DUBLIN. 



The Roril 



Dublin, nnval car drawn by sea-horses, are accompanied by Tri- 

 ton*, ami followrd l>y merchants' ships, laden with the 

 produce of difll-rent nations, and wafted by the winds. 

 Four allegorical statues. Industry. Connm-rcc, Wealth, 

 and Navi-jation, are placed on the attic over the pedi- 

 ment \ ." i-nilicent dome rises 75 feet above the 

 building, and on it is placed a female statue of Com- 

 merce. The pa\ ilions at both ends are decorated with 

 the anus of Ireland in an elliptic shield, supported by 

 the lion and unicorn, and decorated with festoons of 

 fruit* and flowers. 



The entrances are ornamented with allegorical 

 sal heads. Over the four columns of the north front are 

 four statues, representing the four quarters of the world. 

 The whole south front is of Portland stone, and the 

 others of white mountain stone. The columns, corni- 

 ces, and architraves, are of Portland stone. The great 

 room for busim ss is 70 feet long, 65 broad, and 30 high. 

 Rows of columns on each side form open recesses for 

 the offices. 



Opposite to the east front there is a large wet dock, 

 which contains 40 sail, and contributes much to the 

 dispatch of business. The total expence of this build- 

 in-; is reputed to be L.255,000. The authority of the 

 commissioners extends to the whole kingdom. 



The Royal Exchange was begun in 1769, by a parlia- 

 mentary grant of L.I 3, 500, which purchased the site 

 on the acclivity leading to the castle. It was finished 

 in ten years, and opened in the beginning of 1 779. It 

 cost L.60,000, and was raised by lotteries grafted on 

 the state lottery. The building is nearly square, and 

 crowned in the centre with a fine dome, supported on 

 the inside by 12 composite fluted pillars, which form a 

 circular walk. Above these pillars are 12 circular win- 

 dows. The centre of the dome has also a large window 

 that illuminates the whole. 



A bronze statue of his Majesty George If I. in a Ro- 

 man military h-\bit, executed by Van N'ost, at the charge 

 of the late Duke of Northumberland, is placed on an ele- 

 vated white marble pedestal, on a range with the columns 

 m the rear, and opposite to the great entrance. The geo- 

 metrical oval staircases at each end of the north en- 

 trance lead to the coffee-room and the other apartments, 

 which are all occupied for business relating to mer- 

 chants. The building on three sides is of Portland 

 stone, in the Corinthian order, with their suited entabla- 

 tures. The north front has a pediment, with a projec- 

 tion often feet ; and the west front has only a projec- 

 tion of die entablature supporting a balustrade which 

 surrounds the whole building, excepting the interrup- 

 tion of the pediment of the north front. The straight 

 opening of two streets to the north front, gives a full 

 view of its elevation. At the distance of 120 perches, 

 the acclivity of the ground rendered it necessary to pro- 

 tect the ascent by a balustrade and walk. The balus- 

 trade is supported by rustic work. The trustees are 

 the lord mayor, sherd!*, city representatives, treasurer, 

 senior master of the guild of merchants, and twelve mer- 

 chants. In a niche in the western staircase, there is a 

 beautiful pedestrian statue of Dr Lucas in white marble, 

 in the attitude of addressing an assembly, and placed 

 on a pedestal. There is in bas reUef on the pedestal, a 

 representation of Liberty tested, and ornamented with 

 DCT rod end cap. 



Thirty steps of ascent, by the geometrical staircases 

 to the apartments of the Royal Exchange, were foam! 

 90 inconvenient, that the merchants determined to 

 have on the ground plui a set of offices in a court, 

 where MNDMM could be transacted within a minute's 



corpora 

 halls. 



Pott-offi 



walk, which was accomplished by the royal cliarter 

 Jan. 1. 1798. This company elects 15 members, who 

 conduct the business for one year. Thus in the centre 

 of Dame Street, this commodious building was en 

 where a mercantile stranger can have every accommo- 

 dation he can desire. The debentures of the subscrip- 

 tion fund are much above par. 



The linen hall is a very commodious building, and 

 was opened in 1728 ; and from time to time has since TV W 

 received many large additions, which give security and 

 convenience to all the manufacturers and wholesale 

 merchants throughout the year, without expence Ibr the 

 lodging and the shewing of their goods. The rooms 

 for this purpose are 4OO, neatly fitted out. The appoint- 

 ment of trustees by the act of 1 709, and the execution 

 of the act by the election of the trustees of the linen and 

 hempen manufactures, raised this branch to the rank it 

 now holds. The exports of linen in 1 700, amounted in 

 value only to L.I 4, 11 2, and the number of yards ex- 

 ported, were 



f ,. fin 171S, 1,819,816 yard., 



of linen, | -BdiBl7Wj .. 30,728,728 do. 



1713, linen yarn exported, 1 1 ,802cwt 2 qrs. 1 7 lb. 

 1787, do. do. 31,0+9cwt. 2qrs. Olb. 



The corporation halls are all commodious buildings. 

 The weavers hall is decorated with a pediment, sup- 

 ported by a projection, and a fine pedestrian statue of 

 his Majesty George II. in his robes. 



The post-office is opposite to the bank, in a commo- 

 dious range of brick buildings. Finding that the dis- 

 patch of the mails is interrupted by the want of a court- 

 yard, a range of ground in Sackville Street, on the 

 north side of the river, and nearly as convenient in 

 point of distance as the present site, has of late been 

 chosen bv the government for this purpose. Each mail 

 coach, with its entire company, is to proceed into the 

 court, to which no stranger on foot is to be admitted ; 

 then to receive the mail, and proceed in its course 

 through the gate on the opposite side. All the great 

 roads are in right lines from the place chosen. The pre- 

 sent establishment has given great satisfaction, by the 

 expedition and punctuality of the delivery, both in the 

 penny post, and country carriage. 



The Grand Canal Company was first formed in 1 765, 

 and incorporated in 1772. After various difficulties, 

 the sum of L.I 00, 000 was raised by subscription: the 

 object was to open a communication between the city 

 and the river Shannon. In 17S3, it was opened for 

 passage boats, from the west end of the city to Sallias, 

 15 miles; in 1786, to Monastereven, 3'^i mill- 

 1806, to Shannon harbour, 63 Irish miles from Dublin. 

 Passage-boats by day and night proceed through the 

 whole course of the direct line to Shannon harbour, and 

 to the off-line of the Barrow navigation. They are all 

 well appointed, and accommodated with every necessa- 

 ry refreshment. It crosses the Liffey on an aqueduct 

 bridge of seven arches, and pierces the hill of Downing 

 several hundred yards ; runs through a part of the bog 

 of Allen, and falls into the Barrow at Monastereven. 

 It is navigated by boats of 30 and 40 tons burthen 

 supply of the stream is principally from the Great Mor- 

 rell, twelve miles from Dublin, "at the fifteenth lock. 

 The locks are 26 in number, six double and -0 single ; 

 the falls in which vary from 4 feet 3 inches to 19 fret 

 7 inches. The summit level is 202 feet 4 inches above 

 the city harbour in James's Street. !*2 feet 9 inches 

 above the Barrow at Monastereven . and 260 above high 

 water mark in the Liffey in Dublin. The 59 feet 8 

 inches fall deterred the company from engaging in the 



Cauls. 



