JULY. 127 



the other principally of beech and birch, intermixed 

 with a few pines ; the underwood of all of them is very 

 varied, comprising brambles, fern, broom, furze, sloe, 

 sallow, &c., while the plantation nearest the castle is 

 nearly surrounded on the " Hill" side with a hedge of 

 broom ; and, on the surface of the Hill, a great number 

 of large masses of stone are scattered about, covered 

 with mosses and lichens. Having ascended " Dun 

 Hill," which may be distinguished by its having a tall 

 pole planted on its summit, the view from thence of the 

 surrounding country is magnificent ; before us, on the 

 opposite side, lies Kingstown, and in the distance the 

 Wicklow mountains, the most conspicuous of which 

 are the two apparently in the centre, at a little distance 

 apart, and of a conical shape ; these are the ft big" and 

 "little Sugar Loaf." On the left, stretching away 

 along the coast, lies Killiney and the bold " Bray 

 Head;" while to the right stretches the "silver 

 strand" of Baldoyle ; and, far away in the distance, 

 may be seen, if the weather be favourable, the " Mourne 

 Mountains" in the county Down, and at our feet the 

 sandy strand of Button meets our gaze. If we turn 

 around and view the scene behind us it is almost equally 

 beautiful. To the left is situated " Howth Castle," and 

 the town of Howth with its commodious harbour, 

 which in the herring season is filled with fishing- 

 smacks ; alas ! how few of them owned by Irishmen ! 

 while a little way out in the sound is situated " Ire- 

 land's Eye," and further out, to the right, the almost 

 barren island of " Lambay," while all around us lies 

 the beautiful Bay of Dublin, its waters sparkling in 

 the sunlight like molten silver. 



