DUBLIN. 



169 



Dublin. 



ay. 



rLiffey. 



nt of 

 city. 



DUBLIN, the metropolis of that part of the united 

 kingdom called Ireland, is situated in the province of 

 Leinster, nearly in the centre of the eastern coast of 

 the island, on a fine stream, at the west end of a deep 

 bay ; and distant eight miles from its opening into the 

 Irish Channel; 60 miles west from Holyhead, in the 

 Island of Anglesea, in Wales ; and 330 north-west from 

 London. It is situated in North Lat. 52 2' 2", and 

 West Long, from Greenwich 6 C 15', and is bounded by 

 the county of Dublin. 



The bay, at its entrance, is about five miles broad, 

 and gradually opens to the breadth of seven, on the 

 north and south beach. The Hill of Howth, which is 

 a peninsula on the north side of the bay, and the rising 

 grounds of Rochestown on the south, direct the view 

 from the buy to the surrounding country, which gently 

 swells from the north-east to the west for six miles, and 

 to the south-cast and south-west rises into lofty moun- 

 tains, at the distance of twelve miles : the space west 

 of Howth, to the rising ground, is filled by the view 

 of two islands, which have a grand appearance, vi/. 

 Ireland's Eye, at the distance of a mile ; and Lambay, 

 at the distance of seven miles. 



The bay, at the distance of five miles from its en- 

 trance, is divided into north and south by a mole and 

 parapet- walls, which extend into the sea 17,754 feet, 'on 

 the right of the stream of the river, during the ebb. It 

 was begun in 1748, and finished in 1755. This mole, 

 for 7938 feet, is 40 feet wide, and has three wharfs to 

 descend to the strand ; and the whole road is five feet 

 above tlie highest water-mark. The house at this part 

 i.= called the l.lock-house; and from this to the Light- 

 house, the road is formed of QS16 feet of large blocks 

 of mountain granite, strongly cemented and cramped 

 with iron : the road is 28 feet wide, sloping to 32 at 

 the bottom; and five feet above the highe-t water-mark 

 to the Light-house. Vast solid masses of stone were 

 sunk in chests, and afterwards guarded by solid ma- 

 :-onry, 35 fat broad at the base ; and on this was rai- 

 sed a circular structure of white hewn granite, three 

 stories high, surrounded by an octagon lanthorn of 

 eight windows, tapering to the top. Each story is 

 strengthened Ivy arch-work: a stone staircase winds 

 round the building to the .second story, where an 

 iron gallery surrounds the whole. The lantern is 

 supplied with large oil lamps, and reflecting mirrors. 

 This building, and the wall, afford a certain direction 

 for the navigation of the bay. to the mouth of the ri- 

 ver. A line drawn from this, due south, forms the 

 eastern boundary of the city jurisdiction. 



The city is divided into north and south by the river 

 Anna Liffey (Swift Hiver), over which there are six 

 bridges: four are built of hewn mountain granite, and 

 part of the piers; the cornice and balustrade are. of 

 Portland htoiie. They are 60 feet wide between the 

 balustrades, and have a raised foot-way on each side, 

 and double rows of globes. The river, in its em- 

 bankment, is 150 feet wide to the cast of Carlisle 

 bridge, and rises thirteen feet at high water: it is 

 lai) feet wide at the western bridge, and rises seven 

 feet. The improvement of the city by quays has been 

 the work of the last century ; and at present they are 

 rebuilding, of mountain granite, with walks at the pa- 



Tlie buildings of the city now occupy UJOO acres: 

 from cast to west it is two miles and a half long ; for 

 a mile from the west it is nearly square ; and for the 

 other mile and a half it is from north to .south one mile 

 and three quarters. Dublin contains C71 streets, all laid 



VOL. VIII. PART I. 



out since 1720. The streets are from 40 to 50 feet 

 wide; those built since 1774, are from 50 to CO feet 

 wide ; and all of them have flagged foot- ways suited to 

 their breadth. In IfilO, the walls of the city in cir- 

 cuit did not exceed a mile ; and the castle occupied the 

 south-eastern point. The city, and adjoining ground, 

 is now surrounded by a road, 60 feet wide, with foot- 

 ways communicating with all the avenues, and distant 

 nearly two miles from the castle : it is kept in excel- 

 lent repair by a toll. The elevation of that part of the 

 road, which is on the north-west and north-east, af- 

 fords some most beautiful landscapes. Part of his Ma- 

 jesty's park, the Phoenix, is within this circuit ; it is so 

 called, from a Corinthian fluted pillar, 30 feet high, sur- 

 mounted with a phosnix, erected by the Earl of Che- 

 terfield, the viceroy in 1747. This has been always 

 open for the citizens. There are, in this park, above 

 700 acres ; and in different directions there are enclo- 

 sures and mansions for the viceroy, the secretaries, ran- 

 gers, and some grantees. There are also a fine mili- 

 tary hospital ; a large military school for the children of 

 soldiers, with a beautiful church for them ; a salute- 

 battery of twenty-one guns, and a magazine. None 

 of these buildings interfere with the views, or with each 

 other. The park has two fine sheets of water, is well 

 stocked with deer, diversified with copses, woodland, 

 and open grounds, and is without hedges or trenches. 

 It has the view of the river for two miles ; above which, 

 at the distance of 30 perches, it rises abruptly about 

 50 feet; and thus commands a full prospect of the 

 city, the bay, and all the surrounding country. 



The park is connected with the south side of the ri- Sarah" 

 vt r by a bridge 'on the circular road, of singular beauty: Bridge, 

 the arch is elliptical, and 104 feet in diameter; and the 

 key-stone is 22 feet above the high water mark. It is 

 356 feet in length, 38 in breadth, with flagged foot- 

 ways : The base is of white hewn mountain granite ; 

 and the piers, cornice, and balustrade, of Portland stone, 

 with two rows of lamps. It is called Sarah-Bridge, out 

 of respect to the memory of the Countess of Westmore- 

 land, who laid the first stone of it in June 1791. 



The ground from the river, and four small stream* 

 of distant courses which fall into it, rises near them 

 from 24 to 40 feet ; so that the buildings of the city arc 

 very healthful, and nearly all command a prospect of 

 the surrounding country. 



The embankment of the river, from the strand, for 

 2 tO perches, between the city and the harbour, on the 

 north side, and on the east for 360 perches, to the Bay, 

 with solid walls and sluices, was made at the expence 

 of the Corporation. The inclosure was divided into 

 lots, and let to fee-farm, with the burthen of repair and 

 maintenance, under the view and controul of the city 

 magistrates, and lately of commissioners, incorporated 

 in 17&6. The same was also done on the south-side by 

 Sir John I'ogerson, by a solid wall and sluice drawn 

 to the Liffey ; and on the east side by a wall and mole 

 of 380 perches to the left of the Dodder, a mountain- 

 river wnich runs at this point into the Liffey. Over 

 the Dodder there is a commodious bridge, which leads 

 to the south wall. All this embankment is under the 

 care of cuiiimissioners. 



The houses are built of good brick, and the fronts Buildings. 

 are commonly of that finer sort called stock-brick : they 

 are generally five stories high, of which the cellars are 

 one. In the streets laid out by the commissioners in- 

 corporated in 1758 and 1774, the houses are generally 

 six stories, and so well built, that they are valued and 

 sold as bearing equal interest for sixty-one years. 



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