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resisting the rapid progress of liberality. A statement had been just made in the House of Commons which showed that in Ulster there were only fiveeighths of the whole population, or 1,250,000 Protestants-in Leinster, onefifth; in Munster, one-twelfth; in Connaught, one in twenty-five; in all, 1,840,000 Protestants to six millions of Catholics. The question of Emancipation was simply one of time. A return was published of the resident and non-resident Protestant clergy throughout Ireland; and from this return it appeared that, while there was a very large proportion of non-resident clergymen elsewhere, the diocese of Limerick showed a larger aggregate in this respect than any other, there being no less than 47 non-resident clergymen to 95 benefices. By another return it also appeared that the estates of the Protestant Bishop of Limerick consisted of 6,720 acres, and the reserved rent £2,102 18s. 11d., and the customary renewal fines an equal profit. The total amount of acres in Ireland owned by Archbishops and Bishops (Protestant) 427,365 acres.

One of those trials of deep interest between the Corporation and the Independents took place at Cork assizes this year; it was of great importance to Limerick. Denis Lyons, Esq., merchant, represented the plaintiffs-the Chamber of Commerce. A verdict was given for the defendants. The trial occupied three days, and a vast deal of old and new matter was produced, which it was thought would prove to be the forerunner of future litigation. It was alleged that the Corporation was possessed of immense estates. The charters of John, of Edward I., of Henry V., the two charters of Elizabeth, and the charter of James I., were referred to fully. Nothing practical, however, eventuated from the trial for the citizens.

Lord Combermere, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland, arrived in Limerick on the 9th of September, and inspected the troops in garrison on the parade of the New Barracks. Immediately after, his Lordship left Limerick for Rockbarton, the residence of the Chief Baron O'Grady.

These Barracks were built in 1798, and occupy about a square mile. They are capable of containing about 1000 men, including officers' quarters. They are on an elevation to the southwest of the city. In 1845 a district Military Prison was added, which in 1865 contains 87 prisoners, and a staff consisting of chief warder and seven warders and servants. The prison consists of three corridors and fifty-nine cells.

July 27th.-Prospectus of an Irish Provincial Banking Company issued; local committees have been formed in different towns and cities. The following committee formed in Limerick :John M‘Namara, President, and J. N. Russell, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce; Joseph M. Harvey, John Kelly, Martin Creagh, John Hill, Michael Ryan, Ralph Westropp, and William White, directors of the Chamber of Commerce for the current year.

August 20th. The sentinel at the Excise Office door made an attempt to break it open; there were £1200 in an iron safe in the office. The sentinel, whose name was Wm. M'Kenny, a native of Ballyshannon, deserted.

September 13th.-The Assembly House on Charlotte's Quay, having been again fitted up as a theatre, opened this evening with Shakspere's tragedy of King Richard III. The celebrated actor, Kean, played Richard. Kean left Limerick on the morning of the 18th of September, displeased at his reception-he had engaged with Mr. Clarke, the manager, to play twelve successive nights-he only played five nights, and those to almost empty houses. It is supposed his receipts did not cover his expenses. He returned for the races, and fulfilled his engagement, playing alternately tragedy and comedy. Country families attended the plays.

Major Hedges Maunsell built the flour mills at Plassy, within two miles of Limerick-mills probably inferior to none in Ireland. They were afterwards occupied for several years by Mr. Reuben Harvey. Mr. Richard Russell, J.P., rebuilt Plassy House in a superb style in 1863, and has added to the power of the mills considerably.

September 29th.-The coach between Limerick and Tralee commenced running this day. Leaves Limerick at 114, a.m., and arrives at Tralee at 11, p. m. : returns from Tralee at 3, a.m.,

The country continued very much disturbed; and the expense of the old Constabulary was excessive: for the half year, on the county of Limerick, it amounted to £1,846 12s., and the new police for the same time was £1,941 8s. 9d.

The Corporation on the 11th of October this year, let the Lax weir, in Court of D'Oyer Hundred, to a Mr. Thomas Little, at £450 per annum : the weir had been for some years wholly neglected, and abandoned, and had become altogether unproductive of any revenue. A Mr. Kelly had been for some months previously, engaged on the part of the Government in suppressing all private weirs and obstructions, both in the river Shannon and in the small rivers that run into it. From this it was conjectured that the take of salmon would prove to be abundant. Forty years before this time, salmon sold in Limerick for one penny and three halfpence per lb. It is stated that in old apprentices' indentures, masters were bound not to give apprentices salmon more than three times a week for dinner.1

In this year a return to Parliament was made of the number of magistrates in Ireland: 4507 is the total number; 1932, acting and resident; 266, acting though not resident,-187 attached to Limerick.

