Dunluce Castle-A Legend-Cavern-Bushmills- Guide's Cottage-Description of the Giant's Cause- way-Eloquence of the Guides-Cavern-Return to Shane's Castle-Lough Neagh-Legendary accounts of the formation of the Lake-Remarks on Ireland 1 PREFACE. THE appearance of this small volume originated with the desire of obtaining, by its publication, some additional means of extending relief to the suffering and starving poor of that very country, to which its pages refer. No less a period than eighteen years has elapsed since the excursion, here briefly narrated, took place. The manuscript, now transformed into print, remained quietly on its shelf from the time of its composition and perusal by relatives and friends until this present year, when the authoress was led to consider, whether, among the many and various means so generally and liberally devised for Ireland by the Christian spirit of this country, the publication of a narrative like this might not take its appropriate place, and prove instrumental towards the grand and imperative object of feeding many starving poor, through those profits which may result, under God's blessing, from its favourable acceptance. A few words now on the character of this little work. It assumes to be nothing more than a selection from the journal of the writer, when visiting Ireland, at the period above-mentioned, in the company of her brother, whose health required some intermission from pastoral duties. The travellers, as it will be seen, had an advantage, not always enjoyed, of finding themselves among their own personal friends and acquaintances, immediately on their arrival in the scenes new to them, and in their subsequent excursions to many parts of the country which they visited. Their expedition was prolonged to Scotland, but it has not seemed expedient to increase the size of this volume by the extension of the narrative to that part of the realm. As so frequently occurs, whether it may be apparent in such works or not, the materials of the volume are drawn from a series of letters, sent to relations in England, and giving a detailed account of matters generally interesting. The author of this short Preface has had the gratification of reading these letters at full length; and though much has been omitted here, in itself of an interesting character, still the selection appears to him as having been very judiciously made, both as to matter and to quantity. He has himself been a traveller in several of those localities, which are here described, and therefore he can answer, without hesitation, for the fidelity of the account given. In addition to this, from having been a resident in Ireland during two years, and from constant communication with various classes in that country, he can bear his general testimony to the substantial truth, as well as to the graphic and lively accuracy, with which many points of national character are touched upon and brought to light in the following pages. Moreover, as one intimately connected with Ireland, he holds it a privilege to add this humble contribution to the work, and should feel truly thankful if it furthered, in the slightest degree, the good and Christian object, on account of which, exclusively, it now appears. The awful and agonizing details relative to Irish misery, as exhibited in the terrific features of starvation, and pestilence, and death, are now so thoroughly known throughout Great Britain, and, indeed, throughout the whole world, that any additional statements of this kind are perfectly needless here. Appeals, too, of all sorts, have been so various, so multiplied, and so forcible, that any fresh exhortations, addressed to Christian love, benevolence, and self-denial, would only be repetitions of that which has been heard sounding and penetrating through every parish, and almost through every home of this land. The writer of this preface will therefore abstain from any narrative of miseries so thoroughly known, and from any attempt at moving appeals, such as those alluded to above. His object will be fully obtained, if each reader of the work now in his hands, will promote its circulation, if approved, with the practical remembrance, that by so doing, he will be instrumental in feeding the hungry, and in assuaging the |