off, I suppose from their not thriving, being planted too old. Immediately on leaving these planted avenues, enter a row of eight or ten new cabbins, at a distance from each other, which appear to be a new undertaking, the land about them all pared and burnt, and the ashes in heaps.

ENTER a fine planted country, with much corn and good thriving quick hedges for many miles. The road leads through a large wood, which joins Lord Ashbrook's plantations, whose house is situated in the midst of more wood than almost any one I have seen in Ireland. Pass Durrow; the country for two or three miles continues all inclosed with fine quick hedges, is beautiful, and has some resemblance to the best parts of Essex. Sir Robert Staple's improvements join this fine tract; they are completed in a most perfect manner, the hedges well-grown; cut, and in such excellent order, that I can scarcely believe myself to be in Ireland. His gates are all of iron. These sylvan scenes continue through other seats beautifully situated, amidst gentle declivities of the finest verdure, full grown woods, excellent hedges, and a pretty river winding by the house. The whole environs of several would be admired in the best parts of England.

CROSS a great bog, within sight of Lord De Vescey's plantations. The road leads over it, being drained for that purpose by deep cuts on either side. I should apprehend this bog to be among the most improveable in the country.

SLEPT at Ballyroan, at an inn kept by three animals, who call themselves women; met with more impertinence than at any other in Ireland. It is an execrable hole. In three or four miles pass Sir John Parnel's, prettily situated in a neatly dressed lawn, with much wood about it, and a lake quite alive with wild fowl.

PASS Monstereven, and cross directly a large bog, drained and partly improved; but all of it bearing grass, and seems in a state that might easily be reduced to rich meadow, with only a dressing of lime. Here I got again into the road I had travelled before,

I must in general remark, that from near Urlingford to Dawson Court, near Monstereven, which is completely across the Queen's County, is a line of above thirty English miles, and is for that extent by much the best improved of any I have seen in Ireland. It is generally well planted, has many woods, and not consisting of patches of plantation just by gentlemens houses, but spreading over the whole face of the country, so as to give it the richness of an English woodland scene. What a country would Ireland be, had the inhabitants of the rest improved it like this!

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