and near together. The cathedral was commenced as far back as the last of the 12th century, by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick; but little of the original structure remains. It is now in process of restoration. One of the chapels contains the tombs of the Earls of Limerick, and in the chancel is an elaborate monument of manycoloured marbles of the Earl of Thomond. The church possesses a fine chime of bells. The view from the tower is very fine.

The castle was built in the reign of King John, and even in its

At one end of Thomond Bridge is the famous "Treaty Stone," on which was signed, on the 3rd of November, 1691, the treaty between the commander of the Irish force, which occupied the town, and General Ginkell, or de Ginkel, the English commander, by which it was provided that the Roman Catholics should enjoy the same religious privileges they had enjoyed in the reign of Charles II., and that William and Mary would endeavour to secure them immunity from disturbance on account of their religion. This article was

never carried into effect; Limerick is known therefore as "the city of the violated treaty." The city depends largely upon the manufacture of flax. It is celebrated for the production of fishhooks of excellent quality, and for the manufacture of leather gloves, the material of which is so thin that a pair may easily be placed in the shell of a walnut. It has a considerable trade in butter and other provisions. Vessels of 600 tons can lie at the quays. The commerce of the city is increasing.

The

Near the village is Malahide Court, the princely residence of Lord Talbot de Malahide, a square building flanked by round towers. roof of the grand hall is of richlycarved oak, and one of the chambers, called the "oak chamber,' has a large quantity of elaborate and curious oak carving. The collection of pictures is interesting and valuable, among them being a small altar piece by Albert Durer, and several portraits by Van Dyke. SKERRIES (17 miles), the ancient name of which was Halm Patrick.

the bank of the river, the famous battle of the Boyne was fought on the 1st day of July, 1690, between the forces of the Prince of Orange and James II., his father-in-law. An obelisk marks the spot where the battle began. Drogheda has a considerable trade in linen, and large quantities of provisions are annually exported. Its commerce has increased considerably for a few years past, and it promises to become a place of considerable importance.

DUNDALK (54 miles.) (Hotel :

grain, and some important manufactures. Beyond this there is nothing remarkable upon our route until we reach LISBURN (105 miles.) (Hotel: Hertford Arms.) Population, 8,000, a prosperous town, having a large trade in linens, chiefly damasks. The church contains monuments to Jeremy Taylor and Lieutenant Dobbs, who was killed in an engagement with Paul Jones, the pirate, near the Irish coast.

BELFAST (112 miles.) (Hotels: Imperial, Royal, Queen's, Albion.)

Its

Population in 1861, 120,544. Is the metropolis of the North of Ireland, and next to Dublin the most important city in Ireland. It is situated on the River Lagan, a short distance above its junction with Belfast Lough. It is a modern city, its origin scarcely dating beyond the 17th century. growth is remarkable. In 1821 it had but 37,000 inhabitants; in 1851, 100,000; in 1861, 120,000; and in 1870 it probably has more than 140,000. The growth of its trade and manufactures is commensurate with its increase in population. Its tall chimneys, immense factories and spinning-mills remind the traveller of the great manufacturing towns of England, though Belfast is almost wholly free from the smoke which disfigures Manchester and other purely manufacturing towns. The streets are wide and regularly laid out, well kept, and well lighted, and the public edifices of the city are remarkable not only for their number but their elegance. Among these we note, as worthy of particular notice, the new City Hall, the Commercial Buildings, with an Ionic façade; the Custom House; the Ulster Bank; and the Linen Hall. Of the churches, the only two which will attract attention are the parish church (St. Ann's) and Christ Church, the former with a lofty tower and cupola; the latter with an octagonal spire. Queen's College is a building in the Tudor style, with a front of 600 feet. It was opened in 1849. The Museum on the north side of College-square contains a valuable collection of Irish antiquities, ornithological specimens, and a small geological collection. The Botanic Garden, near Queen's College, was established in 1830. It has a beautiful conservatory constructed of iron. Admission, 6d. Belfast is cele

brated for its schools and benevolent institutions.

Tourists interested in manufacturing operations will find a visit to the flax mill of the Messrs. Mulholland, the largest in the city, especially interesting. This firm, one of the first to commence the manufacture of linen yarn in Belfast, employs nearly 25,000 persons.

