[Ireland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (2 of 2) (1888) by William Henry Hurlbert]@TWC D-Link bookIreland Under Coercion (2nd ed.) (2 of 2) (1888) CHAPTER XII 10/18
He planted long avenues of the rarest and finest trees, araucarias, Scotch firs, oaks, beeches, cedars of Lebanon; laid out miles of the most varied and delightful drives, and built the most extensive conservatories in Ireland. The turfed and terraced walks among those conservatories are indescribably lovely, and the whole place to-day was vocal with innumerable birds.
Picturesque little cottages and arbours are to be found in unexpected nooks all through the woodlands, each commanding some green vista of forest aisles, or some wide view of hill and champaign, enlivened by the winding river.
From one of those to-day we looked out over a landscape to which Turner alone or Claude could have done justice, the river, spanned by a fine bridge, in the middle distance, and all the region wooded as in the days of which Edmund Spenser sings, when Ireland "Flourished in fame, Of wealth and goodnesse far above the rest Of all that bears the British Islands' name." Over the whole place broods an indefinable charm.
You feel that this was the home at once and the work of a refined and thoughtful spirit.
And so indeed it was.
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