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232 THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND
APPENDIX, be borne in mind that any landing by an enemy on the
North side of
the harbour.
north bank of the River, was re;i
nearly impossible by
South side of
the harbour.
Its state.
of the shoals of slob or sand extending to a great distance,
and preventing access to the shore ; but had an enemy
been ever able to disembark, they
would have the river
between them and the object of their attack, as the city
then lay althogether on the south side of the river, except
the district called Ostmantown (the
ancient settlement of
the Danes or Ostmen), adjoining St. Michaii's Church and
Smithfield, the latter being long familiarly known under
the corrupted name of Oxmantown-green.
Upon the South side of the river, Ringsend was the chief
landing place at the period of Sir Bernard de Gomme's
design. The river not being yet quayed and deepened, as
it has since been, flowed at low water in streams, winding
in devious courses through a labyrinth of sands, as may be
seen on Sir Bernard's map. l
beside the hotel a magazine of arms.
"
A. house is
3rd August, 1790 :
intended shortly to be built on the
present site of the Pigeon House,
and is to be fitted up for the
accommodation of persons having
occasion to pass and repass between
this city and England." Dublin
Chronicle 3rd August, 1790. A.D.,
1798 : "An unexpected event has
taken place in this city, namely a
cession made by the Corporation
for the Improvement of Dublin
Harbour of their property in the
Pigeon House dock, and newly
constructed hotel, to Government,
for the purpose of a place of arms
aud military port, if not for ever
at least during this present war,"
Gentleman's Magazine, part i.,
p.435. In 1814 the Board received
from Government 100,183 as
purchase-money of the Pigeon
House basin and premises.
Tidal
Harbours Commission Report, vol.
1, p.
39a Mrs. Tunstall's hotel
was thought inconvenient and
unsafe and she was obliged to
retire about thirty years ago.
W. M. G.] In the Dublin Penny
Journal for September, 28th 1832,
is to be found a legend entitled "The
i'idgeori House, a tale of the last
century." It is stated that there
was then living at Ringsend one
who had resided there near a
century, and is vouched as the
author of the story, of which it is
enough for the present to say that
from Ned Pidgeon, living in the
house built "at the pile eml