Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)
entry 33
On the 27th Mr. Oneal rode with me to Badeke three miles where there is a fine hanging ground, wood, Islands and several cascades, altogether making a most beautiful appearance; we rode four miles further opposite to Sir James Calwell's house, this gentleman has spent most of his time abroad, was Aid de camp in the Austrian service to General Odonnel, whose father dined with us yesterday, and they say is the head of that family descended from the Earl of Tyrconnell and tho' he has only leases, yet he is the head of the Roman Catholicks in this country, and has a great interest, is a sensible man, and well vested in the Irish History, both written and traditional: and it is said that Sir James
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being agreeable to the Empress was made a Count of the Empire, which title he does not take upon him. Lough Erne and the Islands appear very beautiful from this Hill, there being many considerable seats on it as at Belturbet Lord Lansborough's, Castle Hume, the seat of Loftus Hume, where there is a black marble with a brown cast and so not an agreeable black, but polishes pretty well; and many others. The Lough is divided into two parts the communication being by a narrow channel, on which stands the town of Enniskillen. The road we were in is the way to Lough Derg, where is the famous place of pilgrimage, called St. Patrick's Purgatory. There is a good road as far as to Pettigo where Mr. Skelton lives, who has lately wrote very well against Deism38.
Lough Derg is three miles beyond it through a very rough road. I return'd and dined with Colonel Murray (who had come to see me in the morning) I dined in company with Mr. Conolly, and many others, this Gentleman is brother to Lord Elebanck and to Mr. Murray who made so much noise in the Parliament of the year 1750 and is Lieutenant Colonel of foot. I had also in the morning been to visit Mr. and Mrs. Moore and Mr. Taylor her brother, son to Sir Thomas Taylor, who with two four wheel'd Chaises were come from Lough Erne and were going to Giant's Causeway &c.: I walked in the even to see a cascade three quarters of a mile above the town: The river falls in a narrow channel between the rocks, and there is a descent for a great way, which makes the river very rapid. I observed in the rocks of Marble the Trochi, Entrochi and Asteriae. I walked also down towards the mouth of the river on the east side to a house of Lord Foliot to whom this estate did belong, but descending to the Heirs General, it was sold to Mrs. Connelly: The house is particular as it is brick on the
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outside and stone within. The Ancestor of that Lord came over from England in office; and the Colonel and Captain Foliot are descended from Collateral branches. The Lime stone is seen here in many places on the surface of the ground, and the softer parts being worn away, it appears in many odd figures above ground. On the opposite side Colonel Foliot's estate is well improved: Beyond it is Clary Castle, the stronghold of that family who have since taken the name of Clark, and beyond that is a curious Grotto, the top of which appears like a fine Arch.