8 Description of Cork. 



of a small draft of water; these within a few years 

 have been filled up, and quays made below. The 

 esplanade, and street adjoining to it, are spacious, 

 well-built, and very handsome ; all the other 

 streets are narrow, and the houses high. The 

 old town occupies the southern bank ; the new 

 is built on the northern. The steepness of the 

 streets is attended with great inconvenience, 

 which is scarcely compensated by the beautiful 

 prospect the houses command. The barracks 

 are on the summit of the hill, and capable of ac- 

 commodating a great number of troops. Few 

 towns within limits so circumscribed contain so 

 great a population. Formerly the ground floors 

 of the best houses in the principal streets were 

 let for shops: instances of this may still be found, 

 but the practice has ceased to be general. The 

 market houses are very spacious well regulated, 

 and kept extremely clean. These arrangements 

 do great credit to the internal police of the city. 

 A magnificent coffee-room, for the general as- 

 semblage of the merchants, is just completed, 

 and does honour to their taste and public 

 spirit. 



The Institution here, which comprises all 

 branches of science, promises to be of great 

 public utility. Government allows two thou- 

 sand five hundred pounds per annum : and 



