September 5. To Drumoland, the seat of Sir Lucius O'Brien, in the county of Clare, a gentleman who had been repeatedly assiduous to procure me every sort of information. I should remark, as I have now left
There is a view of the Shannon from Limerick to Foynes Island, which is thirty miles, with all its bays, bends, islands, and fertile shores. It is from one to three miles broad, a most noble river, deserving regal navies for its ornament, or, what are better, fleets of merchantmen, the cheerful signs of far-extended commerce, instead of a few miserable fishing-boats, the only canvas that swelled upon the scene; but the want of commerce in her ports is the misfortune not the fault of Irelandthanks for the deficiency to that illiberal spirit of trading jealousy, which has at times actuated and disgraced so many nations. The prospect
At the foot of this hill is the castle of Bunratty, a very large edifice, the seat of the O'Briens, princes of Thomond; it stands on the bank of a river, which falls into the Shannon near it. About this castle and that of Rosmanagher the land is the best in the county of Clare; it is worth £1 13s. an acre, and fats a bullock per acre in summer, besides winter feed.
To Limerick, through a cheerful country, on the banks of the river, in a vale surrounded by distant mountains. That city is very finely situated, partly on an island formed by the Shannon. The new part, called Newtown Pery, from Mr. Pery the speaker, who owns a considerable part of the city, and represents it in Parliament, is well built. The houses are new ones, of brick, large, and in right lines. There is a communication with the rest of the town by a handsome bridge of three large arches erected at Mr. Pery's expense. Here are docks, quays, and a custom-house, which is a good building, faces the river, and on the opposite banks is a large quadrangular one, the house of industry. This part of Limerick is very cheerful and agreeable, and carries all the marks of a flourishing place.
The exports of this port are beef, pork, butter, hides, and rape-seed. The imports are rum, sugar, timber,
Whole revenue: 1751 [...] £16,000
Whole revenue: 1775 [...] £51,000
Revenue of the Port of Limerick
Date | Amount in £ |
---|---|
Year ending March 25, 1759 | 20, 494 |
Year ending March 25, 1760 | 29,197 |
Year ending March 25, 1761 | 20,727 |
Year ending March 25, 1762 | 20,650 |
Year ending March 25, 1763 | 20,525 |
Year ending March 25, 1764 | 32,635 |
Year ending March 25, 1765 | 31,099 |
Land sells at twenty years' purchase. Rents were at the highest in 1765; fell since, but in four years have fallen 8s. to 10s. an acre about Limerick. They are at a stand at present, owing to the high price of provisions from pasture. The number of people in
Upon the whole, Limerick must be a very gay place, but when the usual number of troops are in town much more so. To show the general expenses of living, I was told of a person's keeping a carriage, four horses, three men, three maids, a good table, a wife, three children, and a nurse, and all for £500 a year:
Servant | Cost from £ s. d. | To £ s. d. |
---|---|---|
A footman | 4 4 0 | 6 6 0 |
A professed woman-cook | 6 6 0 | |
A house-maid | 3 0 0 | |
A kitchen-maid | 2 0 0 | |
A butler | 10 0 0 | 12 0 0 |
A barrel of beef or pork, 200 lb. weight. Vessels of 400 tons can come up with spring tides, which rise fourteen feet.