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| THE CUSTOM HOUSE, DUBLIN. -Nothing so fills an Irishman of spirit with indignation, on visiting the widowed capital of his country, as to behold her grand public buildings almost deserted, and in some instances, falling into decay. One of the finest monuments of Irish architectural genius in the last century, is the Custom House, situated on Eden Quay, on the north bank of the Liffey. It was begun, after the design of James Gandon, in 1781 and was completed ten years later. The structure forms a quadrangle of 375 by 209 feet. It has four fronts of different design, and is "composed of pavilions at each end, joined by arcades and united in the centre." The pavilions terminate with the arms of Ireland and the facades are embellished with exquisite taste. Many fine allegorical figures add to the beauty of the design. The dome, which is of majestic appearance, rises to a height of 125 feet while a statue of Hope, 16 feet high, placed on a massive pedestal, and resting on an anchor, gives dramatic effect to the whole. Since the fatal "Union," only a portion of the building is used for customs purposes. The remainder is devoted to the use of public deparments, such as the Board of Works and the Poor Law Commission. |
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