SALMON ANGLING IN IBELAND. 83 



wind, our chance was good. All change is agreeable, even if it be 

 from better to worse ; so we set to in high hope and spirits. 

 "There's a rise ; I doubt your honour didn't see him." His honour 

 had seen him, and struck as hard as Mr. Mac Uroy himself would 

 have done at some dearly-beloved neighbour in a scrimmage so 

 hard, indeed, as to leave half the light casting-line in his mouth. 

 The damage was soon repaired, and at it we went again. " There's 

 another." This time it was all right. How stoutly these Lough 

 Neagh men fight it cost full ten minutes to get a 2^1b. fish into 

 the net certainly the sport here is very pretty. Now we got a 

 small one of 12oz. or 14oz. : by and by, another of three times that 

 weight ; and by dinner time had nearly satisfied the expectations of 

 the chief of the O'Neil Aims. Perhaps the reader would like to 

 see the slain. WeU, here they are : Sjlb., 31b., 2:ilb., 21b., 21b., 

 21b., 21b., fib. 



Let no stranger pass Toom Bridge in the season without 

 trying his fortune. The following day we were not quite so 

 successful, yet we got one four-pounder, and five or six more from 

 21b. to|lb. 



I had for some days been expecting a summons to Dublin on 

 business, which might detain us a few days in the capital. This 

 evening it came, and we started in an hour after ; slept in Belfast, 

 and reached Gresham's in good time. Happily, the cause of the 

 visit was a pleasant one merely to receive a small legacy of 50/. 

 All old towns look especially interesting by night ; but, owing to 

 the extent of the squares, the remarkable beauty of the public 

 buildings, and the crowded quays, Dublin is particularly charming. 

 Strolling down Sackville-street, after a friend's good dinner and 

 better wine, I felt to the full how beautiful the old city was. The 

 moon was high, and shed a glory on the noble column of the Hero 

 of Trafalgar. The Post-ofiice, the river, the Bank of Ireland, and 

 the College, each and all looked their best. Stephen's-green and 

 Merrion -square showed all their charms, whilst the witching light 

 concealed some of their defects. So near was it, that I could not 

 choose but turn to the left, into Erne-street, to look at the place in 



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