152 NOTES OF AN 



chief, or a comb with which she restrained its rich hixuriance, 

 — I could not help inwardly condemning the man or woman 

 that first invented the cap or the boddice, as utterly destitute of 

 feeling and good taste. 



The ecclesiastical buildings form a striking feature, the 

 more so from the total absence of every other description of 

 architecture. I have never passed through any line of country 

 where the churches presented such attractive and beautiful ob- 

 jects. The towns and villages, as before remarked, are larger 

 and more numerous than with us; and every one of them has its 

 Protestant, and its one or two Catholic edifices. The former, 

 in particular, though sometimes small, are always neat and in 

 good keeping, — extremely varied, but chaste in their designs 

 and elevation, — universally in picturesque situations, where such 

 could be commanded, — and not unfrequently on an eminence, 

 or in a planted inclosure, a little out of the respective town or 

 village. They were wholly unexpected, and gave rise to many 

 a pleasing recollection ; and as I gazed with admiration on the 

 light and elegant spire, pointing direct towards the clear blue 

 heaven, in token of the purity and exalted nature of its true 

 ami living purpose, — or the more massively turretted cliurch, 

 inclosed in a garden with park-like gates, and an avenue, and 

 well-kept gravel-walk, seeming to breathe an atmosphere of 

 peace, and happiness, and good-will to men,— I thought of 

 many a familiar and sweet secluded spot ; and perhaps there 

 is more to remind one of home scenes and wanderings in this 

 than in any other feature. 



We visited the new Catholic Cathedral of Tuam before 

 breakfast. Many were at their devotions at this early hour. 

 It is a magnificent specimen of modern gothic architecture, 

 and when the tower is finished, will be a finely conspicuous 

 object for many miles round. The altar is a tasteful and costly 

 piece of workmanship, built entirely of rich and variegated 

 marble. This is the building that occasioned so much acri- 

 mony and paper-bitterness, on account of the names of some 

 members of our noble Protestant families being found in the 

 subscription list. I pity the narrow policy that would confine 

 the worship of God to our own particular views, or to any one 

 form or system ; or that would not aid a brother to perform 

 that sacred duty in the way that his conscience dictates, or that 

 he has been taught to think best. Not but that, with the strong 



