April, 1788, Mr. Howard described the Galway charter-school as follows:"Twenty-two boys, one an idiot: all had shoes and stockings; but in general they did not look healthy, which might be owing to their late recovery from the measles. Allowance for soap, candles and turf, only 141. a year. No towels. The house in good repair, but wanted white-washing. This is a good situation for a bath."-From this period the establishment gradually declined, and it was finally closed in the year 1798. At that time the house was changed into an artillery barrack. It remained so occupied until 1814, soon after which it was converted into a convent for nuns of the presentation order: and thus, by a curious vicissitude, an edifice, erected a very short period before the commencement of the reign of Geo. III. for the purpose of promoting the Protestant religion in this country, became, before the close of the same reign, the residence of an order whose professed object is the very reverse, viz. that of extending and preserving the Catholic faith in Ireland.

4. Charity School.

This excellent charity was founded, about the year 1790, by the late venerable warden Kirwan, for the education of indigent boys, who are carefully instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, and the principles of religion. It is chiefly supported by annual subscriptions and charity sermons; and the trustees have been latterly enabled to afford daily instruction to one hundred and fifty children, of whom one hundred are annually clothed, and twelve apprenticed to useful trades. The entire is conducted (under the patronage of the R. C. warden and vicars) by a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary, to whose benevolent superintendence the town is indebted for many industrious tradesmen, who have been educated and apprenticed by this institution. "

5. Female Orphan Asylum.

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This charitable asylum was established, a few years ago, by subscription, chiefly through the humane exertions of Mrs. J. Joyce, but under the patronage of the late warden Bodkin. At present one hundred and sixty poor female children receive daily instruction, thirty of whom are dieted, lodged, clothed, and, when duly qualified, apprenticed to trades, or placed in other appropriate situations. This

The original foundation rules of this school were: "That as many boys, from the age of eight to twelve years, as the funds will bear, be admitted, when previously recommended and approved of by the committee; that they are to be supported by their parents, and sent to the school, at appointed hours, washed, cleansed and combed; that they are to be instructed in reading, writing and arithmetic, and supplied with books, pens, ink and paper at the expense of the society: and, as emulation is the great spur to the infant mind, premiums shall be distributed

among the deserving; and such of them as shall pass three years at said school, without breach of moral duties, shall be apprenticed as soon as the funds shall admit; the incorrigible to be expelled."-MS. Rules.

The school is under the care of Mr. Ulick Burke, who is not only what the rules require the master to be, "a sober, moral man,” but also a well-informed, religious individual, whose care of the education and manners of the children entrusted to his charge is entitled to the highest praise.

institution is highly deserving of public support, as it rescues many helpless individuals from ignorance, misery, and, probably, vice, and qualifies them to become, in their humble stations, useful members of society.

6. Charitable Funds and Donations.

William Hedges Eyre, esq. by his last will, bequeathed 401. a year, to be paid out of the produce of the salmon fishery of Galway, towards the support of an alms-house for twelve poor men for ever; but it does not appear that the bequest has been ever fulfilled. Members of this respectable family, have been frequently benefactors of the poor. In August, 1740, the widow, Jane Eyre, purchased from the corporation the sum of 12. annually for ever, "for the use of the Protestant poor of the parish of St. Nicholas ;" and, on the 3d of July, 1754, the same benevolent lady made a similar purchase for the same laudable purpose.' In the year 1791, Mr. Kirwan, a London gentleman, descended from one of the Galway families, vested a considerable sum in trustees, and directed the interest to be divided, on Christmas-eve annually, for ever, among distressed individuals of the Galway names, giving always the preference to his own poor relations. This donation has been judiciously applied to the purchase of an estate near the town, which will shortly produce about 100%. a year, and the distribution of this sum will prove a considerable relief to many respectable, though reduced, families of the town.

