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 quay, 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 revenues of the see of Cork are derived almost entirely from land. 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 patronage of the see is very considerable.
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 the attack. It contained about 8600 houses, and upwards of 70,000 inhabitants, some years ago; but at present its population is estimated at 90,000. 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 customhouse, a town-hall, several fine hospitals, and various other public structures. The Cork Institution, lately incorporated by charter, is an association of gentlemen for promoting scientific objects. Here public lectures are delivered on chemistry, agriculture, and botany. 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. 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
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. Its manufactures consist of sail cloth, sheeting, paper, glass, leather, coarse cloth, and other minor articles. 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.
CORK Jacket or Waistcoat, is an invention of one Mr Dubourg, a gentleman very fond of swimming, but subject to the cramp, which led him to consider of some method by which he might enjoy his favourite diversion with safety. The waistcoat is composed of four pieces of cork, two for the breasts and two for the back; each pretty near in length and breadth to the quarters of a waistcoat without flaps; the whole is covered with coarse canvas, with two holes to put the arms through; there is a space left between the two back-pieces, and the same betwixt each back and breast-piece, that they may fit the easier to the body. Thus the waistcoat is only open before, and may be fastened on the wearer with strings; or, if it should be thought more secure, with buckles and leather straps. This waistcoat does not weigh above 12 ounces, and may be made up for about five or six shillings expence. Mr Dubourg tried his waistcoat in the Thames, and found that it not only supported him on the water, but that two men could not sink him, though they used their utmost efforts for that purpose. If those who use the sea occasionally, and especially those who are obliged to be almost constantly there, were to have those waistcoats, it would be next to impossible that they should be drowned. It would also be of vast service to those that, for the sake of health, bathe in the sea; and even the most delicate and timorous young lady might by the help of one of these jackets venture into a rough sea. See AIR-Jacket and BAMBOO-Habit.