The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-08-06 00:00:00

AN IRISH WELCOME HOME

On the evening of the day of our arrival, while a party of
us were seated after dinner, enjoying ourselves at the hospi-
table board of the worthy commander of the Erin, we wit-
nessed one of those popular demonstrations in behalf of a
respected object which are rarely to be met with in any
country but Ireland, where the feelings of the people, always
enthusiastic, acknowledge no cold and apathetic medium.
All at once, and without any previous warning or intimation
of what was coming, loud and increasing shouts, as of a
party in the heat of a contested election, were heard ap-
proaching, and in a few moments, an immense crowd of men,
women, and childen, headed by several men carrying a burn-
ing tarrel, the smoke of which spread in every direction,
filled the street, and took up their station opposite the house,
many of the men were armed with stout shilelahs, or pieces
of wood. A circle was formed round the " beacon light,"
the flames of which now ascended to 'a considerable height,
and shouts were sent up from new and old, with vehement
expressions so commingled as to defy even a professor of
" the unknown tongues" to define their import,—while
fiddles, bagpipes, and horns were simultaneously put into
requisition,—the whole forming (to the eye and ear of a
stranger) an assemblage of so questionable and threatening
a nature, that had an initiated English policeman beheld it,
he would probably, in the first impulse, have knocked his
stick on the flags for assistance, to quell the gathering
riot, and sprung his rattle for the fire engines, in appre-
hension of adestructive conflagration! The ladies who had
been delighting us with their gentle presence, retired to an
upper room, as some of us at first supposed, in alarm. A
few moments' observation, however, of the animated and
cheerful visages of those without, convinced us that they
came with no hostile intent, but that, on the contrary the
purpose of their uproarious visit was to give mille fealtas, or
" a thousand welcomes" home to our highly-esteemed and
respected host, after the perils of his voyage. They had left
two blazing tar barrels on the quay, opposite the ship, when
" the procession" started, by way, (if I may so use the ex-
pression,) of a feu-de-joie. Anon, the shouts were .partly
suspended, and three or four fiddlers, with a mixture of bag-
pipes and bugle horns, of each about an equal number—to
make up the harmonic recipe—struck up a medley of reels,
and gigs, and dancers, male and female, amongst who'll se-
veral stout young sailors, and others in blue jackets and
Scotch bonnets, and pretty Limerick lasses, neatly attired,
and with caps and shawls, were the most active. They
footed it with considerable grace and agility, particularly the
girls. The jolly good nature depicted in the swarthy coun-
tenances of the men, and the not less joyous, but more
bashful smiles of the females, together with the occasional
Irish shrug and kick up of the heels of the former, at the
end of each reel, by way of emphatic finale, was quite ex-
hilirating. The natural anxiety of young and old, who were
spectators, to see the dancers, (when they stood ready to re-
lieve) gradually constructed the ground of action ; and the
dresses of the figurantes were frequently in danger of being
ignited by the flames that now burst out from the lower part
of the barrel, that served at once as the ball-room fire and
the chandelier. This inconvenience was, however, re-
medied from time to time, by those with sticks, and more
particularly by a man with a broad Milesian counte-
nance, the very picture of hilarity and good humour,
who seizing a broken oar that had been employed in
bearing the tar barrel to its still, whirled it about with
the velocity of the wings of a windmill let loose in a
gale, and without inflicting a blow that we could see,
causing a general fall back, so that the reelcrs had again
" ample room and verge enough." The rout was kept up
with great spirit and perseverance until some time after
dark, when the exhaustion of the conbustibles, as well as of
the dancers, gave intimation that it was time to retire. My
first impression was, that a portion at least of the enthusiasm
displayed was inspired by potations of the ardent beverage of
the country ; but in this I was undeceived. There were few
among them who were not disciples of " Father Mathew,"
who bad visited this part of the country, and succeeded in
redeeming vast numbers of the population to total abstinence.
The few who were still addicted to strong drinks made no de.
eieiviePetlt
ensuand for allowance, and were quite contented with a small
l'oeretnwattitnweisisoesde akninldri,sh
to drink the health of our worthy entertainer. I had
d te
upright,we leom ea
n;
dand
manly( confess)con
Suring a long Shannon, obtained of years, while he has navigated the
countrymen (itind for him a reception amongst his humbler
won from others) ependentlyl of the .golden opinions he has
o which a hero might be proud.
which may be styled term estßeri„CK'
situated on the south-eastwbal-W' metropolis of Ireland, is
of the Shannon, about 71

