DUBLIN (Irish, Dubh-linn, pool;" the Ebiana of Ptolemy), the capital of Ireland, stands on the river Liffey, where it disembogues into Dublin bay, in lat. 53° 20' 38' n., and long. 6° 17' 30' west. It covers an area of 1300 acres, but its parliamentary boundary, comprises an area of about 5,000 acres, and its municipal boundary nearly 4,000 acres. Much of D. is built on land reclaimed from' the sea, a work which still continues; and the ground is generally flat, with a very few undulations, scarce deserving the name of hill. The river, running from w. to e., divides the city into two almost . equal portions. The aristocratic parts are the s.e. and n.e., containing many beautiful squares, with splendid streets and terraces. The center, and the n.w. quarter are the great emporiums of trade, and the residence of the middle classes, many of whom, how ever, have their private houses in the suburbs. The s.w. division, part of which is called the " Liberties," once the scat of the silk trade, is the most filthy and degraded portion of the city. The streets In this quarter are narrow, crooked, and irregular, while in the fashionable portions they possess a totally opposite character. The city is surrounded by a "circular road" of nearly 9 m. in length, forming a favorite drive and promenade.
In the newer parts of D., the streets run at right angles to one another, and are remarkable for their breadth and the uniformity of their architecture, which, however, is so varied as to avoid monotony. The most imposing one is Sackville street, which is 120 ft. broad, and nearly 700 yards long; at its n. end stands the rotunda, with Rut land square—in its center, the beautiful Ionic portico of the general post-office, and Nelson's monument (upwards of 130 ft. high)—while on the s., it is terminated by Car lisle bridge, and a wedge-like block of noble houses formed by the converging sides of Westmoreland and D'Olier streets. A peculiar feature of D. is its squares, which are very numerous, spacious, and well kept. Stephen's green, the largest, occupies an area
of nearly 20 acres, and is about a mile in circuit. Somewhat smaller, but more elegant and aristocratic, is Merrion square (13 acres). The large park and squares of Trinity college occupy more than 40 acres.
The public buildings of D. are famed for their number and grandeur, and appear to more advantage since the dwelling-houses are built of brick. In the first class may be mentioned the bank of Ireland (formerly the house of parliament), Trinity college, the cus tom-house, and the four courts, which, from the chasteness of their design, and the mas siveness of their proportions, have a very imposing effect. The castle has no pretensions to architectural beauty. There are monuments of William III. in College green (once a green, but now a paved street); of Nelson, the duke of Wellington, Goldsmith, Burke, Grattan, and many others in various public sites. The benevolent and charitable insti tutions of D. are very numerous, and are liberally supported.
Within the limits of the circular road, the Liffey is crossed by nine bridges (two of iron), and throughout the whole extent of the city the banks of the river are faced with granite walls and parapets. On each side of these "quays" there is a spacious roadway, with tall houses and excellent shops. The quay proper extends eastward from Carlisle bridge. Near the custom-house, there are several large docks for the accommodation of vessels from distant ports with excisable cargoes, and in communication with the Royal and Grand canals; the former connecting Dublin with the North Shannon and the w, of Ireland, the latter with the s. portion of the same river and the south. A very spacious dock, the " Spencer dock," was opened is 1873; and the harbor has been ranch improved in late years by the completion of two large breakwaters, the n. and s. walls. There is a bar at the mouth of the harbor, but even there the least depth at low tide is about 11 feet.