The harbour is accessible to vessels drawing 16 ft., and in spring tides to those drawing 20 ft. The recent improvements are very extensive, and cost over £500,000. The quays extend on each side of the river on the western side 5,000 ft., on the eastern 3,500 ft. There are two docks, the Prince's and Clarendon, where foreign vessels have every facility. The offices of the Harbour Commissioners is a fine Italian building of cut stone, the principal front of which faces Clarendon Dock.

If the tourist desires a bird'seye view of Belfast and its environs, he would do well to make a visit to Cave Hill, 23 miles from the town, so called from three caves in its face. It rises 1,140 ft. above the level of the sea. The view over the city, Belfast Lough, and the County Down is very fine. In clear weather the coast of Scotland is included in the view.

ROUTE 7.

BELFAST TO PORT RUSH AND THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY.

68 miles; first class, 12s.; second, 8s. 6d.; third, 5s. 5d.

HE excursion from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway and back, via Port Rush, may be accomplished in one day by taking the

early morning train to Port Rush, where cars may be taken for the Causeway direct, taking Dunluce Castle in the route, and returning to Port Rush in time for the evening train to Belfast. Return tickets, good for one day, are issued at a fare and a half. If the tourist has two days at his disposal, he may, by passing the first night either at Port Rush or at the Causeway, go on the second day to Ballycastle, where a public car may be taken to Larne on the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, by which he will reach Belfast early in the evening. He will, if he chooses the longer excursion, have passed over about 145 miles of the most interesting scenery in Ireland.

The railway, on leaving Belfast, skirts for 7 miles the shore of Belfast Lough, Carrickfergus Junction (6 miles), ANTRIM (21 miles), (Hotel: Massareene Arms.) Population, 2,800. A pretty town, situated on the Six Mile Water, near its junction with Loch Neagh. Near the town is Antrim Castle, the grounds of which are handsomely laid out, and through which visitors may walk to the shore of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the United Kingdom. BALLYMENA (33 miles), a town with a very considerable linen trade. COLERAINE (611⁄2 miles). (Hotel: Bridge End.) Population, 6,000. An old town, renowned for the excellence of its linen fabrics, called "Coleraines," and its salmon fisheries. PORT RUSH, 68 miles, (Hotel: Antrim Arms). A small seaport, considered as the port of Coleraine, is situated on a peninsula of basalt, opposite the picturesque rocks called the "Skerries." It is much frequented for sea-bathing. Cars are taken here for the Causeway, distant 7 miles. On the route be

tween Port Rush and Dunluce are the WHITE ROCKS. In a distance of 2 miles there are 27 caverns or gullies worn out by the action of the waves on the limestone rock. The most interesting is called the "Priest's Hole." DUNLUCE CASTLE (3 miles), one of the finest ruins to be seen anywhere. "It stands about 100 ft. above the sea on a perpendicular and insulated rock, the entire surface of which is so completely occupied by the edifice that the external walls are in continuation with the perp endicular sides of the rock." The rock is united to the mainland by a wall only 18 inches in width The origin of this castle is unknown; it is attributed to De Courcey, Earl of Ulster. BUSHMILLS (2 miles), (Hotel : Imperial) so called from the river Bush, on which it is situated. THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (2 miles); (Causeway Hotel). At the hotel may be had a tariff of prices for guides, boats, &c. The landlord at the Antrim Arms at Port Rush will recommend a good guide, and it would be well to follow his advice There is no lack of intelligent guides. The best course to pursue in seeing the wonders of this remarkable region is, if the day be not stormy, to visit the caves and then to land upon and see the Causeway. The first of these caves is PORTCOON, into which the boat may be rowed for a considerable distance. Its length is 350 ft., its height, 45 ft. It may be entered also by land, but the effect is not so good. Dunkerry cave can only be entered by water. Its entrance resembles a Gothic arch. It is 660 ft. long, and its height is 60 ft. above high-water mark. After leaving the caves the visitor is rowed directly to and landed upon the Causeway.

It is a vast collection of ba

D