Monday July 17th
{MS page 34}
A younger Brother of Mr. Hutchins's who is now on a visit to his Friends from College68 called on us just as we were getting into our Carriage & conducted us to Breakfast at Ballylickey. The House surrounded by a Plantation of Trees is delightfully situated at the head of a small Cove about three Miles North of Bantry & commands a beautiful prospect of the Bay & its surrounding Mountains. I busied myself till Noon in looking over a part of Miss Hutchins's extensive & well arranged collection of Algae & we then, accompanied by her younger Brother, embarked on board the Family pleasure Boat for a Sail on the Bay. We landed on rather a large Island called Whittie [Whiddy] the Shores of which are very Steep & Rocky & I there gathered several Marine Algae which I never saw growing before.69 {MS page 35} Since the French appeared on this Coast the summit of the Island has been strongly fortified as have also many others of the numerous Islands in this heavenly Bay. When we reembarked about three in the afternoon there was a fresh but not favourable Breeze & the different Tacks which we were consequently obliged to make afforded us a delightful variety of views. We returned to Ballylickey & after Dinner employed ourselves till 10 O'Clock in examining different Parts of Miss Hutchins's extensive Collections.
The master of the Family at Ballylickey is Mr. Thomas Hutchins who about 10 years ago lost the use of his Limbs so that he is obliged to be carried from one Room to another, & with him an aged Mother & his Sister reside. The liberality, politeness & hospitality of all these we have great {MS page 36} cause to remember & Miss Hutchins amazed me by the extent & depth of her botanical knowledge. She naturally possesses very strong senses & pleasing unaffected manners, & having expected to see something of the Lady Wilson kind,70 I was surprised to find her aged not more than 30,71 & her Person far from ordinary. It was past 11 O'Clock when we got back to our Inn where I was again gratified by receiving another Letter informing me of the welfare of my Family.
(The Kerry portion of Dillwyn's diary which follows at this point is here omitted. It is available online at CELT in file E800005-001. The diary resumes as he is leaving Killarney en route to Millstreet.)