and Crossna, in the circuit of Ballyfermoyle, and in the low grounds about Lough Ke; but these parcels likewise are all now in a state of progressive improvement.

Three rivers wander through the barony, the Boyle, the Arigna, and the Feorish, each merging in one common goal, the Shannon; but respectively distinguishable in their courses by peculiar attributes; the first, by the exceeding beauty of the scenery through which it passes; the second, by the wildness of its banks and ravines, and the wintry violence of its career; and the third, by its sequestered haunts and peaceful current. The river of Boyle, sometimes called the Gara river, as taking its source from that noble reservoir, discharges the superfluous waters of Lough Gara with a rapid descent of current, especially when swollen by floods; running beside Tevannagh, the Druid altar of Ballynamultagh, the gentle promontory and weir of Tinnecarra, the ravine and overhanging cemetery of old Isselyn, the chapel, manor-house, town, pleasureground and abbey of Boyle, the church and caves of Drum, into Lough Ke. Emerging thence, augmented by streams from the Curlew mountains, this picturesque river leads its tributary waters southeastward. From Lough Ke it is for a short distance navigable for row boats, or small craft; but below Knockvicar bridge, and again below the upper lough of Oakport, near Coote-hall, it is singular to observe how the only vent for two great lakes is

contracted to a mere rippling rivulet. As if, however, weary and impatient of restraint, it throws itself out, or otherwise expands into those charming sheets, that constitute the upper and lower loughs of Oakport, and the wide and irregular polygon of water that surrounds Inchatyra, and washing the ruins of Killeen church at north, and those of Tumna at south, flows into the Shannon a little above the thriving town of Carrick. The abbots of Boyle had once no less than twenty-four eel-weirs at stated places on this stream. It also abounds with trout, perch, and a small kind of red-fleshed sprat, said to be peculiar to itself, much esteemed, and formerly caught in great abundance in the summer season, but now more rarely met with. The improvement of this river to Lough Gara, would make it the chief feeder of the traffic of the upper Shannon; it would seem, however, that it is designed to terminate the extent of the projected navigation of this arm, at a point about a mile east of Boyle, but possibly a continuance by canal may be in ulterior contemplation.-The Arigna river, before alluded to, takes its rise on the conterminous boundary of Leitrim and Sligo counties, deriving its first waters from both sides; hence it enters that of Roscommon, and, running with rapid current and considerable falls through the valley that divides the north coal field from the iron works, increased in winter by numerous tributary cataracts, formerly met the Shannon, over a winding and ob

structed channel, at Ballintra, which always in winter caused a heavy head of water, and an overflow of the adjacent lands. This periodical visitation is now, however, in a great measure removed by an artificial straight channel, which guides its current directly into Lough Allen, while a dam or weir across the exit of the Shannon is constructed, to maintain the waters of the lake in a prescribed level, or only permit such an overflow, as must at times occur, to throw itself off without comparative injury.—The third river alluded to, the Feorish, is so called as taking its rise from " a spring well" in the county Sligo, whence it enters this barony above Ballyfarnon, and flowing by the demesne of Alderford, leaves Lough Skean at south, and Lough Meelagh at north, whence, by Knockranny, and by the wood of Derreenargan, it empties itself into the Shannon, near where that river issues from Lough Allen. Through all the graceful windings of its course it affords to the angler excellent diversion, and, although it constitutes neither a county nor a barony boundary, it separates here the diocese of Ardagh from that of Elphin.

To these notices of the rivers of the interior it must be added, that the lordly Shannon is not only the magnificent boundary of the barony of Boyle, on its whole eastern side, dividing it from the barony and county of Leitrim, but, yet more, has been for centuries the acknowledged, as it was ever the natural, barrier between the province of Connaught and

the other three. Having progressed through Lough Allen, as before suggested, it steals forth a small, and, as it would seem, insufficient, embouchure, for the discharge of that vast reservoir, while its free escape was heretofore yet further retarded by eelweirs, and on the marshy flats by a thick vegetation of rushes. It passes hence by the Leitrim parish of Drumherriff, and rushes with considerable force under the six arches that give name to Battle-Bridge, but, at a very short distance below that, assumes an even surface, rolling in a slow, and seemingly deep, stream, between banks of clay; and the obstacles, that arise to its navigation from the lake, being obviated by a canal, which is carried at the Leitrim side, and here unites with the Shannon, the river is itself traversable for boats of burden, without interruption, thence to the canal near Jamestown. Leaving Battle-Bridge, it glides in the immediate vicinity of the town of Leitrim, where it is joined by a small stream, and flowing by Cloonfad, receives the waters of the river of Boyle, and glides by Carrick, out of the barony under consideration. No one, however, can look upon this lovely river, upon the "Shannon's flowery banks," as Carolan sings of it at this same point of observation, without wonder and regret, that its attractions have been so long slighted. Winding through noble lakes, and embracing innumerable islands covered with historic architecture, it runs a course of 234 miles, receiving upwards of 30 rivers and 45 lesser streams, traversing the

heart of the island, and thus offering the advantages of double that length of coast, yet neither its beauties nor its resources engaged the attention of the tourist, the historian(a), the philosopher, or the political economist. In the remote ages it was but as a mighty fosse, interposed by nature against the hostility of contiguous petty governments; after the English invasion it was for centuries the terminator of their legislation and authority; in the civil wars, that devastated the other provinces, that beyond the Shannon was by national hostility marked out as the only asylum for the infatuated, but chivalrous, adherents of the Stuart dynasty,-the only wild waste that no conqueror coveted. During the ages of Ireland's distinct parliamentary assemblies, scarcely any measure was effectuated for the navigation of the Shannon; not a sail or boat was to be seen upon its waters; no development of its utilities; no grate

(a) Some years since, the Author of this work collected from his manuscripts the materials for a very full "History of the Course of the Shannon, and its Tributaries," from their earliest springs to the sea; illustrating the scenery, statistics, and historical associations of all their localities, with memoirs of the septs and families that have flourished on their banks; but, as the subject would occupy three volumes, and should be embellished with numerous engravings and woodcuts, its publication was in prudence declined, even by one who has devoted so much to the cause of Irish literature; and a work which he, perhaps presumptuously, hoped would, as likely to promote that object, be encouraged by national and individual co-operation, has been consigned to the companionship of similar unedited manuscripts.