"--Chap. XXI.,
Sect. VIII. "Of the Glass made in Ireland."
Birr Castle itself is a noble mansion with reminiscences from the
time of Cromwell. It is surrounded by a moat and a drawbridge of
modern construction, and from its windows beautiful views can be had
over the varied features of the park. But while the visitors to
Parsonstown will look with great interest on this residence of an
Irish landlord, whose delight it was to dwell in his own country, and
among his own people, yet the feature which they have specially come
to observe is not to be found in the castle itself. On an extensive
lawn, sweeping down from the moat towards the lake, stand two noble
masonry walls. They are turreted and clad with ivy, and considerably
loftier than any ordinary house. As the visitor approaches, he will
see between those walls what may at first sight appear to him to be
the funnel of a steamer lying down horizontally. On closer approach
he will find that it is an immense wooden tube, sixty feet long, and
upwards of six feet in diameter. It is in fact large enough to admit
of a tall man entering into it and walking erect right through from
one end to the other. This is indeed the most gigantic instrument
which has ever been constructed for the purpose of exploring the
heavens.
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