The Sun.
London, England, 1810-06-19 00:00:00

ANTIQUITIES CF ANTRIM.

The following Extras are taken from a very
scarce publication on 'he Antiquities, Manners, and
Customs of the ancient Inhabit:nits of the County of
Antrim. It was published many years ago in a se-
ries of letters, by the Rev. W. Hamilton
DEAR SIR,

You would hardly believe how little remains of
Irish history, language, or customs, are to be traced
in this part of the country. -The revolutions which
it has. undergone, in consequence of forfeitures to
the English, and the encroachments of the cos,g
have overturned every remnant of, its original state.
During the time thar the English were endeavour-
ing to extend their pale, in every direction from the
metropolis of the kingdom, over a desperate hut dis-
united enemy,_ the Scottish clan of Yl'Donalds, who
by an inter-marriage had got footing in Ireland, be-
gan their ravages on the not thern coast of Antrim ;
and by the powerful support which they received
from Canrire, and the westetn isles of Scotland, es-
tablished their dominion over a tra& of country near
forty miles in length.
As-the people di those days generally followed the
fortune of their chief, the greater part of the native
Irish, who sun ived the bloody scenes, transplanted
themselves. elsewhere; while the Scots remained
peaceable possessors of the field. Hence the old
traditions and customs ot ihe country were entirely
lost ; and the few who speak the Cwltic language at
all, use a kind of mixed diale&, called here Scotch
Irish, which is but imperfealy understood by the
natives of either country.
The present possessors are in general an indus-
trious thrifty race of people. They have a great
deal of substantial cwility, without much courtesy
to relieve it, and set it off to the best advantage.
The bold ideas ot rights and privileges, which, seem
inseparable from 'their Presbyterian Church, renders
them apt to be ungracious and litigious in their
dealings. On the whole, the middling and lower
ranks of people in this quarter of the kingdom are a
valuable part of the community ; but-one must esti-
mate their worth as a miner often does his ore, ra-
ther by its weight than its splendour.
• There are three or four old castles along the
coast, situated in places extremely difficult of access,
but their early histories ate for the greater part lost.
The most remarkable of these is the castle of Dun-
' luce, which is at present in possession of the Antrim
family. It is situated in a singular manner on an iso-
lated abrupt rock, which projeas into the sea, and
seems as it were split off from the terra firma. Over
the intermediate chasm lies the only approach to the
castle, along a narrow wall, which has been built
somewhat like a bridge, from the rock to the ad-
joining land ; and this circumstance must have ren-
dered it almost impregnable before the invention of
artillery. It 'appears, however, that there was ori-
ginally another narrow wall, which ran across the
chasm, parallel to the former, and that by laying
beams over these, an easy passage might occasionally
be made for the benefit of the garrison.

The walls of this castle are Lunt of columnar ba-
saltes, many 'joints of which are placed in such a
manner as to shew their polygon se6tions ;
,and in
one of the windows of the north side, the architect
has contrived to splay off the wall nearly enough,
by making use of the joints of a pillar whose angle
Was sufficiently obtuse to suit his purpose.
The original lord of this castle and its territories,
was an Irish chief, called I.V.Pauillan, of whom little
is known, except that, like most 'of his countrymen,
he was hospitable, brave, and improvident; un-
warily allowing the Scots to grow in strength, until
they contrived to beat him out of all his posses-
sions.

In the course of my expeditions through this

* A term by which this north-west part of
.the c;ounty of
Antrim is always denominated.

LONDON: Printed by RICHARD HARRIS. or No. 4, Mattlett-court, Bow-street ; and, Peblish=l by WI L lAM A RMIG ER SCRIPPS, South Molton street, G torrenor cquare„
At the SuN,OFFIos, No, 112, Strand, where ricivertionents,-OrdtTi for the Paper, Lettersfor the Editor, tkc. (post-fnid)„ naList wi(iTcised.