171 the County of LimericJc. 451 



and depart from his presence widi preeipitation ; so that he 

 answers the double purpose of use and ornament. 



Adjoining is the Earl of Dunraven's splendid new house, which, 

 when finished, will stand unrivalled for beauty and elegance by 

 any other in the kingdom ; being built in the richest abbey 

 style of ancient Gothic architecture, and embellished with count- 

 less ornaments on the cornices, mouldings of windows, &c. The 

 building is flanked with towers more than 70 ft. high ; and in 

 the centre of the bay, or oriel, window are sculptured the arms 

 of several noblemen. 



To the south of this noble edifice lies the pleasure-ground, 

 containing more than twenty acres ; at the end of which is a 

 well-constructed heath-house, on the verge of the beautiful river 

 Maig, which flows through the demesne, close to the mansion, 

 and the falls on which are very interesting. This pleasure-ground, 

 which is surrounded with beautiful oak and elm trees of immense 

 magnitude, strikes the eye of the beholder with an appearance 

 of the most pleasing undulations, heightened by its picturestjue 

 situation along the banks of the river, where a great curiosity 

 presents itself in a grand line of thirty English elm trees, more 

 than 150 ft. high, and girting 14? ft. on an average. These beautiful 

 trees stand in regular order on the brink of the river, across the 

 bed of which, their roots extend, and derive their nourishment 

 from thence. Amongst the great trees is a renowned and vene- 

 rable ash, under the roots of which 'the treasure of His Lordship's 

 ancestors lay concealed during the troubles of 1688. This 

 highly favoured tree is 15 ft. in girt. A little further on, in the 

 pleasure-ground, stands a cock's-spur thorn, forming itself into 

 an arbour, surrounded by an evergreen privet hedge, planted 

 with standard roses ; the intention of which was to hide the naked 

 stems of the roses. You next behold three cast-iron bowei's, 

 which you approach, passing first under three magnificent iron 

 rail double arches, planted with roses. A little further on 

 appear some beautiful cedars of Lebanon, in grand style, near 

 which are an American border, and a Portugal laurel 35 yards 

 in circumference. Close by are a green-house, and a grapery of 

 exquisite beaut}'^, surrounded by a garden of evergreens. A 

 large yucca, above 40 ft. high, stands at the end of the green- 

 house, and makes a noble appearance : it flowers every second 

 year. Several acacias, in good bloom, grow hard by, one of 

 which girts 9 ft.; with some beautiful Portugal laurels and 

 evergreen oaks. In the evergreen garden are several clumps of 

 rockwork, planted with alpine plants. Outside the iron railing 

 stands a beautiful specimen of the hickory tree, 6 ft. in circum- 

 ference ; with several huge elms and silver firs, sweet chestnut, 

 and walnut trees, one of which is 9 ft. in girt, and the branches 



L L 4 



