IRELAND.

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who brought over twenty-four girls us teachers, and commencedmanufacturing at a place in Limerick called Mount Kennet. Hisgoods were made entirely for one house in St. Paul’s Churchyard,until that house became bankrupt in 1843; after which a travellerwas sent through England, Scotland, and Ireland, to take orders.Her excellency Lady Normandy, wife of the lord-lieutenant,gave great encouragement to the fabric, causing dresses to bemade, not only for herself, but also for her majesty the Queen ofthe Belgians and the Grand Duchess of Haden. In 1855, thenumber of workers employed amounted to 1500; at the presenttime there are not above 500. The existing depression of thetrade has been partly caused by the emigration of girls to Americaand the colonies, while glove-making and army clothing employthe rest; and indeed the manufacture, aiming only at cheapness,had produced a lace of inferior quality, without either novelty orbeauty of dosign; from which cause Limerick lace has fallen intodisrepute.

In the year of the great famine, 1846, when thousands ofchildren were left orphans in the hands of the landed proprietors,the Irish ladies at once bethought themselves by what occupationthey could be made to gain their livelihood.

Lady de Vere was the first to teach the mistress of a schoolon her own demesne at Curragh, Co. Limerick, the art of makingapplication flowers, giving her own Brussels lace as patterns. Thework was so good as soon to command a high price, and the lateQueen of the Belgians actually purchased a dress of it at Hard-ing’s, and took it back with her to Brussels. The manufacture isknown by the name of Irish ” or “ Curragh point.”

Various schools have since been established throughout Ire-land.

'That set up at Belfast by the late Jane Clarke exhibited, in1851, beautiful imitations of the old Spanish and Italian points;among others, a specimen of the fine raised Venetian point, likeColoured Plate III. (p. 44), which can scarcely be distinguishedfrom the original. It is now in the South Kensington Museum.

in Essex, working for the London whole- gonuity and industry ill rewarded. Insalo trade. lie removed next to Limorick, soino work (wo have loot the reference),where ho continued till 1841, when ho it is stated that “Coggesliall, in Essox,Bold tho business; but his successor ho- made a tambour lace, a sort of modiiuncoming bankrupt, ho never received the betwoen loco and embroidery.” Couldpurchase money, and died 1842, his in- this be Walker’s manufacture '/