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IRELAND. 393 wlio brought over twenty-four girls as teachers, and commenced manufacturing at a place in Limerick called Mount Kennet. His goods were made entirely for one house in St. Paul’s Churchyard, until that house became bankrupt in 1843 ; after which a traveller was 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 be made, not only for herself, but also for her majesty the Queen of the Belgians and the Grand Duchess of Laden. In 1855, the number of workers employed amounted to 1500 ; at the present time there are not above 500. The existing depression of the trade has been partly caused by the emigration of girls to America and the colonies, while glove-making and army clothing employ the rest; and indeed the manufacture, aiming only at cheapness, had produced a lace of inferior quality, without either novelty or beauty of design ; from which cause Limerick lace has fallen into disrepute. In the year of the great famine, 1846, when thousands of children were left orphans in the hands of the landed proprietors, the Irish ladies at once bethought themselves by what occupation they could be made to gain their livelihood. Lady de Vere was the first to teach the mistress of a school on her own demesne at Curragh, Co. Limerick, the art of making application flowers, giving her own Brussels lace as patterns. The work was so good as soon to command a high price, and the late Queen of the Belgians actually purchased a dress of it at Hard ing’s, and took it back with her to Brussels. The manufacture is known 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, in 1851, beautiful imitations of the old Spanish and Italian points ; among others, a specimen of the fine raised Venetian point, like Coloured Plate III. (p. 44), which can scarcely be distinguished from the original. It is now in the South Kensington Museum. in Essex, working for the London whole- genuity and industry ill rewarded. In sale trade. He removed next to Limerick, some work (we have lost the reference), where he continued till 1841, when he it is stated that “Coggeshall, in Essex, sold the business; but his successor be- made a tambour lace, a sort of medium coining bankrupt, he never received the between lace and embroidery.” Could purchase money, and died 1842, his in- this be Walker's manufacture ?