262 [Pi-oc. B.N.F.C. 



old cemetery existed here, as from time to time quantities 

 of human bones have been exhumed in close proximity to the 

 " ruins." But the time at our disposal here having now 

 expired, our conductor's whistle summoned us to leave (with 

 res^ret) the demesne, and, crossing over the old mail coach 

 road from Belfast to Dublin, we entered the large park, and 

 proceeded by the side of the lake, a haunt of the great crested 

 grebe and many other sorts of water-frequenting birds, to the 

 old castle. This castle was made a Royal fortress by Charles II. 

 in 1660, who appointed Arthur Hill and his heirs hereditary 

 constables, with twenty-four wardens under their command. 

 Two of these wardens, dressed in the quaint costume of 

 William III.'s Dutch Guards, were in attendance, and their 

 picturesque dress and accoutrements were examined with 

 interest by the members; an English member, eager to gain 

 information, on anxiously inquiring what they were and 

 where did they come from, being gravely assured that these 

 were the identical individuals left here by King William 

 after his sojourn in the castle in 1690. Here it was that this 

 monarch signed two very remarkable, though widely differing, 

 documents, the grant of Regium Donum to Presbyterian 

 ministers, and the yearly grant of King's plate and incorpora- 

 tion of the Royal Down Corporation of Horse Breeders. The 

 castle is a square building with corner turrets, and stands in 

 the middle of the west side of a large square enclosure with 

 high ramparts, and having a bastion at each angle, thus form- 

 ing a redoubt. On the north side is a small tower or barbi- 

 can with an arch which was formerly the principal entrance. 

 It was surrounded by a moat, and in the days of primitive 

 firearms must have been a place of considerable security. In 

 front of the castle the members were grouped and photo- 

 graphed by Mr. A. R. Hogg, and this picture, which includes 

 the two " Castle Guards," should prove an interesting sou- 

 venir to those who took part in this excursion. Our con- 

 ductor again sounded his whistle, and we were led to the 

 Corporation Arms Hotel, where all present were most kindly 

 entertained to tea by Mr. and Mrs. Nevin H. Foster. After 



