On the 4th Mr. Ellison the Clergyman of the town and Mr. Johnson, a neighbouring Clergyman, came to see me: I set out at noon and observed the road at Killalla which comes to the West of Lough Conn and to the east of Nefin; and going near a mile saw another road which leads into Erris, we soon came near to Lough Honey to the [...] which falls into the lake of Castlebar and passed by Lough Barry from which there is a communication by a river into the other. I observ'd here that the rocks are chiefly a cement of pebbles a little like that of Hertfordshire, and many fine stones might be found among them that would polish very beautifully with a variety of good colours: In two miles we came to a rivlet and a little farther to the river Broheh which rises out of Lough Belta, call'd in the maps Blata about two miles to the north east and in about two miles falls into the bay of Newport.
We came to Newport called anciently Ballyvickan or Baleyvaughan, it is most beautifully situated on a height to the north of a small river which about a mile [...] lower falls into that famous bay which is full of beautiful Islands. Westport a much older town being at the south east angle of it. This estate was a lease of 999 years from the Ormond family to Commissioner Medlicot and tho' consisting of 70,000 acres, yields at this time but £1700 a year, it was then valued only at £600 a year, of which £200 a year was fined off. Mr. Pratt who was clerk of the Treasury had a lease of it from Medlicot, built this little town, which from him was called Newport Pratt. On his failing he suffered himself to be ejected: and now Mr. Medlicot has bought the reversion of the £400 a year of Lord Arran after that Lord's death. It
It is said that this Convent was founded in the time of Henry VII by the Butlers, and they have a great Pattern or festival here on August the 4th, St. Dominick's day: near it is the ancient Parish church of Burrifool, removed by an act of Vestry and Council to a Glebe about a furlong above Newport on the opposite side. At this place there was formerly a little town, and at present there are a few scatter'd houses. This being the port and a place of some small trade untilNewport was built. The Market of Newport consists chiefly of frieze, yarn stockins and different sorts of Corn; the provisions in this place are very cheap from June to Christmas. Beef a penny, Mutton five farthings a pound, chicken pence a piece, a fat goose for six pence, a Turkey for the same and fat Ducks two pence a piece, fish also is very cheap, and they have a Merchant who imports very good French wine at £16 a hogshead.