Wesley Corpus

3.−A few friends took me to Merino, a seat of Lord Charlemount's, four miles from Dublin. It contains a lovely mixture of wood, water, and lawns, on which are several kinds of foreign sheep, with great plenty of peacocks; but I could not hear any singing-birds of any kind. I a little wondered at this, till I afterwards recollected, that I had not heard any singing-bird, not even a lark, a thrush, or a blackbird, within some miles of Dublin. In the evening I strongly enforced those awful words, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate,” upon a numerous congregation; who had ears to hear, and hearts to receive the whole Gospel. Wed. 4.--I spent an hour at the New-Dargle, agentleman's seat four or five miles from Dublin. I have not seen so beauti ful a place in the kingdom. It equals the Leasowes in Warwick shire; and it greatly exceeds them in situation; all the walks lying on the side of a mountain, which commands all Dublin bay, as well as an extensive and finely-variegated land-prospect. A little river runs through it, which occasions two cascades, at a small distance from each other. Although many places may exceed this in grandeur, I believe none can exceed it in beauty. Afterwards I saw the Parliament-House. The House of Lords far exceeds that at Westminster; and the Lord-Lieutenant’s throne as far exceeds that miserable throne (so-called) of the King in the English House of Lords. The House of Commons is a noble room indeed. It is an octagon, wainscoted round with Irish oak, which shames all mahogany, and galleried all round for the convenience of the ladies. The Speaker's chair is far more grand than the throne of the Lord Lieutenant. But what July, 1787.] JOURNAL. 387 surprised me above all, were the kitchens of the House, and the large apparatus for good eating. Tables were placed from one end of a large hall to the other; which, it seems, while the Par liament sits, are daily covered with meat at four or five o'clock, for the accommodation of the members. Alas, poor Ireland 1 Who shall teach thy very senators wisdom ? War is ceased; Sed savior armis, Lururia incubuit 1 + Thur. 5.--Most of our Preachers came to town. Friday, 6. Our Conference began; and ended as usual on Tuesday, 10.