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| THE WELLESLEY BRIDGE, LIMERICK. -The Marquis of Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington's elder brother and the architect of the great soldier's fortunes, was a much more liberal man than the conqueror of Napoleon. When he was Viceroy of Ireland, he did not hesitate to come out boldly for Catholic Emancipation, and urged upon the Duke in 1829, the necessity of granting it. Hence, the fine bridge shown in the picture, which connects Newtown-Pery with the county Clare, as the Mathew bridge connects it with the older portions of Limerick, was named after the Marquis. It is a very well-finished structure -one of the best specimens of bridge architecture in Europe -and has a swivel in the centre to allow of the passage of vessels up and down the Shannon. As it spans the broad river near the harbor's mouth, a splendid view of King John's frowning castle and the lofty spire of St. Mary's historic cathedral, is obtained from it. From this point, the quays stretch almost without interruption to the Floating and Graving docks. At one end of the bridge stands a statue erected to the memory of Major, Lord Fitzgibbon -a descendant of the infamous Lord Chancellor Clare, of "Union" notoriety-who fell in the Balaclave charge, Oct. 25, 1834. |
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