Letters from IIr. Weed ~. No. XVI.
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Letters from DIR. Weed =. NO. A'l!.


Correspondence Of The Albany Evening Journal


BELFAST, (seland) August 3, lS43


We left Dublin with an American party, SIX
strong, in the Royal Mail Coach for this place.
The distance is 50 Irish or about 100 American
miles, and was driven in l2 hours The suburbs
of Dublin, in this direction, are less beautiful,
and exhibit population less comfortably housed
than in other quarters AsHBoURNE, a new WI
lage is the first place for changing horses. Here
is an ancient Tower in good repair


The next point is DRoGHEDA, a town situated
on the river Boyne, with population of more
than 10000, whose annals are replete with stir
ring events. After gallant resistance in l64l,
its defenders were finally overpowercd and put to
the sword by Cromwcll's S army. Here is an obcsk
commemorating King Williams victory in l69O.
This place abounds in antiquities, among which
is a Priory erected by King Richard H.; an Au-
qustinc Abbey; Castle once inhabited by the
Archbishop OF Armagh the remains of Monas-
terbore Abbey, &c. &C. There are several fine
modern structures, among which is st. Peters
church and spire, ofhewn stone; the Linen Hall,
Corn Market, Barracks Hospital, &c. The gen
eral aspect of the town, however is any thing
but pleasant. 1t presents no indications oil pros
perity. It's population, to great extent, are
evidently unemployed, and there is consequently
corresponding amount of destituton and suffer
ing The Harbor and Bay of Drogheda, extend
ing some two or three miles from the Irish Sea,
are vainly inviting the trade and commerce for
which the town and its inhabitants are langush-
ing. There is "a deep and strong Repeal sent-
mcnt at Drogheda, which, for the present. keeps
hope alive but when these hopes are blasted,
should that unfortunately happen, desperate men,
with hungry wives and children, will do dcspe-
rate things.


DUNDALK is fine town, with several spacious
public buildings, and is surrounded with rich
fields and parks, but is not otherwise interesting.
There is field here, and hercabouts, for the be-
nevolent labors of Father Mathew.


NEwRY is a pleasant, busting, active, manu-
featuring town, enjoying very good coasting
trade. canal, navigabc for vessels of $50 to
200 tons, passes from Carlnglord Bay through
the town. The descent from the Dublin road
into Newry is by steep hill, from which you
have delightful view Of the town and bay. 1t
is refreshing to find, in oppressed Ireland here
and there a spot where the evidences of COM
parative prosperity and happiness exist. The
Abbey of Newry was founded in the 10Th ccntu-
ry by Mac Laughlin, and endowed by Hugh de
Lacy Newry contains over 10000 inhabitants.
This being market day, large number Of the





tenance and manner, were agreeable indications
OF the improved condition and increased comforts
of the people of the North of Ireland, where
something more OF the advantages of trade and
manufactures are engaged.


After passing BANgRIDGE, a pleasant town IN
the county Down, you come into the Flax-grow-
ing part of Ireland. Here for some thirty miles,
laXurlant Flax fields, the pulling Of which has
Just commenced, meet the eye IN every direction.
Every tenant has his patch of Flax some con-
tanning quarter, some half, and others three
quarters of an acre, while the FARMER relolces IN
fields OF Flax containing, in some instances. from
ten to fifteen acres. Along here you see better
dressed women in cleaner cabins, and in many
inytances, neat cottages, feeding the spindle or
piping the shuttle.


HllIsEoRoUGH is 4 pretty town. surrounded by
an industrious and thrifty agricultural popula-
ton, whose neat, whtcwashcd stone cottages
present an aspect OF chceriulncss and comfort
seldom found in Ireland, much of which is attri-
buted to the hberahty of Lord Downshirc, a
wealthy Nob!eman, who IN various ways, gives
encouragement to industry, extends patronage to
enterprise and maniicSts iaudablc solicitude for
the welfare of his tenants. The Park, Castle
and broad Domain of Lord DownShrc, each far
nishing evidence OF great wealth. arc in full view





Next TO Uilsborough comes LlsDuRN, in An
trim, known abroad by the excellence of It's
Damasks, which arc fabricated here III great
quantities. Its Cambria and Muslin fabrics are
always in much request. The view north from,
Lisburn is bold and picturesque, Beyond rich
valley, commences an elevation which rises for
several miles, and terminates in a high mountain
extending as lar as the eye can reach, and under
the shoulder of which Belfast is situated These
mountains would resemble some of the bold ones
in New-Hampshirc, except that upon every patch
of soil, wheat or oats, or barley or rye, is seen
waving.


From Lsbuyn it is but seven miles to BELFAST,
place which bears 50 strong a resemblance to
American cities that became at once domcSti-
Gated here There is much intercourse between
Belfast and Ncw-Y ork. This has produced an
assimilation in manners too obvious not to be no.
ticed / dropped into familiar conversation with
merchants at the hotel here, and felt almost as
much at ease as should have been at the AStor.
House. This qualification, by the way, is rot
strong enough 1t is quite as impossible for the
guests Of the Astor to be as much at ease at any
other hotel, as 1t is find elsewhere the ENJOY
ments and luxares that surround you there. |
know something now Of the hotels OF England
and Ireland, which, in some respects, may cla,ii
superiority over American hotels but have no
hesitation IN saying, that for hall the money paid
for apartments at the very best hotels in London,
you can secure all the quiet, all the attentions, ali
the conveniences, and much more than all the
luxuries and delicaces, at the Astor House Nor
-. -txtS. ,>,c.,.