DUBLIN, a maritime co. in the e. of Leinster province, Ireland, and containing the metropolis of that bounded, n., by Meath; e., by the Irish sea; s., by Wick low; and w., by Kildare and Meath. It is the smallest but two of the Irish counties, being 32 m. long, and 18 (average 12) broad; area, 354 sq.m., of which are arable, and in wood. The coast, .from its indentations with creeks and bays, is 70 m. long, and off it lie several isles. Dublin bay, one of the finest in the kingdom, is 6 m. broad, 6 deep, with a sweep of 16 miles. It has two precipitous hills, about 500 ft. high at its n. and s. ends; but the head of the bay is low and sandy. The coast is defended by 26 martello towers. The surface is mostly a level rich plain, with slight undulations, but rising in the s. iu a hill-range, the highest point of which is Kippure, 2,473 feet. N. of this range, the only prominent eminences are Lambay isle, or Ireland's Eye, and Howth Head, 503 feet. The only river of note is the Liffey, which runs through Dublin city into Dublin bay. The Royal and Grand canals run w. through the co., and unite the Liffey and the Shannon. The chief rocks are carboniferous limestone, granite, and some metamorphic rocks and greenstone. There are copper and lead mines near Scalp. Fuller's-earth and potter's-clay occur. Iron and manganese are found on Howth peninsula. Granite and limestone are much used in building. There are many mineral springs, including 10 saline purgative ones, within the city of Dublin, and some tepid ones of 75' F. The climate is mild. The soil is generally a shallow calcareous gravelly
clay. In the n. and w. are grazing and meadow farms, and around Dublin city, villas, kitchen-gardens, dairies, and nurseries. D. is the best cultivated co. in Ireland. In 1876, 90,283 acres, not very much under half the co., were in crop. The chief crops are oats (in 1876, 16,109 acres), wheat (5,646 acres), potatoes (9,863 acres). There are impor tant fisheries along the coast of turbot, brill, sole, plaice, cod, ling, haddock, whiting, and oysters. The manufactures (chiefly of cottons, stockings, and embroidered muslins) are mostly confined to the city and the vicinity of the metropolis, and are of more value than in any other Irish county. Balbriggan is famed for its hosiery. The chief exports are from Dublin city. D. is divided into 9 baronies, and contains 76 civil parishes, and 10 parts of parishes. The chief towns are Dublin, the capital of Ireland, and Kingston. Pop. '71, exclusive of Dublin city, 160,000; including the city, 408,366. At the end of 1877, the co. had 53,232 pupils on the rolls of its national schools. The co. sends six members to parliament—two for D. co., two for Dublin city, and two for Dublin uni versity. The manners, appearance, dress, and cabins of the lower orders in D. co. differ less from those of the interior of Ireland, than would There are numerous antiquities in different parts of the county: r ft ()