great value of such line of communication, and the great profits to be made, are taken into account. In addition to these two great national undertak ings, which intersect so much of the county, Providence has been kind in its distribution of the navi gable river Barrow; this takes its rise in the hills near Mountmellick in the Queen's county, and, after an extended circuit, is met by the Grand canal at Monasterevan, where it assumes a navigable shape, and has been used in conveying goods up and down river from thence through Athy in Kildare county, Carlow, Leighlin-bridge, Moneybeg, Gore's-bridge, Borris, Graiguenemana, and to the tide water at Ross, a distance of upwards of forty miles, through the most highly cultivated, planted, and improved countries of Ireland. Several obstructions were of course in such an extent of natural river navigation; notwithstanding which, boats of from five to ten tons struggled through, and carried goods at low prices. The improvement of the river navigation has been for some time in progress; its total rise from St. Mullins to the bridge of Athy, one hundred and seventy-one feet, nine inches. Mr. Chapman, an engineer employed, estimated that, with using part river, the navigation can be completed with nineteen new locks, and eight old ones, for less than 45,000l. According According to an application to the Irish parlia ment, 62,881/. were expended, and 104,3317. were necessary to complete thirty-four miles and a quarter; and within twelve years, 150,000l. had been expended in building mills. The tolls then Frequent, but unavailing application for information on the state of works, &c. which was wished, as a subject greatly connected with this Report, has been made. Mr. Jessop, the celebrated engineer, viewed the works along the whole line; by his report, if the public has but sufficient confidence in it, nothing of river navigation, yet attempted, promises such perfection. Upwards of 40,000l. has been advanced by the navigation-board, on an engagement to complete, in a given time, a five feet navigation; the manner proposed to execute it is, "to prop up the river, so as to throw that depth over all sharps." Unscientific people wonder at hearing this, and think no no banks, that can be erected, will support the raising up such an immense body of water, particularly when increased ten-fold in time of flood; but their doubts will vanish when the works are completed, as Mr. Jessop has promised; indeed it appears, that the quantity of land to be purchased to make these great embankments, if added to back drain, would give still water by the side of every sharp, and, if any of these embankments should accidentally burst, the water, which would rush out of the opening, could not return to the river speedily, being prevented by the rest of the embankment, and might do considerable mischief, all of which should be reimbursed by the company. I trust these hints, which are well intended, if not acted upon, will not be taken amiss. SECT. 6. Fisheries. THERE are none in the county. The Greece and Ler, between Carlow and Athy, and all the other small rivers, swarm with the most excellent trout. The Barrow, when in its natural state, gave a great supply of salmon, twenty and thirty being frequently caught at the bridge of Athy; and all the spring season, when meat was scarce and dear, salmon could then be had for three halfpence and two The two pence the pound. Some years since, Mr. Mercer erected a bolting-mill, two miles below Leighlin-bridge, and made a stupendous weir across the river, which prevented the passage of salmon, except in very high floods; the number of locks and weirs erected for the Barrow navigation, &c. &c. have completely shut the passage of all salmon. legislature, by many protecting acts, has forbidden the raising any obstruction to the fish passing or repassing to and from spawning; well knowing that, if they cannot get up fresh water rivers and small brooks, they cannot breed; in no instance is the gap, prescribed by law, left open in any weir, or even the smallest passage, by which the fish can pass. If every river in the kingdom was equally closed. with the Barrow, a salmon in a few years would not be found on the Irish coast. In the twenty-third and twenty-fourth of George III., made for the express purpose of protecting salmon and other fisheries, it is enacted that, "A "King's share, or space of twenty-one feet, shall be "left open in every river for the free passage of "fish, in order to increase the species: and whereas "there are persons, who form a great chain of "obstructions across rivers, thereby stopping the progress of salmon and other fish to those fisheries, which lie above them; be it therefore enacted, by "the authority aforesaid, that no person or persons "shall "shall form any such obstructions across any such "rivers, but shall leave a free passage, or King's "share, of at least twenty-one feet clear in the "deepest part, under the penalty of 201. for every "time he, she, or they, shall be guilty of such "offence." SECT. 7. State of Education, Schools, and Charitable Institutions. Ar Monasterevan there is an extensive provincial nursery for orphans, where they are carefully clothed, fed, and educated: a diocesan school at Naas is exceedingly well conducted, under the care of the Rev. J. J. Harrison: at Calverstown, Castledermot, &c. &c. are charter-schools. The most extensive public institution is a college at Maynooth, for the education of Roman Catholics; here they are prepared for the clerical functions. The buildings and entire establishment are extending rapidly every year, supported and cherished by the enlightened and benevolent dispositions of the executive power, which, with true philantropy, extends its sheltering, chearing influence to all Christians. In Athy is a good classical school, and two boarding schools for females; there, and all over the county, are numbers of schools, where the lower orders have their children instructed 0 2 1 |