4^' Antiquarian Notes. 



When Amphion would his Thebes surround. 

 His voice did chant, his harp did found 5 

 Till the materials great and fmall 

 Danc'd into form and built the wall. 



Oh could my fong have such effect, 

 I would myself be architect ; 

 I'd make the best materials come, 

 Dance into form and build a dome : 

 That dome should be the Phoenix call'd, 

 Like that Arabian bird extol'd. 

 Who from a fierce confuming flame 

 Aflumes a new, and fairer frame. 

 The dome thus rais'd, there would I place, 

 Till time be done, the Antrim race, 

 That rifing ages might behold 

 The love and friendship of the old. 



Bishop Pococke, in his Irish tour, 1752, recently edited 

 by Rev. Dr. Stokes, thus mentions it: — "I took a walk also 

 to Lord Antrim's house, close to Ballymagarry, which was 

 burnt down about two years ago. It is a fine situation, 

 commanding a view of the sea of Enishowen to the north- 

 west and of the sea coast to the east. The house was built 

 of the pillar stones of the quarry I have mentioned near, 

 and I saw one of nine sides. Lord Antrim had thoughts of 

 building a house on a spot near, but it is said has altered his 

 purpose." We visited this historic site on the 29th July last, 

 and were shown everything of interest by the intelligent tenant, 

 Mr. Hugh Hunter. The plan of the place reminds one some- 

 what of a French chateau, as several wide avenues, walled on 

 each side, and with massive circular gate piers, converge to a 

 centre, occupied by the present farm house, which was built 

 shortly after the fire. A part of the old oflfice-houses remains, 

 and bears traces of the conflagration. In the courtyard, between 

 the house and garden, is a large stone trough, formerly supplied 

 with water from higher ground a mile distant, brought in the 

 curious pipes, one of which Mr. Hunter has presented to the 

 Museum. A large space is occupied by walled-in gardens, 

 containing very old apple and pear trees, hoary with lichens, 

 but still bearing some fruit. The traces of a bowling-green on 

 a raised terrace are plainly visible. Perhaps the most conspicu- 

 ous of the buildings is the circular edifice, with massive 



