CORK, a city of Ireland, and capital of the county of that name. It is an episcopal see; and is the largest and most populous of any in the kingdom, Dublin alone excepted. It is situated on the river Lee, 15 miles from its mouth, and is a place of great trade. Though smaller vessels can come up to the key, yet the larger generally ride at a place called passage. The houses in general are well built, but many of the streets are too narrow. Its churches are unexceptionably the neatest and most elegantly finished of any in the kingdom. This city, together with its liberties, makes a county. It was built, or rather fortified, by the Danes, in the ninth century. The greatest part of it stands on a marshy island surrounded by the river Lee, which also runs through the city, and divides it into several canals. On this account some have thought the air very moist and unwholesome. Complaints have also been made against the water as impure; but, from comparing the bills of mortality with those of other cities, it appears that the city of Cork is far from being unhealthy. This hath been accounted for from the influx of the tide, by which a stagnation of air is prevented. The first charter of Cork was bestowed by Henry III. and afterwards ratified by Edward I. Edward II. and Edward III. Edward IV. granted a new charter; and the city received many favours from the succeeding monarchs. King James I. gave the citizens a new and ample charter; and king Charles I. what is called the Great Charter, by which, among others, a clause in king James's charter was enforced, making this
Cork
Cormandel. this city a county of itself. Though a garrison, it was never a place of much strength, as appeared at the revolution. It was then reduced in a short time by Marlborough; and the troops that were then in it, to the number of 4 or 5000, made prisoners of war. The last royal charter was granted in 1735, by which all the aldermen that had passed the chair were empowered to act as justices of peace. The inhabitants in general are active and industrious; carrying on various manufactures, and a great inland trade, especially for live cattle. But the wealth and grandeur of Cork arises chiefly from its excellent harbour, where almost any number of ships may lie with safety. According to some accounts, in times of peace, 1200 vessels have been known to resort to this harbour in a year. Ships from England, bound to all parts of the West Indies, take in here a great part of their provisions; and on the same account the haven of Cork is visited by those of most other nations. The merchants of Cork carry on a very extensive foreign trade, which is daily increasing. Vast quantities of salt beef are exported from this place. The slaughtering season continues from the month of August to the end of January; during which space it has been computed that they kill seldom fewer than 100,000 head of black cattle. The rest of their exports consist of butter, candles, hides raw and tanned, linen-cloth, pork, calves, lambs, and rabbit-kins, tallow, wool for England, linen and woolen yarn, worsted, &c. Notwithstanding all this, however, the city of Cork is exposed to some inconveniences from its situation, particularly to inundations. It is situated in W. Long. 8. 25. N. Lat. 51. 40.