Ward & Lock's descriptive and pictorial guide to the Isle of Man ...

Douglas.near it is Fort Anne Hotel, built by one of the gay companionsof the Prince Regent, a Mr. Wlialley, an Irishgentleman, known among his boon companions as Buck"Whalley. In this mansion afterwards resided Sir AViUiamHDlary, one of the originators of the movement for theestablishment of life-boats, to whose lady (as stated in aprevious page) is due the first suggestion of the Tower ofEefuge. Two other fine houses, seen above the BatteryBreakwater, are liavcnscliffo and Harold'' s Tower, the lattera castellated building, the property of a relative of Martin,the painter of " Belshazzar's Feast," and many of thewonderful conceptions of that most original and in manyrespects gi-eat artist took shape on the canvas in the house.It is a stiffish climb—more agreeable to j'oimg and activethan to elderly and obese visitors—to the DoKglas HeadHotel, the tower of which is a landmark for vessels out atsea ; but the view obtained is ample reward for the exertion,and an interesting collection of curiosities may be inspected.The summit of Douglas Head is 300 feet above the sealevel ; but the Lighthouse, built in 1833, was erected on aprojection somewhat lower dov/n. The light can be seenfifteen miles out at sea. The lighthouse is open to visitors,and just below it is Port SJullion, the (free) popularbathing resort for gentlemen who are stout swimmers. Alittle creek flows into the sea, and there are small cavesutilized as dressing rooms, concrete piers from which a goodheader may be taken, and enclosed places where personsunable to swim may bathe in safety. We find the ferry boatawaiting us {fare, one j^cnny), and landing at the VictoriaPier, we next visit the business part of the town. Wetherefore make our way, past the Peveril Hotel, toVictoria Street,formed a few years since, by clearing away some of themost crowded part of the old town. The shops are large,handsome, and well stocked, and few streets in any of thelarge English towns make a finer display. The Villiers'Hotel, one of the largest in the island, occupies the wholeof the right-hand corner, with entrances to it and to thePromenade ; and opposite this is the Grand Hotel, with thenew Grand Theatre adjoining it. Victoria Street is about350 yards in length ; about half-way along it we crossDuke Street {sec p. 40). At the head of the new street wereach the foot of Prospect Hill, a steep road leading toBucks Road and the suburbs of the town, where lodging3