The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-11-27
SOME IRISH TOWNS
The City of Dublin

eighteenth century Dublin's develop.
ment as a city was markedly progress.
sive, and II the Irish Parliament was
not truly representative body, it did
not fail. as far as lay in its power,
to look after the interests of the citi.
zens. In 1919, the supremacy of the
English Parliament reached its height,
and an act was passed binding ireland
by its DEGREES. Four years afterwards,
the Duchess of Kendall, mistress of
George l., obtained patent for SUP.
plying Ireland with copper coinage.
This concession was disposed of to
William Wood, an ironmaster of Bir-
mingham, who proceeded to mint de.
based money. The Government had
gone too far this time, as popular in.
dignation quickly arose, and the citi.
zens found an able champion in iona.
than Swift. Dean of St. Patrick's, who
launched series of pamphlets against
Wood and his coinage. These pamph-
lets, known as the "Drapier's Letters, /"
caused a considerable stir in official
circles; the printer was arrested, but
the grand jury refused to return him
for trial.
Many beautiful public bindings were
erected In Dublin at this period. The
Old Parliament House, the Royal Ex.
chQnpo tho COokop, uo,,oo o-l A. -
Four Courts. Private residences also
sprung up in many parts of the city.
Charlemont House, Tyrone House,
Powerscourt House, Belvidere House,
Leinster House-to name but few of
the many-attested not less to the
cultured taste than to the opulence of
their owners. The best decorative
artists of Europe found that it was to
their profit to visit Dublin and be re.
warded for their services. The Cor.
poration was completely dominated by
the Aldermen of SINNERS alley, a Sc
lect coterie of gentlemen, whose fla
grant corruption permeated the entire
system of civic government.
The first great scheme of civic i'm.
provement, which completely trans
formed Dublin, began during the years
1885. when Essex bridge was re.
built, and in 1862 the spacious thor.
oughfare of Parliament street was
opened and built. Palace street and
Cork Hill were enlarged about this
time, and by special acts passed by
the Irish Parliament the Corporation
were directed to enlarge and improve
Dame street, Drogheda street (now
OConnell street,, Fleet lane (now
Westmoreland street, and the Barley
Fields (now North Frederick street,.
Irish industries were encouraged by
that section of the aristocracy who did
/ not care for the troubled seas of poll
TICS and in 1871 the Royal Dublin So.
ciety. for the encouragement of Irish
| art, industry and agriculture, was es.
tablished. Hospitals were erected and
a workhouse was built. for the INDECENT
poor. In 1745, Lord Chesterfield was
appointed Viceroy The Catholics
: were granted some freedom of wor
ship, and many churches sprung up in
the city. In 1859. rumor got abroad
that union with the English Parlia
ment was about to be consummated
and the Dublin citizens, reused to fury
at this encroachment on their rights
burst into the Parliament House and
set an old woman on the throne, in
mockery of the Duke of Bedford, the
then Lord Lieutenant. A gallows was
erected to hang one of the chief sup
porters Of the scheme. but he managed
to effect his escape,
The most comprehensive account Of
Dublin during the eighteenth century
would be incomplete if it failed to men
ton the first great Irish civic reform
er-Charles Lucas Born in Glare ir
1913. Lucas at an early age removed
to Dublin. where he studied medicine
and in 1741 was appointed as one O
the Common Council. Deeply resent
ing the bare-faced jobbery of the AL
dermen of Dublin. he published two
pamphlets in 1744. in which he re
viewed the history of the city ant
showed how the Aldermen usurpet
authority, filched property, and recitet
long catalogue of the hardships
wrongs. and insults suffered by tn,
citizens. Four years later he Offered
himself as candidate for the represen
tation of Dublin in the Irish Parlia
ment, and a notable series of addresses
to the free and independent electors
OF Dublin" issued from his pen. HI
was defeated on this occasion, but
nothing daunted, he again sought cleo
ton the following year, and this tim'
his enemies, the Aldermanic junto
succeeded in impeaching him befor,
the House of Commons, who ordere,
his arrest and detention in Newgate
Lucas. however, managed to escape t,
the Isle of Man. and from there h,
journeyed to London After some TIM
the tide of public and Parliamentar!
opinion appears to have turned in Lu
cas- favor. and he returned to Dublil
In March. 1761. when he was received
with every token Of respect and Joy
He was elected to the Irish Parliamen