MOUNT TEENCHARD — FOYNES. 93 



walk over part of Lord Monteagle's estate with his lord- 

 ship and Mr Stephen De Vere. That part on which 

 the mansion is built, and the country behind it, is a 

 slate-clay, interspersed with iron and culm, but neither 

 yet found in sufficient quantity to repay the expense of 

 working them. The land here rises rapidly from the 

 sea-level to a height of 350 feet, a few fields above the 

 house. About two miles to the east, we descend into 

 the limestone country at Foynes, where an excellent 

 deep-water harbour is being constructed, at the joint 

 expense of Lord Monteagle and the Government. Lord 

 Monteagle contributes £4500, the half of the estimated 

 expense, and the Government complete the work at 

 their own risk. The tolls to be levied are to be ap- 

 plied exclusively in keeping the harbour in repair. This 

 port will form a most convenient outlet for an extensive 

 agricultural district to the south of the Shannon, and 

 will bring into play one of the best limestone quarries I 

 have seen, which is not more than half-a-mile from the 

 harbour. From the regular stratification of the rock 

 here, blocks and slabs of any thickness and size can be 

 got, suitable for the various purposes of building and 

 pavement. The opposite coast of Clare, and the north 

 of Kerry, are entirely deficient in lime, which is an 

 excellent manure for soils on slate clay, and which may 

 now be conveniently supplied from this quarry. 



The island of Foynes, immediately opposite the har- 

 bour, is fertile, chiefly in fine old grass, and, containing 

 several hundred acres, would make an excellent farm. 

 The east side is wooded and picturesque, and the loca- 

 lity very desirable. Sea-weed and calcareous sand, as 



