240 Alexander Goodman More. [1372 



from the arrangement of scene and circumstances for the 

 one untoward adventure of his life. 



On June 24th, 1873, he started with his friend Mr. J. F. 

 Dillon (now Sir John Dillon) of Lismullen for a dredging 

 and collecting expedition to Achill and the adjacent coasts. 

 One of their great objects was to secure a Basking Shark. 

 The weather proved singularly bad, so that work at sea 

 was conducted only under the greatest difficulties. But 

 his note-book contains many memoranda of matters to be 

 looked after on shore, e.g. " Remains of whale are with 



Rev. Mr. Potterton of Lismore : Mr. has a large piece 



of palate ; Mrs. , in Belmullet, has also pieces of 



palate." Local details of this kind, assiduously picked up 

 tn route, were pretty certain, sooner or later, to be turned 

 to account. And though, throughout this expedition, mis- 

 adventures from stress of weather and kindred causes were 

 of almost daily occurrence, the roughing process really 

 exhilarated him, and he was perhaps never more in love 

 than now with the storm-beaten precipices of the Atlantic 

 sea-board and their hosts of feathered life. 



Especially was he charmed with Achill, whom he thus 

 apostrophises in verse : 



Sound of Achill ! Isle of Achill ! 



Girded evermore in cloud : 

 Shore whereon the fierce Atlantic 



Surf is ever beating loud. 



Achill ! we have climbed thy mountains, 



And have paced thy sands, 

 And have loved thy cliffs so tall 



Better than other lands. 



We have surveyed, with trembling eye, 



Doega's awful wall, 

 And heard, from Keem's recesses, 



The angry Eagle's call. 



Where Craughan towers proudly 



Above the western tide, 

 And drinks the evening brightness 



Along his purpled side ; 



