Chap. VIII.

BRITAIN.

399

mentioned, and constructing a stone sluice in the embankment, of sufficient width to admitvessels within at the high water of spring tides.

j MUCIUN a.

Fig. 3%.

BAY OP DUBLIN.

In the year 1711, when the soundings were taken, there was from 19 to 21 feet water onthe bar at high water; and in the year 1800, Captain Bligh found that little alteration hadtaken place in either the soundings or set of the tides.

Howth .—The ancient name of this small port was Ben-hy-dair, or the Promontory of theOaks, or, as some imagine, of birds; this is connected with the main land by a sandyisthmus, about £ mile in width.

The new harbour is formed on the north side of the peninsula, in the sound, between thepromontory and the island termed Ireland’s Eye. From the northern shore of Howth , onthe one side, and the south-east point of the island on the other, are two ledges of rock,which are £ mile apart.

Between the north west end of the island and the sands of Baldoyle there is a similarpassage, and by these two passages the sound or harbour is entered.

Ireland ’s Eye is distant about a mile towards the north from the shore, and is little morethan a mile in circuit.

In this harbour, a pier has been formed on the ridge projecting from the main land,200 feet in width at the base, and 85 feet at high water mark ; it is 38 feet in height, andruns 1503 feet from the shore, where it forms an obtuse angle with its first direction,and proceeds north-west for the distance of 990 feet, at the extremity of which stands thelighthouse.

On the west has been raised a pier 170 feet wide at the base, and 80 feet broad at highwater mark ; it is 36 feet in height, and runs 2020 feet on the north-east, to meet thereturn of the other, the entrance between being 300 feet in width, and the area inclosed notless than 52 acres.

The inside of the pier is faced with cut granite, and under low water, was built by