Thursday July 13th
Mr. Woods went to Breakfast with some of his Relations & whilst I busied myself with writing Leach walked to Black Rock where with the assistance of a Ladder he gathered a few Specimens of Dianthus plumarius. This being the anniversary of my Wedding I could not help much regretting my absence from the best of Wives, for whom I walked into the City & purchased a trifle as a memorandum of my affectionate remembrance. At 12 I ordered the carriage & went with Mr. Leach to the Botanic Garden from whence Mr. Drummond accompanied us to some neighbouring Fields where we again sought in vain for the supposed new Crepis.43 As some compensation for our trouble we however found Pimpinella magna44 growing in great abundance. From here {MS page 23} Leach & I drove to Black Rock Castle45 which is delightfully situated on a rock that projects into the River Lea about 2 Miles below Cork. The Banks of the River on both sides are nearly covered with Woods & handsome Villas, & the Scenery which is equally beautiful reminded me of the Thames at Lambeth. A little below the Castle the River widens into a noble Sheet of Water which is called the Lough & is 3 Miles long & 2 wide. Mr. Drummond had been informed that Dianthus plumarius grows about the Castle but we could not find it. It however certainly grows on the Rocks In the Diamond Quarry, so called from some Chrystals that are found there, on account of which this part of the Rocks is now walled in & no Persons are admitted.
On my return to the City I called on James Abel46 at whose House my Father was entertained when he landed here from America. He received me so kindly & so pressingly urged me to dine with him next day, that I regretted it was out of my power to accept his invitation. About 4 Cooper Penrose47 called on us & insisted on our accompanying Mr. Woods to dine with him at his Villa which {MS page 24} is beautifully situated on the North bank of the City [sic] about 1 1/2 Miles from the City. He has a fine collection of Pictures for which he has been building a Gallery as also five other Rooms for Statuary, & they are all very tastily lighted by Cupolas from the Ceiling. We returned to our Inn about 11 O'Clock well pleased with the hospitality & polite attention of Mr. Penrose & his Son.