Manufactures a few years after this time began to appear again in Limerick, which is largely indebted to one firm for sustained and persevering efforts to locate manufactures in the city.2 Messrs. J. N. Russell and Sons, one of

In 1865, the price of salmon early in the season is 3s. and 2s. 6d. per lb., and throughout the season it is seldom below the sum of 1s. 8d. per lb. William Malcomson, Esq. of the firm of Malcomson Brothers, Portlaw, county of Waterford, the tenant of the great Lax weir, sends off enormous quantities each day to the London, Dublin, and other markets in England and elsewhere. The take is fully as large, if it be not larger, than it ever had been. The trade in it realizes a vast revenue. Besides the fishery at the Lax weir, there are several boats employed by Mr. Malcomson in the fishery, and many fishermen who had been on their own account, are at present in the employment of Mr. Malcomson. Ice is used in preserving the fish fresh, and ice houses have been built near the weir, and at the Terminus of the Waterford and Limerick Railway, for the purpose.

The Russells of Limerick (who were once numerous) are an old Protestant family that can clearly be traced to the time of Cromwell, though further trace of them is here lost, it is probable that their progenitors were citizens of Limerick at a period much more remote. The 9th Mayor of Limerick was John Russell, (styled John Russell, alias Creagh), and the 56th Mayor of Limerick was John Russell. Since then several of the name have filled the office of Bailiff and Sheriff. By inscription on front of the Old Exchange it appears it was rebuilt in 1777, Walter Widenham being Mayor, and Francis Russell and Charles Sargent, Sheriffs. This Francis Russell was grandfather to Francis William Russell, the present Representative in Parliament for the City of Limerick, and the last member of the family that filled the office of Sheriff, was his brother, Thompson Russell; Hughes Russell was Sheriff for the city in 1837, and took part as a public officer in the civil and military procession through the streets of Limerick on the occasion of proclaiming Victoria Queen

and reaches Limerick at 2, p.m.-route through Patrick's Well, Adare, Crough, Rathkeale, New Bridge, Foynes, Loughill, Glin, Tarbert, Listowell, and O'Dorney-performing a journey of 50 miles and 3 furlongs in 11 hours.

The expense of the mill house, tread mill, and machinery for scutching flax, at the County of

Limerick Gaol amounts to £806 2s. 5d.

About the commencement of September, the foundation of a new Convent and Chapel for the Franciscan Friars laid in Henry-street.

Nov. 3rd.-John Collins, aged 114 years, died at Manister, in this county.—Limerick Chronicle.

The Limerick Jubilee Loan gave on loans up to the end of this year (1824) £81,563. Bryan Salmon, a shoemaker, died in Mungret-street, aged 104 years. He retained his faculties to the day of his death.

The Catholic rent collected in Limerick from May until the end of December (1824) amounts to £314 17s. 1d.

the oldest, and for many years the largest merchants and manufacturers in the south-west of Ireland, in 1827, for the first time, added flour milling to their previously extensive business. They were the first in the city to see the advantage of steam power applied to manufactures, and in this year fitted up the Newtown Pery mills with steam machinery, much to the surprise and wonder of the people, as no one considered the plan either rational or feasible.' It is idle now to say that the new power did succeed, and as the business grew and enlarged itself under the upright, liberal, and

of Great Britain and Ireland, and the first stone of the new Church of St. John's was laid by John Norris Russell, the year that he filled the office of Sheriff. In former days there was a branch of the Russells in Limerick who were of this family, but the connection was remote, having descended from the brother of one of the progenitors of the present family (Philip Russell, born in 1650). They have long since left Limerick, and are at present represented by the Venerable John Russell, Archdeacon of Clogher, whose sister Elizabeth was married to the late Right Rev. Charles Dickinson, Protestant Lord Bishop of Meath. There have been from time to time, and are at present, several of the name residing in Limerick, unconnected with this family. The burial place of the Russells is St. John's in Limerick, where for many years they used to inter in the interior of the old Church, until such interments were prohibited by Act of Parliament. The last person whose remains were interred in the interior of the old Church, was the widow of a Philip Russell (Miss Fosbery, of Clorane, in the County Limerick). Consequent on her decease having taken place a short time after the passing of this Act, her remains were interred outside the Church in the morning, and at night, with the sanction of the Vicar of the parish, who was a particular friend of the family, they were secretly removed, and placed in the tomb near the remains of her late husband. The tomb was situated near the passage leading from the communion table to the vestry room in the old Church, on the site of which the new one has been raised.

