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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 247
which the Lord High Admiral of England claimed to be APPENDIX.
supreme. This obstacle was removed in 1708, when the
B llnst Board
created by 6th
Ballast Office was created by an Act of the 6th of Queen of Q. Anne,
.
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Anne : for the city had privately promised the Queen's
Consort, Prince George' of Denmark, then Lord High
Admiral of England, an annual tribute " of one hundred
yards of the best Holland duck sail cloth, which shall be
made in the realm of Ireland," although there was no
clause to that effect inserted in the bill ; and this tribute
was for a time regularly sent to London, and on one
occasion when it was omitted it was formally demanded by
the Admiralty, and then forwarded by the Corporation. 1
To the establishment of this Ballast Office in 1708, and
the remodelling of it in 1787, under the name of " The Cor-
poration for Preserving and Improving the Port of Dublin,"
we owe the extraordinary improvement manifested by an
inspection of the map.
It will be observed that the high water mark was " the improvements
Towns-end-street " on the one side, and what yet retains the Board,
name of " the North Strand " on the other ; and a curious
illustration of the state of the harbour is found in the fact
ceeded were unacquainted with ' '24th May, 1708 Acts of As-
their privileges, and have but sembly. Committee of Ballast
lately discovered that the said Office petition the General Aspower
was vested in them. Hali- sembly for liberty to render to the
day's Abstracts of City Assembly Lord High Admiral, Prince George
rolls. Haliday MSS., Royal Irish of Denmark, the Prince Consort,
Academy. according to promise 100 yards of
28th October, 1761 Petition the best Holland duck sailcloth
to Parliament of the Corporation of that should be made in Ireland.
Dublin, stating that from time im- Ordered that it be paid for out of
and deliver-
memorial the harbour of Dublin the Ballast Office fund,
was the petitioners' inheritance : ed at the Admiralty
that Queen Elizabeth, by her City Assembly Roll,
at London,
charter in the 24th year of her Acts of Assembly 17 July,
reign, granted them the Admiralty 1731 The Admiralty demand the
of the ports and harbours from 100 yards. There being no clauje
Ardo to Nannywater, and prayed in the Act ordering it ; Ordered
additional powers. Common's To be furnished and sent regularly
Journals, VII., 22. in future. Ibid,