nnon for the first time about ten years ago, in such plenty that the
poor lived on them. Bream of six pounds; eels very plentiful. There are
many gillaroos in the river; one of twelve pounds weight was sent to Mr.
Jenkinson. Upon the whole, these circumstances, with the pleasure of
shooting and boating on the river, added to the glorious view it yields,
and which is enough at any time to cheer the mind, render this
neighbourhood one of the most enviable situations to live in that I have
seen in Ireland. The face of the country gives every circumstance of
beauty. From Killodeernan Hill, behind the new house building by Mr.
Holmes, the whole is seen to great advantage. The spreading part of the
Shannon, called Loch Derg, is commanded distinctly for many miles. It is
in two grand divisions of great variety: that to the north is a reach of
five miles leading to Portumna. The whole hither shore a scenery of
hills, checkered by enclosures and little woods, and retiring from the
eye into a rich distant prospect. The woods of Doras, belonging to Lord
Clanricarde, form a part of the opposite shore, and the river itself
presents an island of one hundred and twenty acres. Inclining to the
left, a vale of rough ground, with an old castle in it, is backed by a
bold hill, which intercepts the river there, and then the great reach of
fifteen miles, the bay of Sheriff, spreads to the eye, with a
magnificence not a little added to by the boundary, a sharp outline of
the county of Clare mountains, between which and the Duharrow hills the
Shannon finds its way. These hills lead the eye still more to the left,
till the Keeper meets it, presenting a very beautiful outline that sinks
into other ranges of hill, uniting with the Devil's Bit. The home
scenery of the grounds, woods, hills, and lake of Johnstown, is
beautiful.

Dancing is very general among the poor people, almost universal in every
cabin. Dancing-masters of their own rank travel through the country from
cabin to cabin, with a piper or blind fiddler, and the pay is sixpence a
quarter. It is an absolute system of education. Weddings are always
celebrated with much dancing, and a Sunday rarely passes without a dance.
There are very few among them who will not, after a hard day's work,
gladly walk seven miles to have a dance. John is not so lively, but then
a hard day's work with him is certainly a different affair from what it
is with Paddy. Other branches of educat