Bogs likely to be all reclaimed. 137 



appears to me as exhibiting a strong resemblance 

 to the rude northern nations, and a hasty ap- 

 proximation to the state of them, previous to 

 the bursting forth of their people, and over- 

 whelming the more southern parts of Europe. 

 Were a million of the inhabitants to emigrate 

 at this day, this number, though great, would 

 scarcely make a perceptible void in Ireland. 

 The population must be increasing in a most 

 rapid manner, if we are to judge by the nume- 

 rous cabins which were erecting, and the dila- 

 pidation or abandonment of so few of them. 



We found the road much thronged for some 

 miles before we reached the town, in conse- 

 quence of its being market day at Ballymoney ; 

 as we proceeded, the crowd became so great, 

 as to preclude all calculation of numbers. When 

 we arrived at the principal street of the town, 

 which is nearly half a mile in length, and of con- 

 siderable breadth, it was overflowing full, not- 

 withstanding a cross street more than half its 

 size appeared to afford it some relief. As ill- 

 luck on this occasion would have it, the inn was 

 at its further extremity, and, formidable as was 

 the attempt to force a passage through such a 

 crowd, we were compelled to undertake it, at 

 the hazard of being engaged in disputes and in- 

 volved in difficulties ; for no precaution of ours 



