the bark of a tree of the same name, Quercus Suber, Lin. See Quercus, Botany Index.

To take off the bark, an incision is made from the top to the bottom of the tree, and at each extremity another round the tree, perpendicular to the first. When the tree is 15 years old, it may be barked for eight years successively; and the quality of the bark improves with the age of the tree. When stripped from the tree, which does not therefore die, the bark is piled up in a pond or ditch, and loaded with heavy stones to flatten it, and reduce it into tables: hence it is removed to be dried; and when sufficiently dry, put in bales for carriage. If care be not taken to strip the bark Cork bark, it splits and peels off itself; being pushed up by another bark formed underneath.

The cork-tree, as well as the uses to which the bark is applied, was known both to the Greeks and Romans. Pliny informs us that the Romans employed it to stop all kinds of vessels; but the use of it for this purpose does not appear to have been very common till the invention of glass bottles, of which, according to Professor Beckman, there is no mention before the 15th century.

Other vegetable productions have been sometimes employed instead of cork. The *Spondias Lutea*, a tree which grows in South America, particularly in moist places, and which is there called *mombin* or *mombraín*, is sometimes brought to England for the purpose of stopping vessels. The roots of liquorice are applied to the same use, and on that account, this plant is much cultivated in Scyria, and exported to other countries. A tree called *nyssa*, which grows in North America, has been found also to answer as a substitute for cork.

The chief use of cork is, to put in shoes, slippers, &c., and to stop bottles. The Spaniards burn it to make that kind of light block called *Spanish black*, which is used by painters. The Egyptians made coffins of cork; which being lined with a resinous composition, preserved dead bodies uncorrupted. The Spaniards line stone walls with it, which not only renders them very warm, but corrects the moisture of the air.

*Fossil Cork*, a name given to a kind of stone which is a species of amianthus, consisting of flexible fibres loosely interwoven, and somewhat resembling vegetable cork. It is the lightest of all stones; by fire it is fusible, and forms a black glass. It possesses the general qualities of amianthus. See that article.

**Cork**, in Latin *comitatus Corcaegiensis*, a county of the province of Munster in Ireland. It is the most populous and considerable county of the kingdom next to that of Dublin, containing near a million of acres, and being divided into 15 baronies. It is bounded on the north-east by the county of Waterford; on the west by Kerry; by Limerick on the north; and by the sea on the south and south-east. Including Desmond it is 85 miles in length and 50 in breadth; but is very unequal both ways. Though a considerable part of the country is foggy, mountainous, and barren, yet by the industry of the inhabitants it is pretty well cultivated and improved, and contains several good towns and harbours.

**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 fee of Cork is reputed worth 2700l. a-year. The charter 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 expense, the parliament laid a tax on all coals consumed in the city of Cork. The deanery is reputed to be worth 400l. 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 the 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 customhouse, a town-hall, several fine hospitals, and various other public structures. The city possesses an annual revenue of about 1300l. out of which the mayor enjoys for his salary and the support of his dignity 500l. 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 they kill and cure seldom fewer than 100,000 head of black cattle. The rest of their exports consists of butts of tallow, 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 62,000l. 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.

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 canvass, 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' expense. 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 these 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.

Cormandel. See Coromandel.