In the shadow of the Sperrin and Carn range of mountains; holding the road that leads to the Pass of Glenshane on the direct highway that leads from Belfast to Derry, stands the little town of Maghera.
It has all the apperance of an old town that grew up just as it pleased without plan or premeditation; and it is an old town. The Danes plundered it in 803AD and it was the seat of the diocese from 597AD to 1158AD. It was burned in the rising of 1641.

..To General Washington, President of the United States of America
July 24 1789

Sir,
I cannt find words to express the feelings of my heart on the receipt of your favour of yesterday, as this repeated instance of your goodness. I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of this and of your condescension to me on a former occasion when your preseence administered a balm to my wounded spirit.