Kinahan — Slates and Clays (Bricks, 8fc). 75 



out. Gerrard Boate mentions that " a great number of English 

 potters in several parts of the land had set up their trade, so as 

 all kind of earthenware was very common, and was to be had at 

 very easy rates." But in recent times the principal use of the Irish 

 clays was to export them to England for manufacture into the 

 various descriptions of pottery, some of which, it is probable, 

 found its way back to the locality from which the raw material 

 was derived. 



The manufacture of tobacco-pipes was, some forty years ago, 

 a familiar industry in numerous places throughout this country, 

 but is now confined to a few localities only. In and about the 

 city of Dublin a very common article are the small pipes, popularly 

 known as " Dane's pipes," which are often found in abundance 

 during the progress of excavations. It is questionable where they 

 were manufactured. From the immense quantities of their re- 

 mains which occur in some localities it would at first appear probable 

 that they had been made in the district ; but Dr. William Frazer, 

 than whom there is no better authority on matters of antiquarian re- 

 search relative to Dublin, having taken much trouble to investigate 

 the matter, is of opinion that they were imported from England 

 and that the large quantities of them often met with occur near the 

 sites of former fairs, taverns, or similar places of public resort. In 

 connexion, however, with this opinion, it may be of interest to note 

 that during the cutting of the "Waterloo and other roads in Baggot- 

 rath, near Dublin, an immense number of those pipes were found 

 in heaps, as well as spread over a large area, and which, from their 

 unfinished and damaged appearance, strongly resembled the debris 

 to be met with in connexion with modern pipe-kilns. 



It is encouraging to be able to state that during the past few 

 years some improvement has taken place in the prospects of the 

 Irish delf trade. Excellent work has been turned out from the few 

 manufactories which now exist. It is unnecessary to speak here of 

 the reputation which has been obtained by one firm in particular, 

 viz. the Belleek Company, whose goods have established themselves 

 so well on the Continental and American markets. Suffice it to 

 say that a large percentage of their output of the finer descrip- 

 tions of pottery is bought up for the markets just referred to. 

 The success of this enterprise, which labours under many disadvan- 

 tages on account of position and other causes, should encourage the 



