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. It is a place of great trade, the harbour here being one of the finest in the world. Though smaller vessels can come up to the key, yet the larger generally ride at a place called Passage. 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 city a county of itself. The fee of Cork is reputed worth L. 2700 a-year. The chapter consists of a dean, chanter, chancellor, treasurer, archdeacon, and twelve prebendaries. The church is dedicated to St Barr or Finbarr; and the diocese is divided into five deaneries. There is very little to be found in ancient writers concerning the foundation of the Cathedral of Cork; yet it is generally ascribed to St Barr in the seventh century. Many of its bishops have been great benefactors to it. Through length of time, the church became quite ruinous; but it hath lately been completely rebuilt, and is now an elegant modern structure. To defray the expence, the parliament laid a tax on all coals consumed in the city of Cork. The deanery is reputed to be worth L. 400 a-year.
Cork is much improved and enlarged, several broad streets have been lately added, by filling up the canals that formerly ran through them, and are now built up with elegant houses; the parade is very spacious,
and is adorned with an equestrian statue of king George II. It hath the largest export in the kingdom, particularly of beef, hides, tallow, butter, fish, and other provisions. It is partly situated on several islands, formed by the river Lee, which are banked and quayed in, somewhat like the towns in Holland; and partly on rising grounds, on the north and south sides of the river. The earl of Marlborough besieged and took it from king James's army in 1690; when the duke of Grafton, who served as a volunteer, was slain in an attack. It contains about 8600 houses, and upwards of 70,000 inhabitants. It hath twelve companies of foot quartered in the barracks. Besides a stately cathedral, built from the foundation, between 1725 and 1735, by the produce of a duty upon coals, as above noticed, it is adorned with several handsome parish churches. It has also an elegant exchange for the merchants, a new and beautiful custom-house, a town-hall, several fine hospitals, and various other public structures. The city possesses an annual revenue of about 13000. out of which the mayor enjoys for his salary and the support of his dignity 5000. The wealth and grandeur of Cork arise from its capacious and commodious haven, where almost any number of ships may lie with ease and safety. According to some accounts, when there has been no war, 1200 vessels have resorted hither 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 also of most other nations. The slaughtering season continues from the month of August to the latter end of January; in which space it has been computed, that they kill and cure 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-skins, tallow, wool for England, linen and woollen yarn, and worsted. The merchants of Cork carry on a very extensive trade to almost all parts of the known world; so that their commerce is annually increasing. The produce of the customs some years since exceeded 60,000. and the number of ships that they employ is double to what it was forty years ago. The only thing that seemed to be wanting to the security of the port of Cork was supplied in the earl of Chesterfield's memorable administration, by building a fort on the great island, to command the entrance of the haven. The outlets of Cork are cheerful and pleasant. The country around the city, on both sides of the river, is hilly and picturesque; and the harbour called the Cove, is one of the best in the world; the entrance is safe, and the whole navy of England might ride in it, secure from every wind that blows. Ships of burden, however, are obliged to unload at Passage, five miles and a half from Cork, the channel not admitting vessels of above 150 tons.