Dublin, a Historical Sketch (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1799. Excerpt: ... SECTION VI. DUBLIN IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTUIIY. A London bookseller, who had crossed the Atlantic and was generally acquainted with men and things, spent some time in Dublin, about the commencement of the eighteenth century. His name was John Dunton. He has given a pretty full account of Trinity College, as then circumstanced. "It consists," he writes, "of three squares, the outward being as large as both the inner, one of which, of modern building, has not chambers on every side; the other has; on the south side of which stands the library, the whole length of the square. The hall and butteries run the same range with the library, and separates the two inner squares. It is an old building; as is also the regent-house, which from a gallery looks into the chapel, which has been of late years enlarged, being before too little for the number of scholars, who are now, with the fellows, etc., reckoned about three hundred and forty. They have a garden for the fellows, and another for the provost, both neatly kept; as also a bowling-green, and large parks for the students to walk and exercise in. The foundation consists of a provost; seven senior fellows, of whom two are doctors in divinity; eight juniors, to whom one is lately added; and seventy scholars." A new house was then building for the provost, which was to be "very noble and magnificent." The same writer speaks of being shown "the gardens belonging to the college, which were very pleasant and entertaining. Here was a sundial, on which might be seen what o'clock it was in most parts of the world. This dial was placed upon the top of a stone, representing a pile of books. And not far from this was another sun-dial, set in a box, of a very large compass, the gnomon of it being very near as big as a barber'...