THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 103 



" In the bow, in the middle of one side, is a fine 

 marble statue ; an Adonis, executed by Poncet [now 

 in the National Gallery of Ireland]; a fine bust of 

 Niobe, and of Apollo, placed one on each side. In 

 the windows of the bow are some specimens of 

 modern stained glass by Jervis [Thomas Jarvis]. 



" Several of the apartments on this floor are en- 

 riched with superb gildings, and elegantly furnished 

 with white damask. From the windows of the attic 

 story to the east are most delightful prospects over 

 the Bay of Dublin, which, for three miles, is divided 

 by that great work, the South Wall, with a beautiful 

 lighthouse at the termination. The sea, for a con- 

 siderable extent bounds the horizon, and every vessel 

 coming in and going out of the bay must pass in dis- 

 tinct view. To the left is seen the beautiful pro- 

 montory of Howth, the charming low grounds of 

 Marino, and Sheds of Clontarf; to the right the 

 pleasing village and seats of the Black Rock, the re- 

 mote grounds and hills of Dalkey, and the Sugar 

 Loaves, backed by the extensive mountains of Wicklow 

 which most picturesquely close the view. The finish- 

 ing of the picture gallery, and making several improve- 

 ments at the north end of the house, were reserved to 

 display the taste of the present possessor, William 

 Robert, Duke of Leinster, whose excellent judgment 

 therein is eminently conspicuous, as well as in many 

 other instances, at His Grace's country residence, at 

 Carton, near Dublin ; and all evince his patriotism 

 and refined enjoyment of a domestic life." 



It has been stated that Leinster House served as 

 a model for the White House at Washington, the 

 official residence of the President of the United States. 1 



1 It was designed by James Hoban, an Irish architect, who 

 settled at Charleston, U.S.A. See Century Magazine, 1884, p. 803. 



