Aspect, Soil, Fiorin Bog. Climate. 54°. 35'. north: they are in the north-western side of the parish, which extends thence about three miles to the east and south. The surface of the parish presents great variety, as it principally consists of hills, containing from 20 to 50 or 60 acres: These are separated by vallies or plains of very small extent, except where the turf-bogs intervene, which are generally more extensive than the other flat grounds. From a given point the hills extend like an amphitheatre; and the irregular undulating lines formed by their summits exhibit something very pleasing to the eye. As the country rises to the southward, all these hills are most difficult of ascent on the north side. The soil on the hills is generally from four to six inches deep, of a hazel mould, with a substratum of greyish or reddish till, under which lies a strong redcoloured or whitish clay with many stones, which seem to have had their surfaces smoothed by motion. In the little plains or vallies the soil partakes more of clay or turf: the mixture of these forms many varieties of soil, and is much deeper than any other, The greater part of these lands is in meadow, producing abundant crops of fiorin, especially when they admit of being irrigated, which many of them do by the streams that collect from the higher grounds. Of the vallies, several have been covered with turf-bog, which being now exhausted, they admit of cultivation; producing, when judiciously managed, excellent crops of potatoes, grain, and grass, to the culture of which they seem peculiarly adapted. The climate, like that of the rest of Ireland, is varia ble: but, from the shape of the grounds, and the nature of the soil, the rain that falls, soon runs off, so that upon the whole, it may be considered one of the driest tracts in the county. From its inland situation, however, and from its vicinity to the mountains snow is apt to fall heavily, and to remain a considerable time undissolved. The disorders of the district are pulmonic com- Diseases. plaints and low fevers in the spring. Annahilt is not without its portion of the small lakes Lakes. or loughs, which abound in the county of Down; the largest is Lough Aghry, which constitutes one of the boundaries of the parish to the south. This fine piece of water, the exact extent of which it is difficult to ascertain, seems to cover about 100 acres or something more; as no streams run into it, the supply of water must arise from springs, and the level of the surface, though encreased by snow, is seldom raised by rain, The next in size is Lough Erne, which is in the townland of Ballyhcel; the extent of this water is less than 40 acres, but its depth far exceeds that of the former lake; and at a very small distance from the border, the sides are quite perpendicular. Both of these loughs, as well as those in Ballycoune, are well supplied with trout, pike, and eels; the second of which species of fish is sometimes taken of the large size of from 10 to 20 pounds weight. Many rivulets run along the vallies, serving as feeders Rivers. of these loughs, or as outlets to their superfluous wa ters. Those streams which rise in the eastern and southern quarters find their way to the sea near Downpatrick; those of the other parts, by the river Lagan, to Belfast lough. Minerals. II. Mines, Minerals, &c. No metals have ever been found, though this parish is evidently part of the transition country, the rocks being mostly gray-wacke, gray-wacke slate, or silicious slate. In many parts these shew themselves on the surface, and in others they lie so near it, that they are scarcely concealed by a thin covering of soil. In the townland of Cluntogh, on the southern extremity of Slate Quar- Mr. Roger's estate, there is a fine slate quarry, which however has not hitherto been wrought to advantage; the slates that have been raised at the depth of 20 feet from the surface are excellent in colour, size, and durability. ry. Granite & Whindykes. A few detached pieces of granite and granulated quartz are found; but veins of basalt, better known by the name of whin-dykes are frequent; these generally travers the wacke and slaty rocks in an eastern direction, inclining much to the south; and appear to emanate from the great body of basalt of which the County of Antrim is composed, and which lies to the northwest. In position, (the prisms lying horizontally) fracture, and composition, they seem to be exactly of the same nature as those so common in the counties of Antrim and Londonderry; and it has been observed that whenever the other rocks are traversed by them, there is a manifest dislocation of the strata. Some of these whin-dykes are 20 or 30 feet in breadth, others not more than 2 or 3: and they are all in a greater or smaller degree coated with an ochreous earth; in which stones interspersed with zeolite, round, and composed of pellicles like the coats of onions, are sometimes found embed ded in an ochreous paste. How deep they run is not known, but many of them have been traced along the surface to the eastern coast, where they are lost in the sea. III. Modern Buildings, &c. There are no villages, and but one public-house. The principal roads which traverse the parish are those from Roads. Hillsborough to Downpatrick, and from Dromore to the same place; these run from east to west. A road from Belfast and Lisburn to Rathfryland passes through the glebe, and one from Lisburn to Downpatrick through Cargicreevy; both these roads run from north to south. There is also a road which runs in an casterly direction from Hillsborough to Saintfield. Besides these, other roads give great facility in drawing turf, (the fuel of the country) lime, &c. through the parish. About 35 years ago, few of these roads were in ex stence: for most of them we are indebted to Mr. Mussenden, the only resident proprietor, except the rector. B if About 60 years ago, the present Mr.Mussenden's grand- Gentlefather made extensive plantations, and built a mansion- men's Seats, house at Larchfield, which received its name from the tree he was fond of: his grandson has been a more extensive planter; and by exciting the same spirit among his tenants, the estate has assumed a very cultivated appearance. About the same time that Mr. Mussenden first planted at Larchfield, Mr. Cowan of Ballytentogh made considerable improvements at his residence, and some years after, his son, Mr. Andrew Cowan, improv ed his place in the same townland; Captain Cowan also GlebeHouse. is now adding to those formerly made, as well as his brother, Mr. Samuel Cowan. At Cluntogh, about 40 years ago, Mr. Rogers commenced his improvements by building a lodge and planting several acres; they are now highly ornamental. Mr. Magill of Loughaghry must not be omitted as an improver, having since his residence there, built and planted a great deal in the space of four years. In general, a great spirit for making improvements prevails among our farmers, in which planting and ditching hold the first place in giving to any country a cultivated and civilized appearance. The glebe-house was built in 1790 and 1791, by the present incumbent, at an expense of nearly £1200; He built under the old act of parliament, by which he was obliged to find the money himself, and as he has exceeded the two years' income of the parish, he cannot recover from his successor more than three-fourths of what he laid out in the mere buildings. In addition to this he has made a good garden, and has improved the glebe lands by draining, ditching and planting, at a considerable additional expense; but he is in some degree remunerated by seeing a dreary wild converted into a substantial and comfortable residence for himself and for his successors. He is the first resident rector, the pa rish of Annahilt having formerly been part of the corps of the presentorship of Dromore, from which it was separated by an act of council with the consent of the bishop and the incumbent; by the advice of the first Marquis of Downshire. IV. Ancient Buildings, &c. The antiquities of this parish are inconsiderable, and |