Lady  Catherine  Beresford  got  erected  a  cone-
shaped  house  in  oneofthepleasure-grounds,  the  inside
of  which  she  covered,  in  the  most  beautifully-arranged
designs,  with  shells  of  all  kinds.  It  took  her  a  great
many  years  to  complete  the  task,  all  of  which  she  did
with  her  own  hands,  and  finished  in  165 1.  In  the
centre  of  it  is  now  a  white  marble  statue  of  her  ladyship.
On  a  hot  day  in  summer  a  visit  to  this  grotto,  as  I  may
call  it,  is  most  enjoyable,  as  the  cool  air  is  delicious,
and  an  hour  or  two  can  be  agreeably  spent  in  it,  ad-
miring the  handiwork  and  taste  displayed  by  the  lady,
particularly  if  you  have  a  lady  companion  with  you
at  the  time.
The  little  churchyard  on  the  top  of  Clonegam  hill
is  the  resting-place  of  the  dead  worthies  of  the  house
of  Beresford  for  many  generations.  In  it  are  also  laid
the  members  of  the  Medlycott  and  other  families  of
distinction.  Inside  the  little  church  are  magnificent
full-length  marble  figures  of  Lords  Henry  and  John,
the  third  and  fourth  Marquises,  and  in  a  niche,  ex-
pressly cut  out  for  the  purpose,  the  finest  work
ever  executed  by  the  celebrated  Boepm  is  laid.     It  is


THE    CURRAGHMORE   HOUNDS.
85


the  marble  effigy  of  Lady  Florence,  the  present  Mar-
quis' first  wife,  with  her  infant  child  reposing  in  her
arms.  It  is  of  the  finest  Italian  marble,  and  is  so  laid
out,  that  wherever  the  sun  shines  it  reflects  its  rays.
