412 THE BRITISH ISLES. 



legitimate l^ing sat down upon this stone, so says the legend, it resounded like the. 

 voice of thunder, but it gave forth no sound for a usui'per : since the introduction 

 of Christianity it luis lost its virtue. But whatever may have been the dignities 

 conferred upon Tara, Dublin, or "Blackvvater," was certainly superior to the 

 little inland burgh as a place of commerce. For over two centuries Danes and 

 Northmen — good judges of maritime positions — disputed its possession with the 

 Irish. The Irish names of two suburbs of the town still recall the sites which in 

 these early days were occupied by " black and white strangers ; " that is, by North- 

 men and Danes. In the beginning of the twelfth century Dublin was finally wrested 

 from the Scandinavians, only to fall soon afterwards into the hands of the English, 

 to whom it has belonged ever since. According to the vicissitudes of politics, 

 Dublin lias known its periods of prosperity and decay. Early in the seventeenth 

 century it was the second town of the British Islands — as populous, with its 300,000 

 inhabitants, as were then lildinburgh and Bristol together. It sustained a great 

 loss in 1800, when a separate Pailiament for Ireland ceased to exist, and sub- 

 sequently it sufiered further injury through the miseiy entailed by the great 

 famine and emigration. These losses, however, have since been more than made 

 good. 



As an industrial city Dublin enjoys some reputation for its poplins — the manu- 

 facture of which was introduced by the French — stout, whiskey, and a variety 

 of other articles. Within the last few years a most active provision trade with 

 England has sprung up. Dublin exports cattle, pigs, and various kinds of 

 agricultural produce, and imports merchandise for its own use and that of a great 

 part of Ireland. Railways converge upon it like the ribs of a fan, besides which 

 it is the terminus of the Grand Canal, which cuts the island in twain, and joins 

 the Irish Sea to Galway Bay. Formerly the roadstead of Dublin, exposed 

 to easterly winds and cumborcd with sand-banks, presented great difficulties to 

 large vessels, and the mouth of the LifTey formed only an inconv^enient port, 

 although docks had been excavated by its side. But the extension of the northern 

 pier has led to the partial disappearance of the obstructive sands, and vessels 

 drawing 23 feet of water can now proceed to the quays of the town. Dublin, 

 like other maritime cities, is indebted to the skill of engineers for two outlying 

 ports. That of Kingstown, on the southern side of Dublin Bay, is conspicuous 

 from afar through the abrupt face presented b}' the hill in its rear, which has 

 furnished the granite for its piers. It is the station for the packet-boats, which 

 twice daily carry mails and passengers to Holyhead. The harbour of Howth, on 

 the northern side of the bay, is frequented only by fishing-boats. Constructed, 

 it is said, to facilitate the exportation of the granite quarried by a great 

 lord, it is almost dry at low water, and, moreover, difficult of access. Dublin, 

 with its outports, takes a prominent place amongst the maritime cities of the 

 British Islands, ranking next to London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, 

 and Hull. 



In shape the city resembles an oval, bisected by the Liffcy, and almost sur- 

 rounded by canals. There are a few fine streets and open squares, equal to any in 



