beneath the trees, with fern and moss for a couch-or, if sybaritically inclined, upon rugs, over which the inverted boat is improvised as a canopy. As an understood concession, the islands are free to the use of all parties who may not notoriously poach, or wantonly destroy the beautiful natural timber with which they are generally covered. In a few instances, however, they belong to proprietors whose tastes are of a somewhat exclusive kind-but "de gustibus," &c., as our friends at Portora would say. The inhabited island is Paris, the etymology of which name is difficult of explanation. Here, "time out of mind," has resided a family named Spratt, the present head of which is supposed to have seen nearly 90 years. Of the father of this patriarch, who was still living not many years ago, a story, which is, perhaps, worth preserving, is yet told. It appears that when 110 years of age he went to Enniskillen in quest of a trustworthy brogue-maker. Having met a Crispin of promise, he urged, in mitigation of the present charge, "that if the stuff was good and lasting, and the fit right," he would not change his custom for the remainder of his life.

Having undertaken this "Guide," we would not be doing our duty to the public were we to omit notice of the "Lake Erne Hotel," recently erected upon the Hill of Rossclare, on the northern shore. This establishment, according to the published prospectus of the company by whom it was originated, is not "meant or intended for visitors as a residence to pass a mere existence of life in, but is rather meant for those who are on pleasure bent, and not of over frugal mind.'" The site is certainly a fine one, commanding an uninterrupted view of nearly the whole of the Lower Lake, its shores and principal islands; and its chief proprietor, as must be admitted, does much for the amusement of his visitors and the public. It is not our intention to enter into a discussion of the advantages or disadvantages attending a sojourn at this house, as compared with one at any other of the well-ordered hostelries which are open to the selection of a tourist to the Erne. We may say, however, that at Rossclare every department, as will be seen on reference to the prospectus, is carried on on a very magnificent scale. "The steam-yachts and boats, according to their choice,

will carry them (the visitors) to the islands containing the round towers, monasteries, and ruins of abbeys and castles which tell of other days," at certain charges; and the company promise a German band to accompany the steamer in her trips! We may also intimate that tourists stopping in the Rossclare and Irvinestown hotels have an advantage not enjoyed by the visitors to other houses. "The Company" (writes Mr. Irvine) "have built their hotel on the property of Mr. Mervyn D'Arcy Irvine, of Castle Irvine, and that gentleman has arranged with the Company to allow visitors to their hotels to make excursions to Castle Irvine. This excursion of itself would amply compensate the visitor to this district. Excursionists will, no doubt, be surprised as well as pleased by this visit to Castle Irvine. The castle contains, amongst other noble apartments, one drawing-room 100 feet long, furnished with every modern luxury, but showing that if Mr. Mervyn D'Arcy Irvine's ancestor's were in their day not idle with their swords, neither were they idle in collecting the trophies of war."

but, after all, these modern days are not altogether so degenerate as some ill-grained Dryasdusts might assume them to be. There are arts of peace as well as those of war by which conquests may be made; and if, by bringing people mutually filled with antiquated and absurd prejudice together (as may be done in the neutral ground of an hotel), and thus affording them an opportunity of recognising in each other certain qualities of unsupposed excellence, national or class animosity can be appeased or scotched; then, indeed, may be the commencement of a victory which a modern Boniface, though descended from ancestors

"Who carved at the meal With gloves of steel," might be proud to have shared in.

Opposite Rossclare is the magnificent limestone quarry of Carrickreagh, or the rock of "the mountain table;" and, further on, the island of Innismacsaint, with its ruined church and venerable cross of stone. The name is a cor

ruption of Innis-muighe-samh, or "the island of the plain of the sorrel." Here, in the sixth century, St. Nened, or Ninnedth, founded a monastery, which, judging from the remains of earthworks and foundations which may yet be traced, was of great extent and importance. "The saint was Ninnidh Saebhruisc (saebhruisc-i.e., torvi oculi), who was of the race of Enda, son of Niall" (of the Nine Hostages); "and at the 16th of January he is mentioned in the Mart. Taml. as "Ninnid Leathderc" (i.e., one-eyed). He was a disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard, and was a contemporary of St. Columba." (See Mr. Joyce's book on Irish names, &c.) The church appears to have been

