The harbour alluded to, appears to have been of considerable importance to the shipping of that period, when the relations of Ireland with the monks had become established. In the reign of Henry the Sixth, it is mentioned as being found a convenient spot for the woollen merchants to ship their goods to Ernemouth, in Zealand, without paying the duty; and in Elizabeth's days as "the only good haven for great shippes to londe or ryde in" between Scotland and Milford Haven, in Wales. It was apprehended that the Spanish Armada would try to effect a landing in this harbour. GILTSTONE ROCK; OR, THE SLAVER IN THE SOLWAY. The Betsey-Jane sailed out of the Firth, As the Waits sang "Christ is born on earth"-- The Betsey-Jane sailed out of the Firth, On Christmas-day in the morning. The wind was East, the moon was high, Of a frosty blue was the spangled sky, And the bells were ringing, and dawn was nigh, And the day was Christmas morning. In village and town woke up from sleep, From peaceful visions and slumbers deep-- In village and town woke up from sleep, On Christmas-day in the morning, The many that thought on Christ the King, And rose betimes their gifts to bring, And "peace on earth and good will" to sing, As is meet upon Christmas morning. The Betsey-Jane pass'd village and town, As the Gleemen sang, and the stars went down-- The Betsey-Jane pass'd village and town, That Christmas-day in the morning; And the Skipper by good and by evil swore, The bells might ring and the Gleemen roar, But the chink of his gold would chime him o'er Those waves, next Christmas morning. And out of the Firth with his reckless crew, All ready his will and his work to do-- Out of the Firth with his reckless crew He sailed on a Christmas morning! He steer'd his way to Gambia's coast; And dealt for slaves; and Westward cross'd; And sold their lives, and made his boast As he thought upon Christmas morning. And again and again from shore to shore, With his human freight for the golden ore-- Again and again from shore to shore, Ere Christmas-day in the morning, He cross'd that deep with never a thought Of the sorrow, or wrong, or suffering wrought On souls and bodies thus sold and bought For gold, against Christmas morning! And at length, with his gold and ivory rare, When the sun was low and the breeze was fair-- At length with his gold and ivory rare He sailed, that on Christmas morning He might pass both village and town again When the bells were ringing, as they rung then, When he pass'd them by in the Betsey-Jane, On that last bright Christmas morning.