There are now three vaults in the burial ground outside the Church, belonging to different branches of the family, one of which has lately become extinct by the decease of Francis Philip Russell, of St. Thomas's Island. Over the organ loft, in the new church, is a handsome wheel window with richly stained glass, in the centre of which are the arms of the family.

The name of Russell is identified with the ancient Cathedral of Limerick so far back as the year 1272, Henry Russell being one of the Canons of the Cathedral at that period.

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1 In front of the Newtown Pery store, in Henry Street, built in addition to the mills in 1837, is inserted a stone, which was formerly in front of the old Mayoralty house in Quay Lane, and was purchased by Mr. J. N. Russell, when that building was taken down. On either side of the stone is the date of the erection of the store, 1837; over this stone, cut in relief also, are the Russell arms, with the name underneath

JOHN NORRIS RUSSELL.

In addition to the Newtown Pery Mills, the machinery of which is already-so rapid have been the improvements in steam machinery since its erection-old fashioned and comparatively expensive to work-the Messrs. Russell hold Lock Mills, situate where the canal joins the

prudent course always before and since pursued by the firm, other mills fell from time to time into their hands, until they are now, in 1865, the largest millers in Ireland, if not in Great Britain.

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Abbey River; the large mills at Corbally, just above the last regulating weir on the Shannon; Plassy Mills, farther up the river; Garryowen Mills, a large steam concern; and extensive mills at Askeaton, situate several miles below the city, one of which is also driven by steam. These concerns give large employment to the people, and largely contribute to the commerce of the port, both by imports of grain, coals, etc., and by exports of flour and other commodities. A great portion of this is done by the sailing vessels of the firm, and by the line of steamers which they have largely contributed to maintain. The public benefits at all times resulting from these enterprises, need not be enlarged upon; but the advantage to the community was especially found, during the disastrous years of the famine, when the Messrs. Russell were enabled to provide breadstuffs to an enormous and unprecedented extent for the consumption of the neighbouring unions, then dependent on almost instant supplies to prevent famine taking possession inside the workhouses. At one period, in 1858, it was in contemplation by the guardians to apply for advances from the imperial treasury, in anticipation of the poor rates, for payment of the supplies provided, which their funds were unable to meet. Before the era of steam navigation the English and Scotch trade with the port was carried on by a line of sailing packets, of which Messrs. Russell were large proprietors; but in 1850, when steam vessels became necessary to supersede the liners, they did not hesitate to take a very leading part in establishing the Steam Ship Company. In 1858, when the Company was suffering from the opposition of railway competition, and the general depression of Irish public enterprise, Messrs. Russell took the shares of those whose confidence was shaken, and devoted themselves largely to restore the line. The success of these efforts is seen in the prosperity of the undertaking now, and the river vessels of larger size and power added to the fleet, which now can boast of having as fine vessels of their class as any port of Great Britain or Ireland. In addition to ample accommodation for the general import and export trade of the city, this line is now enabled to provide large supplies of coals, and thus keep a wholesome check on the enormous prices and extreme fluctuations which always existed when the supply of coals was entirely dependent on sailing vessels. In 1851, Messrs. Russell commenced the erection of Lansdowne flax spinning and weaving factories at North Strand, and such was the energy devoted to this entirely new branch of manufacture here by them, that the buildings and machinery of the spinning factory were erected and started in October, 1853, and shortly afterwards the power loom factory was erected, giving further large employment in the manufacture of the yarns into lines. These fine, well proportioned buildings, all built of dressed limestone, are, in a mere architectural sense, an ornament to the city, and the advantages of the steady employment both factories have since given to large numbers, chiefly of the younger portion of the population, otherwise utterly unprovided with well-paid work, are not easily over-estimated. The firm has regularly engaged, in all their various enterprises, about 2,000 people. The founder of the firm, the late Mr. John Norris Russell, died at a ripe old age in 1859, having lived to see his sons successfully carry into operation all the enterprises which he with them had originated. His eldest son, Mr. Francis William Russell, was returned one of the members for the city in 1852, and has since worthily represented it in the House of Commons. The contributions of the firm to the local charities, without distinction of creed or party, have always been in liberal keeping with their other acts.

