LIFE IN IRELAND 35 



Sunday too, that they would view the beauties of the 

 Black Rock, and a beautiful place it is ; so say hundreds 

 that have never seen it. Sir Shawn had the privilege 

 of the entree at Dublin Castle, and moreover the friend- 

 ship of the Viceroy, of which he was justly proud. Sir 

 Shawn wisely considered that his friend required a 

 good deal of breaking in before he would be tractable 

 enough to run in the gilt harness of a Castle equipage ; 

 he therefore determined to put him in training; 

 accordingly commencing with the lowest fashionable 

 scenes, and gradually ascending as his charge improved. 



The Black Rock ! Who does not know the Black 

 Rock that has ever been in Dublin ? All the world 

 goes there on a Sunday to see the other half of it. As 

 the party set out on horseback. Captain Grammachree 

 took a post-chaise, and appointed to meet them at Sea- 

 point House, a celebrated place of entertainment. The 

 scenery was new to Brian and it delighted him ; the 

 numerous vehicles that crowded the road, and the 

 happy pedestrians gave a lively interest to a scene not 

 to be equalled in the environs of any other city in the 

 three kingdoms. 



Frequently our adventurers were obliged to turn 

 their nags over a five foot wall, or a quickset hedge, 

 to get on without riding over the foot passengers. 

 Brian on these occasions was noticed for the masterly 

 way in which he managed his steed, but Sir Shawn 

 bore off the palm of elegance. ' Arrah !' said a vender 

 of saffron-cakes, 'they are a nate pair of jockeys; one 

 sits as easy on his beast as a butterfly on a rose bush 

 in a gale, and t'other sticks as tight to him as a pair 

 of saddle bags.' Our heroes alighted at the door of 



