CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
The cashel, though in a more perfect state than the external ramparts, is still a mere ruin. 
“ To the casual observer,” Colonel Blacker remarks, “ the first appearance of this edifice is 
that of a truncated cairn of extraordinary dimensions; hut, on a closer inspection, particularly 
since the clearing away of fallen stones, &c., it will be found a building constructed with 
every attention to masonic regularity, both in design and workmanship.” It is, in fact, a 
circular wall, inclosing an area of 77 feet 6 inches in diameter, and in its present state about 
6 feet in height, and varying in breadth from 15 feet to 11 feet 6 inches, or averaging above 
13 feet. Of its original height it is not easy to form a very accurate conjecture, but, from the 
quantity of fallen stones which form a glacis on either side, about 13 feet in breadth, it may be 
concluded to have been at least twice, or possibly three times, its present altitude.. At the 
height of about 5 feet from the base, on the interior face of the wall, the thickness is dimi¬ 
nished about 2 feet 6 inches, by a terrace, the ascent to which was by stair cases, or flights of 
seven steps, 18 inches wide, situated at each side of, but at unequal distances from, the entrance 
gateway. It is probable that there are similar ascents to this terrace in other parts of the wall, 
as is usual in forts of this description throughout Ireland, but now concealed beneath the mass 
of fallen stones ; and that there was originally a succession of three or four such terraces 
ascending to the top or platform of the wall. On each side of the entrance gateway there are 
galleries within the thickness of the wall, extending in length to nearly one-half of its entire 
circuit, and terminating nearly at its northern and southern points. These galleries are 4 feet 
9 inches high, and have sloping sides, being 2 feet l inch wide at bottom, and 1 foot 9 inches 
at top ; they are covered by large stones laid horizontally. The galleries do not, however, 
communicate with the gateway, and to that on the N. no communicating passage, or entrance, 
has been discovered ; but the other has, at its southern extremity, an entrance from the area, 
1 foot 6 inches wide, and 1 foot 10 inches high, being barely sufficient to admit a boy. In 
this gallery, and near its northern termination, there is a small oblong square recess, 2 feet 
9 inches high. There is but one gateway to the interior area of the caisiol. It is but 4 feet 
wide at its base, and appears to have been not more than 6 feet high. 
The sides of this passage, like those already noticed, were inclined, and covered by large 
flags, laid horizontally : one of the lintels, which is 6 feet long, and 1 foot 3 inches thick, 
remains within the area, and others of inferior magnitude lie about the entrance. 