7. Mendicants' Workhouse, or General Asylum.

Independently of the native or resident beggars, with whom the town is always plentifully stocked, crowds of miserable mendicants infest the streets at certain periods of the year, but particularly during the summer and bathing seasons. Entire families, driven from their houses by want or disease, pour in from all quarters of the country; and the extreme wretchedness which these poor creatures generally exhibit is truly afflicting. Several measures have been, from time to time, proposed to remedy this evil; and amongst others a workhouse or general asylum has been recommended. That an establishment of this kind would have the effect of clearing the streets for a time is very certain, but is not equally so that it would prevent a recurrence of the evil; for as long as the principal cause, viz. the poverty of the peasantry, continues, so long numbers of mendicant poor may reasonably be expected.'

For the punctual payment of these charities the corporation executed the usual deeds, binding themselves and their successors for ever.-Corp. Book H.

On this point the following important truth is deserving of the most serious consideration:-"The Scotch government, at a time when vice, beggary and

ignorance prevailed to an alarming degree, instead of attempting to palliate the evil by poor-rates and workhouses, made provision for a universal system of education, which having been strictly adhered to, has made them the most moral and intellectual nation in Europe."-Sir T. Bernard.

VII. PUBLIC MARKETS.

1. Corn Market.

Two public markets are held here every week, viz. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The latter is always the best supplied and attended."

The corn market has been held, since 29th September, 1810, at the little green near Meyrick-square, to which place it was at that time removed from Marketstreet. The quantity and quality of the grain annually disposed of will be found in a preceding section, (II. 2.) A suitable market-house is much wanted, the old ruinous stable now used for the purpose being quite inadequate; and as this want is considered injurious to this important branch of business, it is hoped that so indispensible an accommodation may be speedily provided: indeed it appears equally necessary, as well for the credit as for the interest of the

town.

2. Meat Market.

In the year 1802, an extensive meat market was erected near William's-gate," partly on the site of the upper citadel, which was shortly before demolished. A spacious entrance leads from the public street to this market, which is conveniently fitted up with shedded stalls, benches, &c. where butchers' meat of every description is daily exposed for sale. The filthy practice of blowing the meat, when hot, inflating it with the tainted breath of the operator, is becoming less frequent. Beef, mutton, pork, bacon, &c. are plentifully supplied from the adjoining counties, and a peculiarly sweet-flavoured mutton, from the islands of Arran, is frequently to be had. This mutton is small, seldom weighing more than from 10 to 14 lbs. a quarter, but the meat is delicious, full of gravy, and is much sought after by epicures. Lamb, kid and veal, of superior quality, always appear in their proper seasons. The liberties of the town afford an abundant supply of live poultry of all kinds. There is also plenty of game and wild fowl in the season.

3. Fish Market.

Previously to the year 1800, this market was held at the east end of the bridge, a circumstance which proved no inconsiderable annoyance to the public, the passage being frequently impeded, and the smell and filth often insupportable. At length General Meyrick, who then commanded this district, induced some

Two fairs are annually held near the town, viz.: one at the green outside the east gate, on the 31st May, principally for the sale of black-cattle, and the other at Fairhill, about a mile westward of the town, on 4th September, chiefly for horses. For the dates of the patents, vide p. 224, (note.)

"Before this year butchers' meat was exhibited for sale

through the different streets of the town, (but particularly about the lower citadel barrack, which, from that circumstance got the name of the shamble barrack.) Military force became necessary to compel the butchers to abandon the old system, and confine themselves to the new shambles.

of the principal inhabitants to enter into a subscription for the purpose of providing another fish market, and a convenient site on one of the quays, near the river, was chosen, where it was soon after erected. This market contains several sheds, a pump, porter's lodge, &c. and no similar mart in the kingdom is better supplied with fish of every description.-For an enumeration of the different kinds to be had here, the reader is referred to the account of the fishery of the bay already given, section IV. 2.

4. Butter Market.

The small farmers in the vicinity of the town, but particularly those in the west liberties, and for some miles along the sea coast, principally supply the town with milk and butter. The latter is in general sweet and well-flavoured, but that produced on the estate of Barna is peculiarly so, and always commands a good sale in the market. The price averages from eight pence to sixteen pence per pound, which seldom contains less than twenty ounces: indeed in almost every instance it is found to contain considerably more. There can be no doubt but that the butter trade, if properly encouraged, would flourish here. Some exertions are now making on the subject, which it is hoped may prove successful."

