times from a letter from my Aunt Catherine Ball in Ballymoney to her sister in Dublin, dated May 15th 1769. My little family concerns and other avocations engaged 80 much of my time and attention that I almost forget the use of my pen, notwith- standing the affectionate reception and continued hospitality I received from you, your kind husband and my other good friends in Dublin. I felt the full foroo of the old saying, and when seated in my little dwelling relating to my two Garling rieces the wonders of the great city, my grateful heart in cilent thankfulness acknowledges that "Home is home, be it ever 80 homely* I arrived here the sixth day after quitting you. The distance is one hundred and eight Irish miles and the roads are very bad, tho' I am told much better than formerly when the journey was seldom performed in less than a fortnight. It is related that when the Earl of Antrim went to Dublin to spend the winter or to attend Parliament, he was four or five weeks in getting to the Metropol- is. He traveled with his immediate family in his 0020h and six and two or three heavy post chaises. His first day's journey would end at Shanes Castle, or per- haps at Lord Massaran's at Antrim and there he and his retinue would rest from the labour of the travel of twenty or twenty four miles for two, three, or four days. He uniformly sent avent a courier to give notice to his favored friends of his intended visit and this was a needful preoaution as the host required time and forethought to prepare for the entertainment of the trump- eters, the forty gentlemen, and servants, and the neighbouring gentry, who would think it due to the entertainer to honor Lord Antrim by partaking of and contributing to his entertainment at each stopping place in their vicinity. Thus from Antrin he would proceed ten miles to Belfast, rest again, and from thenoe on one oocasion he sent his oourier to Hill Hall, an anoient castle be- tween Lisburn and Hilsborough, to inform Lir. Hill, anoestor to the present Lord Hilsborough, that in three days he would have the honor of waiting on him. lir. Hill was no little clarmed at this intination, well knowing the ex- tent of the cavaloade and the usual lengthoned stay of the visitor, however, there WAS no subterfuge. The country round was ransacked for viotuals and a further supply of wines and luxurios Lot from Belfast as the occasion demanded. On approaching Hill Hall the coring guests more gratified by seeing the smoke of the chirney, EL sure presentiment of the good things they might expect, when, lo, on at nearer approach they were horrified by seeing the flames breaking out of the roof and the old castle of Hill Hall burned to the ground, How His Lord- ship and their Ladyships, the gentlexen and retainers fared afterwards until they reached Kewry it is difficult to say, but the soandalous whisperings of tne neighbourhood did say that Mr. Hill prefer'd setting fire to the tottering febrio to the lodging of such a host, which might have ruined him, and besides LT. Hill had contemplated quitting that place as his residence and building 13