LIFE PRESERVERS. See PRESERVERS.
LIMERICK, a county in Ireland, in the province of Munster, is bounded by the river Shannon, which separates it from Clare on the north; by Tipperary on the east; on the south by Cork; and on the south-west and west by Kerry. Its greatest extent, from east to west, is about 51 miles, and from north to south 32; and its area is about 1045 English square miles, or 688,800 English acres; which is divided into nine baronies, besides the liberties of the towns of Limerick and Killmalloch, and 126 parishes.
This is, in general, a low lying fertile district, surrounded by high grounds on the south-east, south, and west, from which the country has a gentle declivity towards the Shannon. The mountains on the south-east, called the Galtees, extend into Tipperary; and, on another range, very steep but less elevated, on the west, is the boundary with Kerry. On the banks of the Shannon there is a tract of low grounds, extending to more than 100,000 acres, chiefly alluvial, and of the richest quality. Besides the Shannon, this county is watered by several considerable streams. Of these the largest is the Maig, which has its source in the mountains on the south-east, and flowing through it from south to north, falls into the Shannon below Limerick. The Gale, and the Feale, which pass into Kerry, rise in the western mountains, and also the Blackwater, which flows eastward through the county of Cork on the south. The principal lake is Lough Gur, about five miles in circumference, in which there are three small islands. At the city of Limerick, rain falls for about two-thirds of the year; the barometer ranges between 28 and 30.5, and the thermometer between 28° and 74°. A great number of villas near this city, the summer residence of its wealthy merchants; several gentlemen's seats in different parts of the county, and some venerable ruins, both religious and military, give variety to a landscape which is not remarkable for its natural scenery.
Much of the county is divided among a few great proprietors, whose rentals are from L.2000 to L.40,000 a-year. The land seems to be of greater yearly value than in most parts of Britain at a distance from large towns; for, according to Mr Wakefield's information, the green acres would have let, in 1808, for three guineas the Irish acre, or almost 40s. the English. Considerable farms brought five guineas the Irish acre, and in some instances more. The rent of the mountain-land had increased in a still greater proportion than the grazing and corn farms. One grazier held land of the value of L.10,000 a-year, and in one season, slaughtered, in Cork, 800 head of cattle. Many of the best long-horned cattle of the united kingdom are fattened here, and also a considerable number of sheep. Two year old wethers sold then, without their fleeces, at from L.2, 10s. to L.3. Only a small proportion of the land is in tillage. The produce of this, and some of the adjacent counties, in proportion to the seed, is stated by the same author to be at a medium,—of wheat 10, bear 17, barley 12, oats 9, and potatoes 10. Hemp was formerly cultivated extensively on the rich low grounds, called the Caucasses, on the banks of the
Shannon, but this tract is now occupied in grazing. Flax of an excellent quality, for sailcloth, is still grown in several parts. The common term of leases is 31 years and three lives.
The towns and principal villages are, Limerick, Askeyton, Newcastle, Abbey-Feale, Adair, Killmalloch, Bruff, and Castle Connell. The last is a fine village, much resorted to for its mineral springs. Limerick is the only considerable town; and, next Limerick to Dublin and Cork, it is the most populous and commercial town in Ireland. Though situated on the Shannon, 60 miles from the sea, vessels of 300 tons come up close to the Custom-house; and it has a communication with Dublin by the Grand Canal. A large share of the provision and corn trade of Ireland is, accordingly, possessed by this city. In 1810, Limerick exported 50,998 barrels of wheat, 173,793 of oats, and 74,680 of barley, the value of the whole being little short of L.300,000. It is said to contain about 60,000 inhabitants. See LIMERICK, in the Encyclopædia.
In 1811, the wages of common labour throughout the county were, of men, the year round, 1s. 2d. a-day, and of women, 9d.; in hay and corn harvest, 1s. 10½d. Potatoes were 3½d. per stone; beef and mutton, 6d. and 6½d. per pound; wheat, per barrel of 20 stones, 39s.; and oatmeal, 16s. 6d. the cwt.
Two members are returned to Parliament for the county, in which there are more than 3000 freeholders, and one for the city of Limerick. According to Mr Wakefield, two individuals have influence enough to return the member for the city and one of the county members. A colony of Palatines was established here more than a century ago, who still form a distinct race of industrious small farmers. The far greater part of the inhabitants are Catholics. These hold much of the leasehold and personal property, but few large estates. Of the militia for the city of Limerick, consisting of 600 men, only seven of the privates were Protestants, at the time when Mr Wakefield wrote, and all the privates of the county militia were Catholics, excepting 50. Not a twelfth of the inhabitants of the city were Protestants. The population, in 1790, according to Dr Beaufort, was 170,000; it has been lately computed at 250,000. —See the general works referred to under the former Irish counties. (A.)