26 



Cultra is one of the localities in the north of Ireland where, it is 

 said, coal should be found; but geologists find no indications to 

 justify such an opinion ; and even if coal did occur below the 

 Permian beds of Cultra, the area they occupy is so small as to 

 render any existing coal of little value. The Silurian rocks crop up 

 all around, and show that the Permian or Carboniferous beds 

 occupy only a very limited area. 



Having driven on to Clandeboye House, the party was met by 

 the respected agent of Earl Dufferin, Mortimer Thomson, Esq., 

 who kindly pointed out all that was interesting about the grounds and 

 in the house, including an extremely interesting series of sculptured 

 slabs and ancient inscriptions from Syria and Egypt, collected by 

 Earl Dufferin, and which have been tastefully arranged in the en- 

 trance hall. The several apartments of the house are also profusely 

 decorated by a most valuable collection of paintings, all indicating 

 the refined taste of one of our most worthy Irish noblemen, well 

 known as a scholar and traveller, whose varied adventures in 

 northern latitudes, skilful statesmanship in eastern countries, 

 and valued services at home, have secured for him the proud 

 position of representing his Sovereign in the western world. 



After leaving Clandeboye House, the party visited Helen's 

 Tower, beautifully situated on a rocky hill in the park, and com- 

 manding a most extensive prospect, including the distant hills of 

 Scotland and the Isle of Man, and, more immediately, Strangford 

 Lough, with its innumerable islands. The Ards, now clad with a 

 rich harvest ; the Goat's Hill, with its earn crown; Belfast harbour, 

 with its fleet of shipping ; while the wooded demesne of Clande- 

 boye lay nearer, interspersed here and there with patches of water 

 in the valley, that doubtless once was the hollow bed of the old 

 sea that flowed from Strangford Lough to Belfast harbour, and 

 from thence to Larne Lough. 



Favoured by a delightfully clear atmosphere, the whole party 

 thoroughly enjoyed the splendid view from this elegant tower and 

 the rambles through fernbrake and pleasant glens, and were most 

 reluctantly drawn off by the conductor's whistle to finish the day's 

 work by a visit to the little chapel in the grounds below ; but this, 



