-
Articles/Ads
Article THURLOGH, THE MILESIAN. ← Page 16 of 18 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Thurlogh, The Milesian.
CHAPTER XIX . Enter Dublin on what side you will , you cannot fail being struck by the ' multitude of its beauties . Of these nature has furnished a very ample proportion . A healthy site , a commodious port , a fine circumference of undulating territory , are no trifling recommendations in the outline of any city . But arttoo , has contributed very largely to the stock purse ; and however
, inactive she may seem as to other p laces within the island , she here , at least , has not spared her hand , but seemed to vie with her prototype in the extravagance of her donation . The first phenomenon that allured Thurlogh's notice , as he skimmed the air aloft in his phactontic observatory , was the line of masts that overtopped the houses , extending more than a mile in a direct range , and seeming to shoot up from the bottom of the very central street .
While perplexed as to the destination of so many May-poles , he was suddenly relieved by the abrupt turning of the coach into the lower extremity of Ormond Quay . Here the naked truth , in all its grandeur and its richness , burst upon his admiration . " The shipping ! the shipping ! " he cried ; " the glorious shipping !'' They now drove up along the brink of the quay , through Bachelors' Walk , the river on their ri ght hand , and the vessels , expanding as they advanced , in the prospect . During this whole time nothing could arrest his attention but
the succession of the ships : he had no look for architecture ; no remark for populousness ; and no reflection for commercial bustle;—the ships alone engrossed all the avenues of his eye and heart ; and the only problem which suggested itself , in reference to this continuation , was , whether it did not join that land with some nei ghbouring continent ; " At all events , " said he , " I see in it illustrated the obvious practicability of Xerxes' bridge . " The corner of Sackville Street gave a diversion to his abstraction . The
horses there faced about on this magnificent parade , and seemed to he elevated by the consciousness of the ground they bestrode . They cocked their ears as if at the gay sound of the huntsman ' s horn ; and snorted with their nostrils as if inarching to the war . Thurlogh , himself , felt impregnated with more than that ordinary excitement which belongs to the interest of locomotive novelty . There was a buoyancy about him—a sense of pride , he knew not for what—a general glow which diffused itself over his whole frameand identified himin conceptionwith
, , , the scene that surrounded him . " What care I , " said he , " if this magnificence be not actually mine ?—I mean in the sense of the stock-brokers and money-changers , —for all purposes of happiness I enjoy it as well as they can ; and why , therefore , restrain my sympathies from their kindred enthusiasm ? " He now looked before him ; and , raisir . g up his bead , saw Nelson's Pillar careering towards the skies . " Excuse me , sir , " said he , to the gentleman who sat immediately behind him ; " do I dream , or am I in Syria rather than in Ireland ?"
" You are in Ireland , sir . This is Dublin , its chief town , and the second city in the British dominions . " " I really though ; I was in Hieropolis ; and that this was the anniversary of that day upon whi : h Lucan relates that a priest used to ascend to the top of a stone erected there in honour of the goddess Astarte , whence he used to offer up his prayers for the congregation below . " " Indeed , sir!—but no matter : that figure which you behold , sir , is that of a sailornot a priest ; it represents Lord Nelsonsirthe hero of our wooden
, , , walls , and is as motionless and as inanimate as the shaft upon which it stands . " They had by this time reached its base , and drew up beside it in front of the New Post Office . This elegant piece of architecture was but a short time before built , and now called forth the tribute of Thurlogh ' s fullest cuhigy . lie
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Thurlogh, The Milesian.
CHAPTER XIX . Enter Dublin on what side you will , you cannot fail being struck by the ' multitude of its beauties . Of these nature has furnished a very ample proportion . A healthy site , a commodious port , a fine circumference of undulating territory , are no trifling recommendations in the outline of any city . But arttoo , has contributed very largely to the stock purse ; and however
, inactive she may seem as to other p laces within the island , she here , at least , has not spared her hand , but seemed to vie with her prototype in the extravagance of her donation . The first phenomenon that allured Thurlogh's notice , as he skimmed the air aloft in his phactontic observatory , was the line of masts that overtopped the houses , extending more than a mile in a direct range , and seeming to shoot up from the bottom of the very central street .
While perplexed as to the destination of so many May-poles , he was suddenly relieved by the abrupt turning of the coach into the lower extremity of Ormond Quay . Here the naked truth , in all its grandeur and its richness , burst upon his admiration . " The shipping ! the shipping ! " he cried ; " the glorious shipping !'' They now drove up along the brink of the quay , through Bachelors' Walk , the river on their ri ght hand , and the vessels , expanding as they advanced , in the prospect . During this whole time nothing could arrest his attention but
the succession of the ships : he had no look for architecture ; no remark for populousness ; and no reflection for commercial bustle;—the ships alone engrossed all the avenues of his eye and heart ; and the only problem which suggested itself , in reference to this continuation , was , whether it did not join that land with some nei ghbouring continent ; " At all events , " said he , " I see in it illustrated the obvious practicability of Xerxes' bridge . " The corner of Sackville Street gave a diversion to his abstraction . The
horses there faced about on this magnificent parade , and seemed to he elevated by the consciousness of the ground they bestrode . They cocked their ears as if at the gay sound of the huntsman ' s horn ; and snorted with their nostrils as if inarching to the war . Thurlogh , himself , felt impregnated with more than that ordinary excitement which belongs to the interest of locomotive novelty . There was a buoyancy about him—a sense of pride , he knew not for what—a general glow which diffused itself over his whole frameand identified himin conceptionwith
, , , the scene that surrounded him . " What care I , " said he , " if this magnificence be not actually mine ?—I mean in the sense of the stock-brokers and money-changers , —for all purposes of happiness I enjoy it as well as they can ; and why , therefore , restrain my sympathies from their kindred enthusiasm ? " He now looked before him ; and , raisir . g up his bead , saw Nelson's Pillar careering towards the skies . " Excuse me , sir , " said he , to the gentleman who sat immediately behind him ; " do I dream , or am I in Syria rather than in Ireland ?"
" You are in Ireland , sir . This is Dublin , its chief town , and the second city in the British dominions . " " I really though ; I was in Hieropolis ; and that this was the anniversary of that day upon whi : h Lucan relates that a priest used to ascend to the top of a stone erected there in honour of the goddess Astarte , whence he used to offer up his prayers for the congregation below . " " Indeed , sir!—but no matter : that figure which you behold , sir , is that of a sailornot a priest ; it represents Lord Nelsonsirthe hero of our wooden
, , , walls , and is as motionless and as inanimate as the shaft upon which it stands . " They had by this time reached its base , and drew up beside it in front of the New Post Office . This elegant piece of architecture was but a short time before built , and now called forth the tribute of Thurlogh ' s fullest cuhigy . lie