PROFESSOR JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR. 153 
interesting, and much less tame than that of the lower 
Shannon. We enjoyed our sail much. On board I met an old 
classfellow, Archibald Cockburn, from 60 Mark Lane, London; 
there was also Dr. Forbes and his brother. At Shannon 
harbour canal crosses to Ballinasloe. Shannon Bridge is a well 
fortified place; numerous troops are landed there. Near it 
_ are curious ruins of round towers and churches. One of the 
towers is very perfect. 
Reached Athlone about 5 p.m. Here Mr. Sutherland and Mr. 
M‘Allum left for Dublin by train at 6.3 p.m. Mr. Cowan, Mr. 
Menzies, and self dined at Haire’s Hotel, along with Dr. Forbes 
and his brother (Rourke’s Hotel seems to be the best and 
cleanest). Visited fortifications of Athlone before dinner. There 
is a beautiful railway bridge here. 
Left Athlone by train at 10.22 p.m. for Galway and took up 
our quarters at the Railway Hotel at 12.30. This hotel is on 
a splendid scale and has just been opened. During the cattle 
Show at Galway on the 2oth it was opened and received the Lord 
Lieutenant and the visitors. 
Tuesday, 24th August 1852. 
This morning visited part of Galway. Went to Queen’s 
College and heard that Dr. Melville was gone on a yacht to the 
island of Aran, and that another boat was about to follow him 
containing Mr. Bilston, the Curator. We accordingly, with Mr. 
Bilston’s permission, embarked on board this boat with certain 
part of our baggage and sailed down Galway Bay. The wind 
was rather adverse, but by tacking we got down about 20 or 25 
miles ; after this the wind lulled and we were unable to make 
Aran, accordingly we proceeded, partly by sailing and partly 
by rowing, to Cortello Bay, where we arrived about 8 p.m. and 
took up our quarters in a small hut, where we got potatoes and 
milk, as well as some tea and bread, which the boatman provided 
for us, 
We contrived to pass the night tolerably well on beds provided 
for us, but we did not take off our “clothes. The cottagers were 
very attentive and did all in their power to promote our 
comfort, 
