THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 297 



during the long and eventful diplomatic careex* in which he filled 

 the highest posts in the service of the Crown. 



On leaving the house the party walked through the Pinetum, 

 a lovely part of the demesne, in which a good deal of interest was 

 evinced, and some healthy, well-formed trees were seen. The 

 pines were all planted by Lord Dufferin some forty years ago, 

 and include Abies grandis, Picea Morinda, Taxodium semper- 

 virens, and Ciqwessus macrocaiya, running up to 50 feet in height. 

 There was also a fine group of silver firs girthing 12 feet. 



On the way to the carriages the party proceeded through 

 Crawfordsburn Glen, a beautiful ravine planted with ash, elm, and 

 larch, and the property of Colonel Sharman Crawford, a name 

 well known in connection with the first Irish Land Acts. It 

 contains some picturesque waterfalls, and there is lovely foliage 

 on all side3. The return journey to town was then commenced, 

 and Belfast was reached at nine o'clock. 



The Annual Dinner. 



The Annual Excursion Dinner of the Society was held in the 

 evening. After dinner, the chairman, Mr Munro Ferguson, M.P., 

 said that, owing to the late hour to which their day's outing had 

 extended, it had been decided that they should keep their speeches 

 for a future occasion. But there were two toasts which must be 

 drunk, "The Queen" and "Our Guests." He knew they would 

 drink the health of the Queen with great enthusiasm, for in 

 those dark and even humiliating days through which we had 

 passed, no one had done more to give spirit to the nation than 

 the Queen, and if anyone had a spark of loyalty in his breast, 

 that spark was blown into a flame when Her Majesty came to 

 Dublin to show her appreciation of the valour of her Irish troops. 

 Mr Laird, Convener of the Excursion Committee, in proposing the 

 healths of the guests, said that in their old and esteemed friend, 

 Mr Hugh Dickson, with Mr M'Erval and Mr Watson, they had 

 had three admirable guides, and the Society thanked these gentle- 

 men very heartily for having made their visit to the north of 

 Ireland so pleasant. Mr Watson and Mr Dickson suitably 

 acknowledged the toast. Mr Charles Buchanan said he was 

 sure they would not like to separate without asking Mr Munro 

 Ferguson to convey to Lord Dufferin their thanks for the very 

 enjoyable afternoon they had spent in his grounds ; and he also 



