Volltext Seite (XML)
392 HISTORY OF LACE. present supported there by Lady Bingham, it was ordered that the sum of 257. be paid into the hands of her Ladyship, to be disposed of in such encouragements as she shall judge will most effectually conduce to the carrying on and improvement of the said manufacture at Castlebar.” The thanks of the society are, at the same time, voted to her ladyship. In consequence of the large quantity fabricated, after the lapse of a few years, the society, in 1773, found themselves compelled to put some bounds to their liberality. No prizes are given for any lace exhibited at less than 1 Is. 4\d. the yard, and that only to those not resident in the city of Dublin, or within five miles of it. Twenty per cent, will be given on the value of the lace, provided it shall not exceed 5007. in value. The society do not, however, withdraw the annual premium of 307. for the products of the “ famishing children ” of the city of Dublin workhouse, 10 always directed by the indefati gable Lady Arabella Denny. 11 From this period we hear no more of the Dublin Society, and its prizes awarded for point, Dresden, Brussels, or bone lace. The manufacture of gold and silver lace having met with considerable success, the Irish parliament, in 1778, gave it their protection by passing an act prohibiting the entry of all such commodities either from England or foreign parts. And now, for fifty years and more, history is silent on the subject of lace-making by the “ famishing children ” of the Emerald Isle. 12 In the year 1829 the manufacture of Limerick lace was first established in Ireland. Lace, in the strictest sense of the word, it cannot be termed; it consists entirely of tambour-work upon what is commonly known as Nottingham net. This fabric was first introduced by one Charles Walker, 13 a native of Oxfordshire, 10 “ Gentleman's and Citizen’s Al manack,” by Samuel Watson, 1773. 11 “The Lady Arabella Denny died 1702, aged 85; she was second daughter of Thos. Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry. The Irish Academy, in acknowledgment of her patriotic exertions, offered a prize of 100 guineas for the best monody on her death. It was gained by John Macaulay,. Esq.”—Dublin Freeman’s Journal, July 20, 1706. 12 Waketiold writes in 1812:—•“ Lace is not manufactured to a large extent in Ireland. I saw some poor children who were taught weaving by the daughters of a clergyman, and Mr. Tighe mentions a school, in Kilkenny, where twelve girls were instructed in the art. At Abbey - lcix there is a lace manufactory, but the quantity made is not of any importance.” —Account of Ireland, Statistical and Po litical, Edw. Wakefield, 1812. 13 Walker was a man of literary and ar tistic tastes, and educated for the Church; but, marrying the daughter of a lace- manufacturer, he set up in that business