Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

DUB
seed, &c., were brought back; but the bounty on the ex-
port of linen having been withdrawn, the trade between
the United States and Dublin has greatly diminished.
The export of linen and import of flax-seed is now chiefly-
confined to Belfast and other northern ports. The Ame-
rican tobacco which is either sold or consumed in Dub-
lin is brought from Liverpool. With British Ame-
rica the trade is very great in timber, as a return
cargo of vessels sailing thither from Dublin with emi-
grants. With Newfoundland there is no direct trade;
the cod and seal oil consumed are imported from Liver-
pool or brought by canal from Waterford, which has
a direct trade with Newfoundland; dried codfish and
ling being much used in the southern counties, but not
in the northern or midland. With China there are three
vessels owned in Dublin, besides others engaged in the
tea trade; the number of chests directly imported is,
therefore, considerable. With South America there is
no direct trade, the Dublin tanners being abundantly
supplied with native hides, and any foreign hides re-
quired being brought from Liverpool, whence also is im-
ported the cotton wool consumed in the Dublin facto-
ries. With Turkey the trade is confined to the impor-
tation from Smyrna of valonia, figs, raisins, and small
quantities of other articles; madder-roots and emery-
stone being always transhipped for Liverpool. With
Leghorn there is a considerable trade for cork-tree bark,
and small quantities of hemp in bales, oil, marble, &c,
are also imported, but very little communication is
kept up with Trieste or other Italian ports. With Sicily
the trade is in shumac and brimstone; the latter article
in considerable quantities for the consumption of vitriol
and ether chymical works.
The markets are under the superintendence of a
jury; the sheriffs being required, under the 73rd sec.
of the 13th and 14th of Geo. III., cap. 22, to summon
48 of the most respectable citizens, of whom 24 are
sworn in at the general quarter sessions, and any three
are empowered to visit and examine the commodities,
and report to the lord mayor, who is authorised to con-
demn the provisions, and impose a fine to the extent of
£10. The principal wholesale market is in Smithfield,
a narrow oblong area in the north-eastern part of the
city, the site of which is the property of the corporation,
as part of their manor of Oxmantown: the market days
for the sale of black cattle and sheep are Monday
and Thursday, and for hay and straw, Tuesday and
Saturday. There is also a considerable market for hay,
straw, potatoes, butter, fowls, and eggs, in Kevin-street,
over which, though it is within the liberty of St. Sepul-
chre, and is alleged to be exempt from the corporate
jurisdiction, the officers being appointed by the arch-
bishop, the lord mayor claims a right of superin-
tendence, and the weights and measures used there are
sanctioned by his authority. The great market for the
sale of potatoes is on the north side of the river, in
Petticoat-lane; a small portion of the present site is
corporate property, and was the ancient potatoe market
of the city; it is now rented from the corporation by
two persons, who are joint weighmasters and clerks of
the market, tinder the lord mayor; the market is com-
modious, and the avenues to it convenient. The whole-
sale fish market is held in an enclosed yard in Boot-
lane: there is also a wholesale fruit market in the Little
Green, and one for eggs and fowls contiguous thereto in
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Halton-street. There are ten retail markets for butchers’
meat, poultry, vegetables, and fish; namely, Northumber-
land market on Eden Quay, which is kept with peculiar
neatness; Meath market, in the Earl of Meath’s liberty;
Ormond market, on Ormond quay; Castle market,
between South Great-George’s-street and William-street;
Patrick’s market, in Patrick-street; City-market, in
Blackhall-row; Clarendon market, in William-street;
Fleet-market, in Townsend-street; Rotundo, or Norfolk-
market, in Great-Britain-street; and Leinster-market,
in D’Olier-street. The want of well regulated slaughter-
houses, in situations which would prevent offensive ex-
posure, is severely felt.
Fairs.—A fair is annually held at Donnybrook, about
two miles from the city, but within the limits of the
jurisdiction of the corporation, under several charters:
the first, granted in the 16th of John, authorises its
continuance for sixteen days, though of late years it
has been limited to a week or eight days: it commences
on Aug. 26th. The number of cattle sold is inconsider-
able, as it is frequented more for purposes of amusement
and conviviality than of business. The corporation
have little interest in it, excepting the preservation of
order; it yields the proprietor of the ground about
£400 per annum. A fair is held in James’-street on
St. James’s day (July 25th), chiefly for pedlery. The
fairs of Rathfarnham and Palmerstown, though beyond
the limits of the corporate jurisdiction, are within that
of the city police.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS CONNECTED WITH COMMERCE.
The Royal Exchange is situated on the ascent of
Cork hill, near the principal entrance to the Castle, and
also nearly opposite to Parliament-street. The building
was completed in 1779, at the expense of £40,000, raised
partly by parliamentary grants, partly by subscriptions,
and partly by lotteries. It forms a square of 100 feet,
presenting three fronts, the fourth side being concealed
by the adjoining buildings of the castle. The ground plan
of the interior represents a circle within a square. The
circle is formed by twelve fluted columns of the com-
posite order, forming a rotundo in the centre of the
building; above their entablature is an attic, ten feet
high, having a circular window corresponding with each
of the subjacent intercolumniations, and above the attic
rises a hemispherical dome of very chaste proportions,
crowned by a large circular light, which, together with
the zone of windows immediately underneath, throws
an ample volume of light into the body of the build-
ing. At the eastern and western ends of the north
front are geometrical staircases leading to the coffee-
room and other apartments now employed as courts
for the Bankrupt Commission, meeting-rooms for the
trustees, and accommodations for inferior officers. In
the lower hall is a fine marble statue of the late
Henry Grattan, and on the staircase leading to the
coffee-room another of Dr. Lucas, who preceded Grattan
in the career of patriotism. The increase of commercial
business since the erection of this building having re-
quired additional accommodation in a situation more
convenient for mercantile transactions, the Exchange
has been gradually deserted and the meetings held
there transferred to the Commercial Buildings in
College-green. The Commercial Buildings form a plain
but substantial square of three stories, constituting the