370 . Limerick an agreeable Residence. 



settled in Limerick, which make it a place of 

 very agreeable residence. The cathedral is a 

 large building, and is kept very clean, though it 

 is of inferior architecture. The public rooms 

 do great credit to the town. The Custom 

 House and new prison are sumptuous buildings. 

 Much grain is exported from this place : thirty- 

 six thousand barrels are at this time shipping 

 for Spain. " In times of peace," says Moryson, 

 " the Irish transport good quantity of come ; 

 yet they may not transport it without license, 

 lest on any sudden rebellion, the King's forces 

 and his good subjects should want corne." 

 Cruelty and tyranny seem to have assailed this 

 devoted country at all times. The population of 

 Limerick is estimated at fifty thousand souls. 

 Our friend Mr. John Thompson, who about 

 thirty years ago visited Limerick with com- 

 mercial views, and who married a lady from 

 this city* remembers when there were but two 

 families residing here who had their dinners 

 cooked with coal, (viz.) the Bishop's, and a 

 Captain Hill's, it being at that time a received 

 opinion, that coal gave a disagreeable flavor to 

 the meat. At present, if the very poorest 

 houses be excepted, turf is no where used for 

 culinary purposes. This circumstance will serve 

 to convey some idea not only of the great in- 

 crease of the town, where numerous families 



