13.5 



LETTER XII. < 



Ballyraoney, August 21, 1813, 



Ji WO miles from Antrim on the Randalstown 

 road is Shanes Castle. The celebrity of the 

 place led us to expect an ancient edifice that 

 would tell the tales of time long past. In this 

 we were disappointed. The house is of modern 

 construction, the grounds about it flat, and 

 though the timber which surrounds it is very 

 fine, the soil is not rich. A striking feature of 

 the place is said to be a terrace formed on 

 arches of great extent by the side of the 

 Lough ; but as we had seen all Lough Neagh 

 had to offer in point of interest or beauty from 

 Antrim, our curiosity was not further excited, 

 and we passed on under an impression that Fame 

 had been lavish of her encomiums on Shanes 

 Castle. The worth and hospitality of its pos- 

 sessors had at all times spread considerable lustre 

 around it, and it is not less an excusable than 

 a common usage to attach to a residence the de- 

 served popularity of its owner. 



