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cannot fail to arouse; the narrow churchyard is crowded with graves, among which the "fat weeds " grow in great luxuriance; a single blasted tree speaks of death more emphatically than even the broken head-stones; and the surrounding mountains seem to throw an eternal shadow over the solemn and impressive scene.119

The Abbey of Mellifont is on the little river Mattock, near the banks of the Boyne and on the borders of Meath County. The ruins are not extensive, but in architectural beauty they are surpassed by few in Ireland. The chapel of St. Bernard seems partly imbedded in the rock, the floor being considerably lower than the outer surface, and consists of a crypt or underground chapel, and an upper apartment. The crypt is a chaste specimen of the most elaborate and finished workmanship; the roof is groined, the arches springing from the clustered demicolumns on each side; the capitals are all richly carved, with rich designs of foliage. There are three windows and two arched recesses, the windows are also groined and pillared at the angles, the capitals of the pillars representing grotesque heads, apparently pressed flat by the superincumbent weight. The mullions are all destroyed, but some portions of the tracery of the tops remain, and a handsome lozenge or nailheaded moulding is continued round the interior of each. 120

An object of equal interest is the remains of an octagonal building; conjectured to have been

the baptistry, on the top of which, according to Archdall, was a reservoir for water, conveyed by pipes to the several offices of the abbey. The doorways are arched and pillared, the arches are semi-circular, or Saxon, and, together with the pillars, are models of exquisite workmanship; if the productions of a native artist, they are highly valuable as specimens of the state of the fine arts in Ireland prior to the English invasion. The ornamental parts are composed of a red granite, and were formerly painted and partly gilt. The ruins are situated in a secluded little valley, and are highly picturesque; their present lonely and desolate character singularly contrasts with the tokens of ancient grandeur everywhere apparent.121

Before we visit Drogheda and the Boynewater-subjects that will demand no inconsiderable space-we must entreat the reader "to step across the county," from the extreme south to the "far" north, and, passing through the poor town of Louth, and the neat, clean, and apparently prosperous town of Dundalk, 122 examine awhile the beautiful seaport of Carlingford, with its fine castellated and monastic remains. A just idea of their number and splendour is conveyed by the engraving from Mr. Gastineau's drawing. We reproduce however, another view of "the castle" from the pencil of Mr. Nicholl. As with so many of the "stone houses" of Ireland, the building of this structure is attributed to King John, whose name it continues to bear. The town was situated on the

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istry, on the top of which, according

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the several offices of the abbey. Th are arched and pillared, the arches a. , or Saxon, and, together with th are models of exquisite workmanship productions of a native artist, they a" bie as specimens of the state of th Ireland prior to the English invasio onamental parts are composed of a r ate, and were formerly painted and part!, The ruins are situated in a secluded litt! , and are Lighly picturesque; their preser kly and desolate character singularly conwith the tokens of ancient grandeur every we apparent.121

Tore we visit Drogheda and the Boyn -subjects that will demand no inconsid

» St."--we must entreat the reader "to st: . te county," from the extreme south t

ar" north, and, passing through the po Louth, and the neat, clean, and a.

ly prosperous town of Dundalk, 122

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aine awhile the beautiful seaport of Carlin ford, with its fine castellated and monastie 1 mains. A just idea of their number a splendour is conveyed by the engraving from V Gastineau's drawing. We reproduce howev another view of "the castle" from the pencil Mr. Nicholl. As with so many of the "s!. houses" of Ireland, the building of this stroctattributed to King John, whose name it e to hear. The town was situated on 1Reproduced from a Painting by Francis S. Walker, R. H. A.

Carlingford Lough

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