,ea; and

route from

Dublin to Killarney, a brief notice of its principal featur

maybe acceptable to tourists who may choose to peruse
these hasty sketches.
The city is of great antiquity, having long been the capital
of the kings of Limerick, the last of whom, Donnell
O'Brien, died in 1194. It then fell into the hands of the
English, and though again taken from them in 1198, it was
shortly after recovered, and after some vicissitudes finally
fortified by King John, who erected the pile, still known,
though in ruins, as " King John's Castle," otherwise
" Limerick Castle." The town, like others in Ireland of -
any considerable magnitude, is divided into " English Town"
and " Irish Town ;" and there are also two suburban divi-
sions of more modern date, known as Newtown Pery and
Garry Owen. The English Town, (which contains the most
amount of the public buildings,) stands on the south portion
of the " King's Island," which is formed by a division of the
Shannon into two branches, half a mile above the town, and
the re-union of those branches below, the smaller of which
on the east is called •Salmon Wear River, or by some Abbey
River. There is also a rural suburb of considerable extent
and population on the Clare side-of the Shannon. The Irish
town is for the most part of modern structure, and contains
many handsome streets, together with several new squares,
crescents, and public buildings; and the principal thorough-
fares present an air of liveliness, wealth, and prosperity,
which forms a striking contrast with the more ancient por-
tions of the city which is confined, dingy, and dirty,—the
abodes generally of poverty and wretchedness. Like most
large Irish places, Limerick exhibits to a considerable extent
the extremes of splendour and destitution, yet it is rapidly
progressing in improvement; and were the navigation of the
Shannon facilitated to a degree commensurate with its capa-
bilities, it would soon become one of the finest and most
thriving cities in the kingdom.
George's-street, (continuous with Patrick-street,) in the
Irish Town, and the streets running parallel to, and at right
angles with it, from the quays eastward, are inferior to few
of the best of those in our English towns. The houses are
of commanding elevation, of neat brick- work or stone ; and
the shops, inns, newsrooms, &c., are all well supplied, large
and elegant. The town has been much benefitted by the
enterprise of the Limerick merchants and manufacturers;
the former engaged chiefly in the corn and provision trade
with London ; the latter celebrated for a superior and beau-
tiful manufacture of lace. Another staple is fishing hooks,
considered the best in the world, both in form and temper.
At the extensive curing establishment of Mr. Russel, there
are annually salted about 50,000 pigs, and 2000 head of cattle.
There are three great manufacturies, who give employment
to 1709 females. • The town until of late was also celebrated
for its manufacture of gloves, of so fine a quality of leather
and workmanship that a pair could frequently be packed in
a walnut shell; but this branch of industry has wofully de-
-1 clined, and the trade has been principally taken up in Cork.
I Nevertheless, the trade in corn, and provisions generally,
• and the manufactures noticed, as well as others of minor ac-
count, give employment to thousands, and have tended in a
gratifying degree to promote indistrious and domestic habits
amongst the poorer classes.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The most remarkable of the ancient edifices, in the eyes
of strangers, is " King John's Castle," (before adverted to)
close to the eastern entrance of Thomond Bridge. The old
bridge has recently given way to a new one, a fine lime-stone
structure, of more modern style than its predecessor. It
consists of five fine arches. The Castle, built by King John,
in 1210, is now a venerable ruin, little more remaining than
portions of the outward walls, and three dilapidated round
towers. By ascending, by means of a crazy ladder, and
afterwards scrambling up broken portions of the walls, which
are'overgrown with tufts of slippery grass and weeds, I reached
the summit of the highest tower, whence the Shannon and
the Clare mountains, including Cratloe woods, present a de-
lightful and extensive landscape. The tower appears to be
from 20 to 24 feet in diameter, and the walls at the top 3
paces in thickness. Our forefathers liked to do things sub-
stantially, but neglect, and the merciless hand of time, has
defied even their strong efforts at perpetuation.
I was afterwards politely shown by the Barrack-master
(for there is a barrack within the walls) to the top of a lower
tower, the base of which is washed by the river. The upper
floor or platform of this tower is still perfect, being flagged
and supported by stone arch-work below, in the form of an
inverted bowl. It is railed round and covered with grass and
flowers, saving with a few posts, and a rude railing round it,
for the drying of clothes. The roar of waters of the Shannon
through the bridge, and over a mill dam near it, here falls
upon the ear with a refreshinz, but melancholy sound, and
preposesses the spectator's mind for a calmer contemplation
of the objects of interest around him.
The cathedral near by, is a heavy gothic structure, rather
disfigured by irregularly-sized lateral windows. The square
tower is of great height, and terminates in four square tur-
rets—one at each corner. The visitor who ascends it obtains
the highest elevation the city affords ; and the view for many
miles round is proportionably extensive and magnificeat,—
embracing the whole of the great plain on the margin of
which stands the city, windings far and near of the mighty
Shannon, and its verdant and finely wooded banks.
Further northward is St. Munchin's Church, a handsome
gothic edifice, recently rebuilt, with a tower. Seen from the
river below, rising over the adjacent buildings, this is a pro-
minent and pleasing object.
Wellesley Bridge, below Thomond Bridge, is the finest
of ;the kind belonging to the city. It is an elegant specimen
of bridge architecture, of fine-hewn lime-stone, with five de-
pressed or segmental arches of great span, surmounted by
a handsome balustrade.
The County Court-house is a neat, modern, stone building,
on Merchants'-quay, with a colonnade of ionic columns in
front ; near it is the City Gaol.
In the Irish Town there are several fine, modern buildings.
In the centre of the New Square, which is well laid out as a
pleasure-ground, is a handsome, Doric, fluted column, sur-
mounted by a statue. This was erected by the citizens as a
testimonial of gratitude and respect to the Right Hon. T.
Spring Rice, Esq., (now Lord Monteagle,) for his services
to the town. The noble lord has since, however, fallen.
some how or other, into bad odour with the inhabitants ge-
nerally, and the monument is not regarded with any high
feelings of respect.
In the environs, on the Cork Road, are the County Hos-
pital and the District Lunatic Asylum, both noble and ex-
tensive institutions, well worthy of inspection. Here too, is
the County Gaol built in the usual form, the buildings ra-
diating from the keeper's house, with a view to a better sur-
veillance. _ _

