Description of Drogheda. 285 



paid to King William by a portion of the Irish 

 nation rests not on that foundation which in 

 my opinion principally entitles him to the 

 esteem and respect of posterity. His enlight- 

 ened policy and liberal views with regard to 

 religion, are the most luminous parts of his 

 character; and greatly is it to be lamented 

 that the bigotry and revengeful prejudices of 

 the times should have defeated his good inten- 

 tions ; for in the succeeding reign intolerance 

 and persecution reached the acme of barbarism. 



Drogheda is a handsome commercial town, 

 built on the banks of the Boyne, which rapidly 

 rise from the river. The approach to it is 

 through a street of great length, consisting for 

 the most part of miserable hovels. The princi- 

 pal street, as well as the new houses on the quay. 

 are substantial and handsome. The improve- 

 ments in the town have been rapid during the 

 last few years. Difficulty attends the access to 

 the port, owing to the winding course of the 

 river down do its fall into the sea and the shal- 

 lowness of water over the bar, formed by the 

 discharge of its waters. The Corporation pos- 

 sesses a considerable revenue, and large sums 

 have been expended on embanking the river, 

 with a view of deepening the channel : some 

 benefit has been derived from this measure, but 