a small, oblong structure. Much of the masonry is characteristic of an early period, but there is evidence of the building having been considerably remodelled about the close of the twelfth century. One window remains in a tolerably perfect state. The angles of the jambs on the interior are rounded off in pillar-like fashion, with plain Norman-looking capitals and bases. The eastern and western gables have fallen. The stone cross is of a form rarely met with in Ireland. The arms are not connected with the shaft by a circle, nor is there the least trace of panelling or scrollwork. It was probably erected at the time of the restora

tion of the church, but may possibly be older-as ancient, indeed, as the days of the saint. The people of the neighbouring shores firmly believe that upon every Easter morning, on the crowing of the cock, this ponderous cross "jumps round three times!" No one, however, can aver that he has himself observed the movement. To the west and north of the church extend mounds of earth, which indicate the form and position of the dwellings of the old community; and enclosing all-church, cross, and domestic buildings-was a rampart of mixed earth and stones, which probably formed a "rath" or "cashel." Upon the highest part of the island may be examined a mound which has all the appearance of a sepulchre of the Tuatha de Danaun era. Upon a wooded point, about two and a-half miles to the north-west of Innismacsaint, stands the ivy-clad ruin of Tully Castle. "This," writes Petrie, "was for a time the principal residence of the Hume family; and on the breaking out of the rebellion, in October, 1641, it became the refuge of a considerable number of the English and Scottish settlers in the country. The discontented Irish of the county having, however, collected themselves together, under the command of Rory, the brother of Lord Maguire, they proceeded to the castle on the 24th of December, and having commanded the Lady Hume and other persons within it to surrender, it was given up to them on a promise of quarter for their lives, protection for their goods, and free liberty and safe conduct to proceed either to Monea or Enniskillen, as they might choose. But what trust can be placed in the promises of men engaged in civil war, and excited by the demoniac feelings of revenge? With the exception of the Lady Hume and the individuals immediately belonging to her family, the whole of the persons who had so surrendered, amounting to fifteen men and, as it is said, sixty women and children, were, on the following day, stripped and deprived of their goods and inhumanly massacred, when also the castle was pillaged, burnt, and left in ruins. Let us pray that Ireland may never again witness such frightful scenes!" It does not appear that the castle was afterwards re-edified. The ruins, though less imposing than those of Monea, are nevertheless of considerable extent, consisting of

a tower or keep, with smaller towers at the angles. The "bawn," or walled enclosure of the court-yard, is still in a fair state of preservation.

To the eastward of Tully is an islet or shoal called the "Gull Rock," from the number of birds of that species which breed there. A kind of beacon, or tower, formed of immense stones marked this treacherous site until last winter, when by the force of wind and wave the structure was levelled. Owing to the presence of "the Kearneys, Saunderson's rocks, and other shoals-upon one of which the Rossclare steamer lately struck, and became for some days a fixture this portion of the lake is rather dangerous to navigate. We have now more than entered the "Broad Lough," which here well deserves its title, as it is rather more than seven miles across-seven good Irish miles; for, be it known to all who have the misfortune to be strangers to Ireland, the Celtic measure is greater than the English, somewhat in the proportion of eleven to fourteen.

"Though the miles in this country much longer may be,
Yet that is a saving of time, do you see;

For, as two of our miles are equal to three,

It shortens the road in a great degree,"

sang a true Irish bard, the late Sam Lover, of harmonious. and picturesque memory. But we trust our readers will not be regretting the liberal allowance so poetically referred to, when travelling upon the Erne or its shores. South-eastward extends a range of hills which rise almost perpendicularly over the water, and in many places indicate volcanic action. A romantic fissure, of much geological interest, overhangs Poula Phooka-literally the "Demon's Hole." Strange it is that the name of Evil should, in Ireland as in Wales, and some other countries, be so often associated with scenes whereon Nature has been most bountiful

"In purest of crystal

And brightest of green."

We have in Tipperary the "Devil's Bit," "a study," as painters would say, "of surpassing loveliness;" in Wicklow, the "Devil's Glen;" and upon the Liffey another Poula Phooka; in Connemara, a grand heathery bun, happily unconscious of its name, the "Devil's Mother;" at Kil