io 4 A HISTORY OF 



One of the finest features in the interior is the hall, 

 which is unusually lofty and well proportioned, and 

 forms a stately entrance to what was the largest and 

 most magnificent of the town houses of our Irish 

 nobility. The ceiling is beautifully decorated, and 

 the first floor is reached from an inner hall by a flight 

 of white stone stairs which branch into two divisions 

 from a landing. The mantelpieces in the dining- 

 room and drawing-rooms were removed to Carton. 

 Those that remain are beautiful, the mantelpiece and 

 the grate in the small hall leading to the lawn entrance 

 being considered specially worthy of notice. The 

 registrar's office, formerly the study, has a splendid 

 mantelpiece, and is a well proportioned, highly orna- 

 mented apartment. 



It was concerning the acquisition of this palace, that, 

 on the 1 4th of November 1 8 14, a committee of the Royal 

 Dublin Society sat to deliberate. It consisted of the 

 Right Hon. John Claudius Beresford, Jeremiah D'Olier, 

 P. Digges La Touche, John L. Foster, Henry Arabin, 

 Nicholas P. Leader, John Pomeroy, and Richard 

 Verschoyle ; who found that the premises would be 

 disposed of for 10,000, and a yearly rent of 600, 

 or they would be sold rent free for 20,000. It was 

 thought at this time that part of the ground might 

 advantageously be let for building, and that the Society 

 would obtain a good price for the concerns in Hawkins 

 street. The former suggestion was never carried out, 

 and in the latter expectation the Society was grievously 

 disappointed. An agreement was entered into with 

 Augustus Frederick, fourth Du ke of Leinster, for the 

 sale of his interest for 10,000, with 600 yearly 

 rent, which was ratified by the Society on the I4th 

 of December 1814, it having previously been submitted 

 to the Government. On the I9th of January 1815, it 



