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mend that in the schools to be founded, there be no distinction on account of religious opinions in managers, instructors, scholars, and that catechisms and books of religious controversy be excluded.

"The following committee, consisting of eleven members, have been appointed, with liberty to add ten others to their number, to take such measures. as they shall deem necessary to forward the object of the Society, any of whom, as also the Right Hon. David La Touche, and Co. treasurers to the society, will receive subscriptions.

"Peter D. La Touche, Bank, Castle Street. John Leland Maquay, Stephen's-green. Samuel Bewley, Meath Street.ge * John Barrington, Great Britain Street. Luke Magrath, Grenville Street.

Arthur Guinness, James's-gate.

Thos. H. Orpen, M. D. South Frederick Street.
Edw. Allen, Upper Bridge Street.roko
W. Todhunter, Holles Street.

Thomas Parnell, 25, Merton-square, North.
W. Thorpe, M. D. Gardiner Street."

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This society for the improvement of agriculture and manufactures, was instituted by the efforts of the patriotic Dr. Samuel Madden in 1731, being the earliest of the kind now existing in Europe.

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CITIES!

The chief city of Ireland is Dublin, the capital, which was probably the Eblana of Ptolemy. Its situation is delightful, being built on the river Liffy. The inhabitants are estimated at nearly 200,000. The circumference of the city, is about 10 miles, being about two and a quarter in length and as much in breadth. The harbour is incommodious being impeded with two banks of sand. There are six bridges, the chief of which is that called Carlisle. The castle was founded about the year 1205; but has been since rebuilt, and is now the town residence of the viceroy, and the sanctuary of the public records. The church of St. Patrick is the cathedral. The other churches are twenty in number. Dublin has an ample supply of native provisions,.but coals are imported from Scotland and Cumberland.-CORK, is the next city that attracts attention. It is situated on the S. E. side of the island and contains about 80,000 inhabitants. The exportation, the largest in the sister island, consists chiefly of beef, pork, hides, tallow and butter. It is the grand market of Irish provisions, and it has been computed that no. less, than 100,000 cattle are here annually killed, and salted, between the months of August and January.-LIMERICK unites the fortunate situation of being almost central to the south of

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Ireland, with an excellent haven formed by the long estuary of the river Shannon. It is accounted the third city in Ireland. There are three bridges over the river, one of which consists of fourteen arches. Inhabitants about 50,000. It has an export of pork, beef, and butter; but its chief trade is in grain, of which larger quantities are sent from this, than from any other port in Ireland

GALWAY is a town of considerable note, and carries on an extensive trade with the West Indies. Inhabitants 12,000.-BELFAST, on the N.E. is the centre of the linen manufactures, and may also be regarded as a Scottish colony. Inhabitants computed at 20,000. Chief manufactures, cotton, cambric, sail-cloth, linen, with glass, sugar, and earthenware. Its chief exports are to the West Indies.-NEWRY is the second of the northern towns. Its butter trade amounts to about 300,0001. annually: and the linens, exported from it in one year, ending January 1803, amounted to 200,0001. The average of the weekly sales in the linen market is estimated at 4,5001. In the south east WEXFORD is remarkable for its woollen manufactures, Inhabitants 9000. —WATERFORD is a city of considerable importance, situated on the river Suire; its population about 35,000. The chief exports are pork, beef, grain and linen. Packet boats sail regularly between Waterford and Milford Haven. Of the interior towns of Ireland KILKENNY and CLONMELL ON

the Suire, are the principal; the former contains

above 16,000 inhabitants.

1

RIVERS.

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The chief river of Ireland is the SHANNON, which rises from the lake of Allen, and extends below Limerick into a vast estuary or frith, about sixty miles in length, and from three to ten in breadth. The whole course of the Shannon may be computed at 170 miles. The other rivers of Ireland, have little of this majestic character. The BARROW rises about forty miles to the west of Dublin, near the source of the Boyne, and after a course of about 100 miles enters the sea on the south east. It has been rendered navigable to Athy, where the grand canal joins it. The SLANEY forms the harbour of Wexford. The LIFFY is an inconsiderable stream. The BOYNE after a a course of about fifty miles also enters the eastern sea. The BANN is a considerable stream in the north, which enters the sea after a course of about 70 miles. The river FOYLE passes by

Londonderry, and has called LOUGH FOYLE. considerable length.

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a considerable estuary The SWILLEY is of in

MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE.

Ireland, according to a themoir by the late Earl of Charlemont, in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, was early distinguished for her manufactures of woollen stuffs. Her woollen trade, however, as has been already seen, in the course of her history, became an object of jealousy to England, and it was crippled in various ways, so that her efforts became directed towards the linen manufacture, in which she has eminently succeeded. The annual produce of this manufacture was computed in the year 1780, at 2,000,000l. sterling. In the year ending January, 1799, the value of Irish linen exported to Great Britain exceeded 2,500,0001. exclusive of that sent to America, and consumed at home; and it has since considerably increased. But a great portion of the commerce of Ireland arises from her abundant stores of black cattle, the moisture of the climate rendering the pasturage remarkably luxuriant. In 1780, Mr. Young computed the average. imports of Ireland at 1,240,6771. and the exports at 2,012,2021. From the annual average taken of the three years preceding the 5th of Jan. 1799, it appeared that the total value of exports from Ireland to Great Britain alone, was 5,612,6891. whilst the value of imports from Great Britain was only 3,555,8451. leaving a balance in favour of Ireland of 2,056,8441.

VOL. II.

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