A full account of the measures adopted with regard to the Dublin foundling hospital and house of industry, is given in the assistant-commissioners’ Report[98] on these institutions, and also of what was required to be done preparatory to their being used as the workhouses of the two Dublin unions, for which they were well suited both as to size and situation. One of the unions comprised the district on the south side of the Liffey, with a population of 182,767; and the other comprised the district on the north side, having a population of 125,245. The workhouses would each be made capable of accommodating 2,000 inmates, and were very conveniently placed, with a sufficiency of land attached to them. A belt of unions had been formed nearly encircling the city, so that the Dublin unions would be protected from undue pressure. The guardians exhibited a good spirit, and promised an active co-operation in carrying out the law.[Sidenote: Dublin workhouses declared, March 25, 1840.] The unions were both declared on the 6th of June 1839; and the order declaring the workhouses fit for the reception of paupers was issued on the 25th of March 1840, the interval being occupied in making the necessary preparations. ----- [97] Lord Ebrington (now Earl Fortescue) was lord lieutenant at this time, and I feel it a duty to state that much of our success in the early part of our proceedings, was owing to the aid and countenance he was ever ready to afford us. He knew the difficulties with which the commission had to contend, and never withheld assistance when it was needed. [98] This is inserted in the Appendix to the Annual Report. ----- [Sidenote: The Cork union.]