histories published, to inform their own people as well as foreigners what they were and what they are.

To render therefore the prefent ftate of Ireland more univerfally known, thereby contributing to advance the mutual interest of England and Ireland, and increase the trade and profperity of Ireland, afford a competent knowledge of every particular which may conduce to the information of the foreigner, entertainment to the curious, inftruction to the traveller, ufeful hints to the artificer, or direction to the mariner, is the defign of the prefent Work. It is alfo elucidated with new and correct defcriptions of all the cities, towns, boroughs and noted places throughout the kingdom, with the new barracks, great and bye poft-roads and distances in measured miles, chiefly taken from ac-tual furveys and other authentic information; and in the course of this work is alfo inferted an hydrographical defcription of all the harbours, creeks, bays, roads, islands, points, and head-lands on the coafts of Ireland. This attempt therefore the editor hopes will. prove acceptable to fuch gentlemen or tra vellers whom curiofity or business may induce to vifit this nation. It is certain many travellers of tafte and capacity often omit opportunities of viewing objects well deferving their attention, for want of fuch a concife and particular account of the countries through which they travel the editor being confi

dent

dent from what he hath feen of this kingdom in general, many and fingular curiofities may be found there, well deferving the confideration of the learned; he therefore offers in the words of Horace, Vincit Amor Patrie.

-Si quid novifti rectius iftis

Candidus imperti; fi non bis utere mecum. Great part of this work being written during the travels through a principal extent of this kingdom, where it was neceffary to vifit many places of antiquity and natural curiofity, and to obtain knowledge refpecting them from the neighbouring inhabitants, it became requifite in describing fuch particulars to mention the properties of places and other effential information, in the manner as related by them in a plain and fimple ftyle. the inaccuracies, which may have inadvertantly escaped notice, the reader will be pleased to excufe. Care hath been taken by the editor that nothing is inferted in this work (which is the result of many years experience and refidence in Ireland), but what any perfon, who may hereafter vifit the places described, will find them to be as is in this treatife fpecified, and every direction given which may be neceffary to put the traveller into the eafieft way of feeing what is here treated of; befides the intention of this work is to inform foreigners, and to affift fuch gentlemen as may view thofe places from whence these defcriptions were taken, for which reason it hath been endeavoured

to

to draw the picture as like the original as poffible.

The editor having been affifted by gentlemen of great knowledge in the affairs of this kingdom, and who have been in the moft noted places of it, they were pleased to communicate many effential particulars tending to the advantage of travellers and mariners, &c. which has afforded him the opportunity of having been the better enabled to reconcile differences, to expunge falfities, and to set aside the impofitions of former geographers, and late tour writers, and thereby render this general description of Ireland, more compleat, and, he prefumes, more really ufeful, confequently more worthy the attention of the impartial public, to whom he most refpectfully fubmits it.

In the observations on the trade and manufactures of Ireland, particular attention has been paid to the means to encourage, improve and extend them; with fome reafons why Great Britain fhould continue to remove every restriction on its exportations and importations, and to be more indulgent to this kingdom in feveral particular points of trade; and the editor has inferted fome useful and perhaps not incurious reflections on this head, as he would not let flip fo fuitable an opportunity of communicating any thing which might prove to the real advantage of Ireland. THE

R.. William Andrews, Rt. Hon. Hen. Theophilus

His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, Richard Dally, Efq; Chriftopher Deey, Efq; of Robert Deey, Efq;

Richard Drinkwater, Efq;
Chichester,

Robert Drinkwater, Efq;

Jas. St. Jn. Jefferyes, Esq.
John Jones, Efq; Vauxh.
John Irwin, Efq;
James Jebb, Efq; Slane,
Thomas Kelly, Efq;
John Kelfo, Efq; M. D.
Sir Anthony King, Lord
Mayor of Dublin,
John Kane, Efq;
Mr. Peter Kelly,

Thomas Kitchen, Efq;
Engraver to his Majesty.