monarch’s on the hill of Tara, from whence the fire lighted by the courageous Christian was plainly visible. Having thus broken one of the most sacred laws of the land, Saint Patrick was immediately carried to Tara to the presence of the incensed monarch, who was anxious to see the daring man who braved his power. Having been brought in his presence by the pagan priests, the good saint, like another Paul, began to speak in his own defence, and so forcible and eloquently, that when he had concluded, the pagan King and his greatest warriors in court—acknowledged his right and his power, and embraced with eagerness the pure doctrines of Christianity. But we will leave Slane, and follow the Boyne’s winding course. For some miles now, it flows through rich level plains, devoid of any striking scenery until we come to Dowth wood rising almost perpendicular from the water’s edge. From the table land above rises a fine specimen of the old monumental cairns, or moats, of our pagan ancestors. There are two caves beneath it—one easy of entrance, and running under the centre of the hill,—the other a dark low opening running in the direction of the river. Of the latter cave, the old and oft claimed legend is held of an unfortunate piper who entered it and was never seen again: but, although lost to view, he made himself heard, far, far away thro’ the wood and under the river he can be heard to this day playing "the Lakes of Mullow" on his pipes. There is a very fine view from the moat of Dowth—Slane and Tara behind, rising one on the left, the other on the right side of the river; on the left a rich valley stretches away and meets the Boyne as its weeps round Oldbridge; on the right the river itself glistening and winding amongst the meadows and losing itself amid the dark woods on each side; in front two miles off is Oldbridge with its tall grey obelisk marking the battlefield, and which has a strange out-of-place look in the mist of the fields and woods; further on still can be seen the spire of Drogheda; and on clear days the sea is visible for away in the distance. Not far from the moat, in the centre of a fine park, is a majestic oak call "King William’s Oak," under which it is said the monarch slept the night before the battle of the Boyne. The park in which it stands rises high above the river, and this is perhaps the most beautiful of all Boyne scenery. The river runs through a deep narrow valley, the steep side, of which are covered with mighty forest trees, that stretch their arms far o’er the river below. Seldom does the sun ever greet the deep water here, flowing along without a ripple and looking as back as ink. here in the solitude of ten foot of a hill on the South side is a holy well called "Saint-Shanaghan’s Well," famed far around for its miraculous healing-power. For a mile the river runs thus beneath the trees; and both above and below there is a sudden sweep, so that the whole scene is shut out from the world, and the deep dark river appears as calm and motionless as a lake. Proceeding to the end of the valley the view gradually opens on the left, and on the right, rich meadows line its banks. We are now in Oldbridge—on the field of the battle. On that meadow on the right stood James’s army; and above them from the hill of Donore the pusillanimous monarch viewed the fortunes of the fight ere he fled from the scene.
(To be Continued.)
Botanical.—Several new plants of an entirely new order,—entirely leave-less—have been lately discovered by the Police.
It is not generally known that sea captains are sometimes well please with accidents at sea. We know one ourselves who derived the greatest pleasure during a three months’ voyage after having fowled his ship. Queer people these sailors—
Printed and published at the office, No. 5 Mess, "Intermediate Cabin," for the Editors, Messieurs John Flood and J.B. O’Reilly.
