THROUGH THE SEA-COAST COUNTIES, IN THE AUTHOR OF EXCURSIONS IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE, AND Lib. Com up bt. I hatefnere 1-26. 44 49149 PREFACE. IN submitting to the Public a brief account of a Tour made last autumn through the sea-coast counties of Ireland, I may state that the object of my visit was chiefly to see as much of the oft-proclaimed physical beauties,—the surpassing verdure of surface and fertility of soil—the lakes and mountains-the cultivated and embellished landscapes of the "Emerald Isle,"—as a limited period of time would afford me the means of doing; at the same time to take a passing glance at the general and external appearance and condition of the great mass of the population. Beyond these points I was well aware that want of time would make it impossible for me, on the present occasion, to go a single step. I had once intended to illustrate my little volume with sketches of some of those ruined remains of ancient castles and abbeys α |