BALLYMENA, a neat thriving town, consist ing of four principal streets, and several smaller ones, is situated nearly in the centre of the county of An trim, on the banks of a small stream, having its source in the Claggan mountains which lie north of Slennish, end falling into the river Main, two miles west of this town. It contains about 2520 inhabitants, who are mostly presbyterians. The houses are built of stone, and generally slated, forming a striking contrast with some of the other wretched villages in that part of the county.
It consisted originally of a few thatched cabins, hut owing to its central situation, and still more to the judicious plan adopted by the present respecta liie Mr Adair, of granting long lrases to the inhabitants, and otherwise encouraging them to build comfortable houses, it has, in these few years, become a place of some importance, having now one of the greatest weekly markets in Ireland, for the sale of wide brown linens, cows, horses, &c. About two miles distant is the Moravian settlement of Grace hill, a beautiful little village situated on the banks of the Main.
In the streets of Ballymena, a small engagement took place, on Thursday the 7th of June 179S, be tween a party of yeomanry and a large body of the insurgents, in which the former were defeated and made prisoners ; the insurgents kept possession of the town till the Saturday following, by which time their number is said to have amounted to 10,000, and appeared so formidable, that a strong detachment of the king's troops, which lay near Randalstown, did not venture to attack them. They dispersed, how ever, on Saturday evening quietly to. their homes, and, by some previous agreement made with the com manding officer, the town was neither burnt nor pil laged. The new established mail-coach runs through this town from Belfast to Derry. It is twenty-one miles N. W. of Belfast, and ninety-three from Dub lin. West Long. 5° 57', North Lat. 54* 55'. (o)