and in the reign of James I. their services were solemnized in certain back rooms in the houses of Nicholas Quietrot, Carye, and the Widow O’Hagan, in High-street.[533] Amongst the fashionables who lived in this locality we find the Countess of Roscommon, Sir P. Wemys, Sir Thady Duff, and Mark Quin, the Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1667.  Here, too, was established the first Dublin post-house, for which the nation appears to have been indebted indirectly to Shane O’Neill, of whose proceedings her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was anxious to be cognizant with as little delay as possible.  In 1656, it having been found that the horses of the military, to whom postal communications had been confided previously, were “much wearied, and his Highness’ affayres much prejudiced for want of a post-office to carry publique letters,” Evan Vaughan was employed to arrange postal communications, and was made Deputy Postmaster.  Major Swift was the Postmaster at Holyhead, and he was allowed L100 a-year for the maintenance of four boatmen, added to the packet boats, at the rate of 8d. per diem and 18s. per month for wages.  Post-houses were established in the principal towns in Ireland about the year 1670, by means of which, for 8_d_. or 12_d_., letters could be conveyed, twice a week, to the “remotest parts of Ireland,” and which afforded “the conveniency of keeping good correspondence.”

The Dublin Philosophical Society held their first meetings on Cork-hill, at the close of this century, and it is evident that there were many men in that age who had more than ordinary zeal for scientific research.  Dr. Mullen has left a detailed account of the difficulties under which he dissected an elephant, which had been burned to death in the booth where it was kept for exhibition on the 17th June, 1682.  According to Haller, oculists are indebted to him for some important discoveries connected with the organs of vision.[534]

The old Custom-house stood on the site of houses now comprised in that part of Dublin known as Wellington-quay.  Here a locality was selected, in the reign of James I., for the purpose of “erecting cranes and making wharves.”  This street, now so busy and populous, was then in the suburbs, and is described in the lease, A.D. 1620, as “a certain parcel of ground, lying in or near Dame-street, street, in the suburbs of the city of Dublin.”  A new Custom-house was erected about the period of the Restoration, with the addition of a council-chamber, where the Privy Council and Committees of the House of Commons were accustomed to assemble.  By an order of the Privy Council, 19th September, 1662, the Custom-house-quay was appointed the sole place for landing and lading the exports and imports of the city of Dublin.  In 1683 the public Exchange of Dublin was transferred from Cork House to the Tholsel, a building erected early in the reign of Edward II., and described by Camden as built of hewn stone.  Here the Mayor was elected on Michaelmas Day, and the citizens held