Barringtons' Hospital, or City Infirmary, erected and
founded by Sir Joseph Barrington and his three sons, in
1829, for the relief of the poor of their native city, is also a
fine institution ; but, though it is the only city infirmary, it
is inadequately supported.
The Mont-de-Pike, or Charitable Pawn-office, is one of
the most interesting institutions in the city. It was erected
under the auspices of Matthew Barrington, Esq., one of the
builders of the hospital just noticed, and with the double
view of better maintaining that establishment, and benefit-
ting the needy. This handsome building' is of stone, with a
collonade in front, and a circular centre-piece with windows
round it, and surmounted by a cupola. In common with
similarly-named establishments in France, its principal ob-
ject is to relieve the temporary wants of the poor by advanc-
ing money on pledges, at a lower rate than is charged by the
pawnbrokers ; the profits, after paying the interest of the
capital and expenses, to be devoted to the use of the persons
from whom they are derived. No charge is here made for
tickets, and this, together with the reduction of the interest,
effects our immense savings annually to the necessitous of
the city. In the item of tickets alone the sum of £2431 was
saved in four years ! The immediate destination of the pro-
fits of this particular establishment is the support of Bar-
rington's Hospital, and its funds are in a flourishing condi-
tion. From the example here furnished by the philanthropic
Barrington, similar institutions have been established in
many of the larger towns in Ireland, and others are in con-
templation.
(The neighbourhood of Limerick and the Shannon in
our next.)

SKERRIES LIGHTHOUSE

SHERIFF'S COURT, BEAUMARIS-IMPORTANT ADJUDI-

CATION

A precept having been issued to the high sheriff of An-
glesey, Richard Trygarn Griffith, Esq., a court of inquiry was
opened at the Shirehall, Beaumaris, on the morning of
Monday week, the 26th inst., before the said sheriff, and
Mr. Earle, barrister, as assessor. in order to adjudicate be-
tween the owners of the Skerries Rock and Lighthouse, and
the Trinity Board, by deciding what sum of money would be
a fair and equitable remuneration for the compulsory sale
and transfer of the said lighthouse and its tolls, pursuant to
a recent act of the legislature, authorising and empowering
the board to purchase and take into its own keeping and
government the various lighthouses on the shores of the
united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The inquiry was one of considerable importance, involving
property to the amount of several hundred thousand pounds.
For the claimants (the owners of the lighthouse as de-
scendants and residuary legatees of the late Morgan Jones,
Esq.), the Attorney-General Sir Thomas Vv-ylde, Mr. Fitz-
roy Kelly, Mr. Jervis, and Mr. Vaughan Williams, were
retained as counsel; and for the Trinity Board appeared Sir
Frederick Pollock, Sir William Follett, Mr. Cresswell, and
Mr. Frederick Roby.

The precept having been read, and a special jury sworn,
The Attorney-General addressed the jury at great length
on behalf of the owners, and produced witnesses to show
that the property had been steadi:y increasing in value from
1828, in which year the income derived from the tolls was
£ll,BlO, to 1840, when the net income was £20,226 Ils. 5d.,
and contended that such a property was entitled to be esti-
mated at thirty years' purchase, at the net income of last
year. Sir Frederick Pollock, on behalf of the Trinity
Board, proved that, some years since the erection of the
lighthouse, there had been a falling-off in the income, in
consequence of a non. intercourse between this country and
Berlin,and argued that, as the pathway of commerce was
not so fixed and permanent as to,create a sure dependency
on the perpetuity of this source of income, twenty years pur-
chase would be an ample remuneration, taking the average
income of a large number of years. The learned assessor
briefly put the case before the jury, who, in less than an
hour, returned a verdict for the claimants—value £44-1,984
1 ls. 2d., being the amount of the last year's income,
£20,226 lls. sd. at twenty-two years' purchase.