* Previous to 1817, the only mode of river conveyance between Limerick and Kilrush, was by turf boats. About that period three sailing packets, the Royal George, Lady Frances, and Vandeleur, were established for the conveyance of goods and passengers; and in some years after a steamer, called the Lady of the Shannon, commenced to ply-(she was the property of a Limerick Company)—but having proved a failure in some time after was broken up. Consequent on want of steam power, she was not alone slow in movement, but unable to proceed against the tide when there was a strong head wind.

In 1829 the Dublin Steam Packet Company placed a powerful boat on the station, called the Mona, and have since continued to run steamers between Limerick and Kilrush; a new route is also now opened by the Foynes Railway.

CHAPTER L.

ATHLUNKARD

NEW AND OLD BRIDGES OF LIMERICK.WELLESLEY BRIDGE.
BRIDGE-PARK BRIDGE-BALL'S BRIDGE-THOMOND BRIDGE.-NEW AND
MATHEW BRIDGE.-PROJECTED RAILROADS.-WATERWORKS.BARRINGTON'S

HOSPITAL.—STATISTICS OF TRAVELLING, &c. &c.

WITH the growth of the New Town and the augmentation of trade and commerce, the necessity arose for new bridges to span the Shannon, and docks to protect the shipping frequenting the port. In 1759, a grant was made of £3,500 to the Ball's Bridge Commissioners for enlarging the quay, building a bridge to Mardyke, and clearing the river of rocks from the quay to the pool. In 1765, a further grant of £2,500 to the Ball's Bridge Commissioners was made for continuing the new quays; but the requirements of the port and harbour at the period at which we have arrived were larger and more imperative in this respect; and accordingly, as we have seen in the previous chapter, the Wellesley Bridge Act was passed in 1823; in 1825, the Athlunkard Bridge Act was passed. In the same year, an act was passed for supplying the city and suburbs of Limerick with water. In 1826, an act was passed to make a railroad from the city of Limerick to Carrickon-Suir, in the county of Tipperary-the first project of this kind in the South of Ireland. In 1830, Barrington's Hospital Act was passed; and in the same year was passed an act for rebuilding Ball's Bridge. It was a time of enterprise and action, and several of the projects, though numerous and of great magnitude, were carried out to successful completion, not only with speed, but with skill and science which could not be surpassed, if equalled, in any other city in the British Empire. The preamble of the act for the erection of the Wellesley Bridge-one of the noblest structures in the kingdom-set out the fact of the wealth and importance of the city of Limerick, the extension of its commerce, and the likelihood of the increase of that commerce-the want of a direct communication or passage from the west side of the Liberties, and from the counties of Clare and Galway, except by the one very old and narrow bridge-Thomond Bridge which was "inconveniently remote from the new and trading parts of the city"-the necessity of a canal for the passage of ships and boats above and below the projected bridge-the want of a floating dock for shipping of a sharp form, or copper-bottomed, commonly used in the trade of the Atlantic, which could not now be safely brought to the quays of the city. The act appointed the following commissioners for erecting the bridge, &c. :-viz., the Right Hon. Wm. Vesey Fitzgerald, Sir Edward O'Brien, Bart.; the Hon. Richard Fitzgibbon, Thomas Spring Rice, Bolton Waller, Thomas Fitzgibbon, the elder; Joseph Massey Harvey, Richard Bourke, George Gough the younger; John Kelly, Edward Croker, William Gabbett, Thomas Roche, William Roche, John Vereker, John Mark, William Monsell, the younger, Thomas Gibbon Fitzgibbon, John Brown, John MacNamara, John

The Old Thomond Bridge stood exactly on the site of the present one It was inconveniently narrow, and there was no flagway for foot passengers. It was provided with small chambers or recesses over each of the piers, that people stood in when two vehicles were passing each other, and by their means accidents were prevented.

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