| The road from Dublin to Limerick is remarkably broad and fine. In proceeding to the Mail Hotel, we passed through several fine streets, and by several quays, lined with elegant brick houses and handsome shops, which have been erected very recently. The bustle of trade was in every quarter, and its prosperity displayed itself in a variety of instances. The most beautiful streets, which comprize a great part of the city called Newton-perry, have been erected within these very few years, are spaciously laid out, and were enlivened by several handsome and well-dressed women. The ancient city consisted of two divisions, the English-town and the Irish-town, connected by a bridge called Baal's-bridge, which crosses an arm of the // Shannon that river greatly adds to the beauty as well as the opulence of the place: both these towns were formerly fortified against each other, or against the common foe. The houses here are lofty and crowded, the streets narrow and dirty, and much resemble those of Rouen in Upper Normandy. The modern part of the city contains an Assembly-room, the principal docks to which vessels of five hundred tons burthen can come up and discharge their cargos, a handsome Customhouse, and a spacious commercial Coffee-house, like that of Dublin, which was not quite finished. The Limerick gloves, so much celebrated, are manufactured here and it was whispered to me that Limerick gloves are manufactured in Dublin also. [pp. 317-318] |
