With the exception of the Shannon, Ireland possesses no very considerable river. The Shannon, which is not only the largest river in this country, hut one of the finest in the British isles, rises in the county of Leitrim. After running a few miles, it spreads into Lough Allan; from this lough it issues in a much fuller stream than it entered. After a progress of several miles, it again expands its waters, and assumes the name and form of Lough Esk ; this lough, however, though long, is not very broad. On its exit from this, it forms another lake, called Lough flee, 15 miles long and 5 broad ; afterwards it appears a large and beau tiful river. Between the 'counties of Tipperary and Clare, it expands, and forms Lough Derg, or Derkc, 18 miles long and 4 broad. On leaving this, its stream, now of very considerable volume and rapidity, flows for several miles, and at length falls into the sea, about 50 miles below Limeric, at a place called Knockpatrick : below this city, it expands into a vast estuary from 3 miles to 10 in breadth. The whole course of the Shannon is about 170 miles ; and it is nearly 7 miles broad at its mouth : in its course it di vides the provinces of Connaught and Leinstcr, and after wards the former, from Munster; its western banks are formed by the counties of Roscommon, Clare, and Galway ; its eastern ones by Leitrim, Longford, King's County, Meath, Tipperary, Limeric, and Kerry. This fine river is almost throughout its whole course so wide and deep, as to be navigable for vessels of considerable burden ; the only impediment of consequence is a ledge of rocks at some distance above Limeric. and a little below Killalue, over which a cataract falls. The famous Earl of Stu affo:d had formed the intention of removing this impediment, but his own troubles, and those of his country, prevented its being carried into execution. From Killaloe to Cat-rid: on-the-Shannon, near the source of this river, there is an inland navigation of some convenience and utility. The only other river in Connaught of any importance is the Suck, 'which falls into the Sliamion a little below Athlone.
The Bandon is succinctly and well described by Spell oer as "The pleasant Bandon, crowned with many a wood." This river, which was anciently called Glashcen, rises In the mountains of Carberry ; passing by Dunmanway, and receiving a tributary stream, it runs to the east through a bog, V* ith a divided channel, and arrives at Inskeen : alter passing the town of Bandon, it winds north-east to I anis shannun, a little below which it becomes navigable. Hence it winds in several beautiful readies to Kinsale. The Lee rises out of a lake in the west of Musskerry ; and after passing by several hills, and receiving- a considerable acces sion of water, it expands into Lough Alan ; on its exit from this, it flows to Cork ; a little below this city, being joined by the Glanmirc, it expands into a spacious and commodious haven, falling into ale sea about 15 miles be low Cork ; it is not navigable any higher than this place. Thu Blackwater, or Broadwatrr, rises in a bog near Cas tle-island in the county of Kerry : its course is nearly due east for about 50 miles, till it comes to Cappoquin; hare, making'an angle, it turns to the south, and proceeding in a straight coot se, about 10 miles farther, it falls into the sea at Youghall ; it is at present navigable only as high as Cappoquin for vessels of any burden, but formerly it was navigable as high as Mallow, about 40 miles from its mouth.
This river is very liable to overflow its banks. The Ban don, Lee, and Blackwater, are all in the county of Cork, and rim in a manner parallel to one another ; the Bandon, about 7 unites south from the Lee, and the Blackwater, 14 miles to the north of that river.
The Sure rises at the foot of Banduff mountains in the county of Tipperary, near the source of the Nore ; but they soon take different directions : the course of the Sure is at first south-west : afterwards due south ; below the village of Ardfinanc, it turns to the east, dividing the counties of Tipperary and Waterford ; and having received a small stream, it bends northward till it reaches Spencer's n Sweet Clonmell ;" after a progress of 8 miles more it comes to Carrick, and at last falls into the sea at Waterford: it is navigable for large vessels as far as this city, and for barges as far as Clonmell. The Barrow rises in the King's Coun ty; its course for a short space is north-east, then sudden ly turning, it flows to the south-east, dividing King's and Queen's Counties from that of Kildare : it next passes through the centre of the county of Carlow, and then sepa rates the counties of Kilkenny and Wexford ; a little be fore it reaches Ross, it receives the Nore, already mention ed ; after their junction, its course bends rather to the west, till it unites with the Sure, forming the right arm of Wa terford haven. The Yore is navigable from New Ross to Inistiogc ; the Barrow and the Yore, previous to their junc tion with the Sure, ate navigable for large ships to New Ross, and for barges to Carlow and Athy. After the junc tion of all these three rivers, there is a considerable bar, which prevents the passage of large ships, except during high titles.
The Slane rises in the south-west corner of the county of Wicklow ; its course at first is very winding through the county of Carlow, sometimes to the south-cast and sometimes to the south-west ; afterwards, flowing in a south-east direction, it divides the county of Wexford till it reaches Enniscorthy ; its course is then south, and after wards cast, which brings it into a bay a little below the town of Wexford. The Slane is navigable for barges from Wexford for Enniscorthy. The river Lifly rises about 10 miles south-west from the city of Dublin, and about 15 west from the sea: its course at firs' is south-west through the county of Wicklow ; then running directly west, it en ters the county of Kildare ; where it again forms an elbow and flows north-west, and at length due north : in this part of its course, it is parallel to the sea, and nearly 30 miles distant : afterwards bending to the north-east, it criers the county of Dublin, and then turning at first to the north and next to the east, it flows with a full stream and pretty strong current to the capital, and falls into the Bay of Dublin ; its course is about 5.) miles.