north-eastern end is a small room actually projecting over the sea, the rocky base having fallen away, and from the door of this apartment there is a very awful view of the green sea beneath. The rock on which the castle stands is not surrounded by water, but is united, at the bottom of the chasm, to the main land, by a ledge of rock, a little higher than the surface of the ocean. The castle was entered by a bridge, formed in the following manner :-two parallel walls, about eight feet asunder, thrown across the chasm, connected the rock with the mainland: upon these, planks were laid crossways for the admission of visiters, and removed immediately after the passage was effected. At present, but one of the walls remain, about thirteen inches in thickness; and the only pathway to the castle is along its summit, over the awful rocky chasm. The distance at which the other parallel was placed, may be perceived by the traces of its adhesion to the opposite rock.

On the main land, close to the castle, a second collection of similar buildings are seen, erected at a later period, by one of the Antrim family, in consequence of a melancholy occurrence amongst the domestics in the castle. A small apartment on the verge of the rocks gave way, and fell into the ocean, which so alarmed the female part of the family, that additional apartments were erected for their accommodation upon the mainland. This is said to have happened during the occupancy of Catherine Manners, widow of George Villiers, the great Duke of Buckingham, who married Randal, the first Marquis of Antrim.

Beneath the rock on which the castle stands, is a cave, penetrating completely through, from the sea to the rocky basin on the land-side of the castle; it may be entered by a small aperture in the south end, and at low water there is a good deal of the flooring uncovered, which consists of large rounded stones; this form is the consequence of the action of the waves. The sides and roof are of basalt, possessing merely the usual characters.

Ross CASTLE.

On Ross Island, or rather Peninsula, stands Ross Castle, which held out so obstinately under Lord Muskery, in 1652, against the English, commanded by General Ludlow. Upon the 26th of July in that year, at Knockniclachy, in the county of Cork, a battle was fought between Lord Muskery, at the head of the Irish, and the Lord Broghil, commander of the English forces, in which the former were defeated with great slaughter, and Colonel Mac-Gillicuddy, a native of Kerry, and greatly beloved by the Irish, slain. Upon this defeat, Lord Muskery withdrew to Ross Castle, whither he was followed by General Ludlow, with a body of 4,000 foot and 200 horse. This experienced officer thus describes the siege of Ross Castle:-"In this expedition I was. accompanied by the Lord Broghil, and Sir Hardress Waller, Major-general of the foot. Being arrived at this place, I was informed that the enemy received continual supplies from those parts that lay on the other side, and were covered with woods and mountains; whereupon

I sent a party of two thousand foot to clea those woods, and to find out some convenient place for erecting a fort, if there should be occasion. These forces met with some opposition; but at last they routed the enemy, killing some, and taking others prisoners: the rest saved themselves by their good footmanship. Whilst this was doing, I employed that part of the army which was with me in fortifying a neck of land, where I designed to leave a party to keep in the Irish on this side, that I might be at liberty, with the greatest part of the horse and foot, to look after the enemy abroad, and to receive and convoy such boats and other things necessary as the commissioners sent us by sea. When we had received our boats, each of which was capable of containing one hundred and twenty men, I ordered one of them to be rowed about the water, in order to find out the most convenient place for landing upon the enemy; which they perceiving, thought fit, by a timely submission, to prevent the danger that threatened them; and having expressed their desires to that purpose, commissioners were appointed on both parts to treat."

The garrison of Ross Castle was greatly intimidated and urged to a surrender by the appearance of an armed vessel floating on Lough Lein; for there was a prophecy amongst the inhabitants, that the Castle would not be taken until a vessel of war was seen to swim upon the Lake. After a fortnight's debate, articles were agreed upon, by which it was settled that the estates of the Irish should be at the mercy of the parliament.