14 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



gannon line, was reached in little over an hour. Here the party 

 was met by the Rev. Edward Whitty, rector of Charlemont, 

 who kindly acted as guide for the day. A pleasant walk of about 

 a couple of miles brought the party to one of the entrances to 

 Roxburgh Castle, the seat of Lord Charlemont. The castle is 

 comparatively modern, and has been recently much enlarged 

 and beautified ; it forms a noble quadrangular pile, commanding 

 an extensive view of the surrounding country. The refined 

 taste, and wealth of art treasures and ornaments displayed in the 

 principal rooms, which were kindly thrown open to us, would 

 have engaged attention for the entire day. Leaving by the 

 principal entrance, which is in the village of Moy, and crossing 

 the Blackwater, which here divides the County of Armagh from 

 Tyrone, a visit was made to the dismantled fort of Charlemont. 

 The strategical position which this fort occupied, commanding 

 one of the principal passes of the Blackwater, has rendered it 

 important, and given it a history. It was erected by Lord 

 Charles Mountjoy, about the close of the i6th century, and we 

 find it was occupied by the royal troops. In the year 1641, 

 however, it was taken by stratagem by Phelim O'Nial, and 

 its governor put to death. An attempt was made by General 

 Monroe to recover it, but he had to fall back with heavy loss. 

 It was subsequently re-taken by Sir Charles Coote. Afterwards 

 it was sold to Charles II., and later it was garrisoned by the 

 Irish for James II., and was compelled to surrender to Duke 

 Schomberg. Its after history has been one of peace. Its unused 

 entrance, levelled batteries and bastions, and filled-up fosse are 

 now bearing a heavy crop of grass ; and the massive square 

 tower, which until quite recently served as a barrack for the 

 troops, has an unmistakably deserted and decayed appearance. 

 A short distance off are the cavalry stables, now fully occupied 

 by Lord Charlemont's numerous stud, among which is some of 

 the best blood in the country. The party were agreeably sur- 

 prised to find here the celebrated horse Merv, so well known as 

 the trusty friend of Captain Burnaby, on his famous ride to 

 Khiva. Merv's prolonged ride seems to have told severely on 



