| I passed another of O'Cahan's castles by the road side, but rudely built, and uninteresting. The scenery, however, became still more picturesque as I approached Londonderry; and at length the city appeared, in its finest aspect, that of an island (as it seemed from this distance) in the midst of the Foyle, surrounded by battlemented walls, and piled up with houses, rising towards the centre, the whole surmounted by a single lofty spire. The view annexed is taken from a different point; but it exhibits distinctly a very important feature in the picture, the long and very handsome wooden bridge. The fortifications consist of an earthen rampart faced with stone, and strengthened with bastions. Within there are four main streets, with lanes diverging; the main streets being entered through archways. // Outside are suburbs of a less distinguished character, for inside the walls, the greater part of the town is built on a scale of high respectability, Londonderry is a thriving town, and the inhabitants have just the appearance which might be expected. They are business-like people, and have the air of knowing what they are about. I observed, with a little amusement, the desolate condition of a showman, who, by some unfortunate mistake, had here pitched his caravan. In vain he shouted, in vain he thumped his drum, in vain he paraded his corps dramatique: no one even turned his head to look as he passed by. At eight o'clock in the evening, I walked round the ramparts, a delightful promenade, rendered at the time as light as day by means of numerous lamps, but I did not encounter a human being, Londonderry is in fact a very respectable town, and its inhabitants are very respectable people; but, since I have, on the present occasion, but little to do with business details, I may be excused for continuing my journey with as brief delay as possible. [Vol. II, p. 151-152] |
