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CANALS.

THE Canals in Ireland are not numerous, but have been made on a scale of great magnificence. It is to be regretted, that the trade and manufactures of the kingdom do not as yet offer sufficient encouragement to capitalists to avail themselves of the facilities of the country for the formation of more Canals.

THE GRAND CANAL

Bounds the city of Dublin for three miles on the south and south-east sides. This canal was commenced in 1765, and completed to the Barrow and Shannon harbour in 1806. It extends from Dublin to Robertstown, a distance of twenty miles west, whence proceed two branches, that to the right to Shannon harbour, sixty-three miles from Dublin, from which the Shannon is navigable to Limerick, &c., and that on the left to Athy, whence the Barrow is navigable to New Ross, Waterford, &c. The passage-boats, which are elegantly fitted up, leave Dublin at seven in the morning for Athy and Tullamore, and at two in the afternoon for Shannon harbour; and they arrive every day soon after eleven in the morning from the former, and about eight in the evening from the latter place. The harbour is

at Portobello, where there is an hotel of a very elegant description. The docks near Ringsend, connected with this canal, are of very great dimensions. Vessels are admitted into them through large sea-locks. There are also three graving docks for the repair of shipping.

DUBLIN CANAL.

The Royal Dublin Canal was projected in the year 1789, and is now navigable through the counties of Westmeath and Longford to Tarmonbary, on the river Shannon, a distance of seventy-one miles. This canal serves as a boundary line from the House of Industry, northwest of the city, to its communication with the Liffey on the north-east.

The banks of these canals being in many parts planted with trees on each side, form a very delightful promenade.

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HARBOURS.

SOME of the Harbours of Ireland have been formed in such perfection by nature, as to leave little for human art to effect: but there are other harbours constructed artificially, which are justly the admiration of all who behold them.

HOWTH HARBOUR.

Howth harbour being intended for the reception of other vessels besides the packet-boats sailing between Holyhead and Dublin, in its construction regard was had to that twofold object; first, by making it of a proper size; and secondly, by maintaining in it a proper depth of water. The area, contained within the piers, is not less than fifty-five acres; yet a considerable part of the western side is rocky ground, on which vessels cannot safely anchor. But the remainder affords secure accommodation for shipping, and thus the first point is gained. To attain the second, it was absolutely necessary that the harbour should be large enough to receive, on the flood, a body of clear oceanic water, brought by that tide, sufficient to prevent its being choked up by the deposition of the silt or mud, successively brought down, from the Channel of Baldoyle, by the

ebb-tide, which, on the contrary, chiefly consists of water resembling that of a puddle river, from the vast quantity of alluvial matter that it holds in suspension. The flood, setting in from the S. E. fills this whole area of fiftyfive acres with clear water, which, on the turn of the tide, discharges itself through the narrow entrance between the two piers, with such velocity, as to prevent any of the muddy water from entering the harbour.

DUBLIN HARBOUR.

Before the embanking of the river at the city, and the erection of the north and South walls, the navigation of the Liffey was so exceedingly dangerous, that foreign vessels generally discharged their cargoes in the bay near Dalkey. Two sand-banks, called the North and South-bull, rendered the entrance extremely hazardous, while the uncontrolled spreading of the waters over the low grounds occasioned bars and shoals in different parts. To provide a remedy for these serious evils, the Ballast-office was established in 1707, and from that period works of the greatest utility to the commercial interests of Dublin have been accomplished. In 1748 the south-wall was begun and finished in seven years as far as the Pigeonhouse; it was afterwards extended to the eastern point of the South-bull, and now runs in a straight line into the sea, the astonishing length of 17,754 feet, or nearly three English miles and a half. It is constructed of large blocks of granite strongly cemented, and strengthened with iron cramps. At the extre

mity of this structure stands the Lighthouse, erected by Mr. Smith, in 1762, in spite of the most apalling difficulties. It is an elegant piece of architecture, three stories high, surmounted by an octagonal lantern, which is lighted by oil lamps, aided by reflecting lenses. A stone staircase with an iron balustrade winds round the outside of the building, which terminates in an iron gallery that surrounds it at the upper story. The south-wall and pier effectually secure the harbour against the sands of the South-bull; to the northward, however, it is open to the North-bull; but such measures are now in progress, as, it is to be hoped will completely remedy this evil.

At the Pigeon-house is a basin for packets and other vessels of a similar description, which is 900 feet in length and 450 in breadth. The pier at this place is 250 feet wide, and on it are built a magazine, arsenal, and custom-house. It is a place of great strength, surrounded with heavy cannon, and commands the bay in various directions. Barracks have been erected for a sufficient garrison, and a considerable detachment of artillery is stationed there.

DUNLEARY HARBOUR.

Half-a-mile beyond Monkstown is the village of Dunleary, now become an object of peculiar interest from the Asylum Harbour constructing there. To accomplish this great work, Parliament granted the sum of 505,000l. to be raised by certain duties on shipping, and the first stone was laid by Earl Whitworth, on the 31st of May, 1817.