5. Vegetable Market.

The town is well supplied with vegetables from the surrounding suburbs. The green gardeners cultivate a considerable quantity of ground, and, by confining themselves exclusively to these pursuits, keep a constant supply of remarkably fine-flavoured fruit and vegetables. To this branch of industry the facility of obtaining seawreck (which forms a manure apparently well adapted for horticultural purposes,) is of considerable advantage.

Potatoes, the most valuable of all the vegetable kingdom to the Irish poor, are always to be had in the market in large quantities. They are generally brought in on cars and in baskets, often from distant parts of the country, and are sold by weight, at an average price of from two pence to two pence halfpenny per stone, of 16 lbs. A large supply also arrives yearly from the counties of Mayo and Clare, by the lake and the sea. A scarcity of this useful vegetable seldom

Over the entrance to the fish market the following inscription appears :-"This fish market was built by subscription, under the patronage of general Meyrick, who. during his residence here, acquired the praise of a grateful people, for his administration of justice and benevolence." The old Poissardes loudly vociferated against this innovation, and refused to bring their fish to the new market until coercion was resorted to. Even still, as if determined to have their own way, they obstinately continue to expose their fish for sale in the street outside the market-gate, to the great annoyance of the passengers. This perverse practice ought to be prevented.

Mr. Dodd, weigh-master and qualifier of butter in this port, has hitherto endeavoured, but without much success, to promote this trade. This gentleman mentions, that the county of Clare produces abundance of excellent butter, which could be brought across the bay to Galway, with more facility and less expense than to any other Irish market. He also states, that the butter produced in the county of Galway, from the favorable nature of the soil, cannot be exceeded in flavour and quality; and that what was shipped from the town last season equalled that of the county of Carlow, which always brings the highest price in the London and Spanish markets

occurs; but when it does happen, it is attended with the most distressing circumstances. The iniquitous practice of regrating or forestalling is not unknown; but during some dear seasons the unfeeling monopolizer has been disappointed, and the wants of the poor have been relieved by seasonable supplies of flour from America. The improvements, however, daily making in agriculture throughout this part of the country renders scarcities of the kind less likely to occur hereafter.

6. Fuel.

Few towns in Ireland are better supplied with this necessary article than Galway. Boats laden with turf arrive daily at the Ship-quay from Connamara, and an immense quantity is annually brought down the lake to the Wood-quay, above the town. Many cargoes of coal are also imported, in consequence of which firing is always tolerably reasonable. Frauds, however, are sometimes committed, by departing from the regular statute turf kish—a practice which cannot be too severely punished, as the poor are in general the sufferers, all who can afford it generally purchasing their turf by the boat-load, which precludes the possibility of their being defrauded. In 1762, the statute kish was sold for nine pence; at present it averages double that sum. There is another useful and pleasant species of fuel very plenty, called bog-deal, being decayed timber raised out of the bogs about the town.

VIII. EDUCATION, LITERARY SOCIETIES, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &c.

The powerful influence of education over the human mind and character renders it necessary, before treating of the manners, customs and natural disposition of the inhabitants of Galway, to ascertain what advantages in that important respect they have hitherto possessed, or at present enjoy.-" Virtue," says the philosophical historian of England, "never flourishes to any degree, nor is founded on steady principles of honor, except where a good education becomes general, and where men are taught the pernicious consequences of vice, treachery and immorality."-The principal seminary for education established at Galway is,

1. Erasmus Smith's Free School.

This is one of the five original grammar schools founded by that adventurer in Ireland. By the charter of Charles II. 1666, it was declared to have been

* This turf is cut along the Connamara shore, and sold on the spot to boats from Arran and the county of Clare, at one shilling and one penny per ton of the boat: it is by them brought round to Galway, where it is generally worth about a guinea per four ton boat-load.-Bog Reports.

The following abstract from the original deed, found ing these schools, may not, it is hoped, be considered

altogether irrelevant; it is dated 1st Dec. 1657; and, after reciting that "most of the sins which in former times have raigned in this nation have proceeded chiefly of lacke of the bringinge up of the youth of this realme either in publique or private schooles, whereby through good discipline they might be principled in literature and good manners, and soc learn to loath these haynous and manifold offences which, when they did come to years,