2 gg [Proo. B.N.F.C., 



hound, when, seeing a great wolf springing at her, she fell. That 

 fall saved her, for the wolf overshot his mark. Just as she was 

 beginning to swoon her hound came to the rescue. When the 

 lady came to consciousness again she found her faithful dog, 

 maimed, standing by her, and the wolf lying dead not far off. No 

 wonder her descendants have shown a love for dumb animals, as 

 is evidenced by the many memorials in the shape of stones and 

 mounds scattered about the grounds. The screen over the front 

 door records in stone many leading events of the family history. 



The castle was thrown open to the visitors. Among the 

 many interesting things seen, that which attracted the most attention 

 was the speaker's chair of the last Irish House of Commons. It is 

 placed in a recess in the oak room, and is backed by a portion of 

 the old door of the parish church, suitably carved, and showing 

 marks received at the battle of Antrim ; some of the bullets have 

 never been extracted. The chair is carved in whitewood, painted 

 brown. After the Irish House of Commons sat for the last time 

 the Speaker, the Right Hon. John Foster, undertook the custody 

 of the chair and mace, and refused to hand them over to the 

 keeping of any other body than the Irish Parliament. One rather 

 interesting local relic was the wheelbarrow used at the sod-cutting 

 of the " Ballymena Railway." The company was free to roam 

 about the grounds — to the Mound, with its commanding view; 

 the Italian garden, with its walks, high yew hedges, ponds, &c, 

 representing "The Lovers' Progress"; the miniature causeway; 

 the terrace gardens ; the wishing stone ; and the old battery, where 

 the yeomanry did sad havoc among the insurgents in Main Street 

 and Bow Lane on 7th June, 1798. 



After tea at Hall's hotel the usual business meeting was held, 

 when, on the motion of Mr. N. H. Foster, seconded by Mr. A. 

 M'l. Cleland, a vote of thanks was passed to Mrs. Murray, Rev. 

 M. H. F. Collis, and Lord Massereene for granting permission to 

 visit the tower, the church, and the castle and grounds respectively. 

 The party were much indebted to Mr. Adams and Mr. Collis for 

 the trouble they took to make the excursion such a success. 



