ARMAGH, a county of Ireland, in the province of Ulster. It is bounded by Lough Neagh on the north ; by the county of Louth on the south ; on the west by Tyrone and Monaghan ; and by Down on the east. Its length, from north to south, is about 32 English miles, and its breadth nearly 20 ; it contains 290,786 acres, or 454 square miles. The face of the country is beauti fully diversified with gentle hills ; the soil is rich and fertile, except in the district called the Fewes, which is exceedingly mountainous ; but even a considerable part of this rough tract has been brought under cultivation. Throughout the country, however, the farms are in gen eral small, being commonly from 5 to 20 acres, and sel dom exceeding 40 or 60. The linen manufacture in all its branches, flourishes in this county, and indeed forms the chief employment of the inhabitants. The principal towns are, Armagh, Charlemont, Markethill, Blackbank, and Jonesborough. The river Blackwater, which se parates this county from Tyrone on the west, is navi gable for some miles to Lough Neagh and the river Bann, which separates it from Down, and the Newry canal, afford water carriage from that lake to the bay of Carlingford on the east. Armagh was one of the coun ties forfeited to the crown, after the reduction of the earl of Tyrone, towards the close of queen Elizabeth's reign, and it was afterwards colonized under James I. This county sends two members to the imperial parlia ment, besides the representative from the city of Armagh. The number of houses, according to the last official returns, was 22,900, from which the inhabitants, supposing about 5; to a house, have been estimated at 130,000, or about 460 to the square mile, which is population than is found in any other county of Irehthei, exeept Duolin. (w. a.) ,ARMAGfi, a city of Ire land, and capital of the county whim bears its name. It is said to have been founded St Patric k, it, We fifth century, and on the establish me.a of cnristianity in this country, it became a place of constuelah,e importance, and the seat of a celebrated university, which was resorted to, not only by the natives, but even by Anglo-Saxon youths from Britain. In the twelfth century, Cardinal Papyres, who was sent as legate into Ireland by the pope, to reform the abuses which had crept into the church in that country, con stituted Armagh the metropolitan see of Ireland : and it was provided by solemn ordinance, that no one should be allowed to profess or to teach theology, who had not been educated at this university. The provirice of the
archbishop is the largest in Ireland, and contains within its bounds ten dioceses, namely, Dromore, Down and Connor, Derry, Raphoa, Clogher, Kilmore, Ardagh, and Meath. This see is valued in the king's books, by an extent taken in the reign of Henry VIII. at L.183 : 17 : 51 Irish money, which amounts to L.138 : 188 : 04 Ster ling; the difference between Irish and Sterling money being at that time one-fourth. But by an extent returned in the reign of James I. it is valued at L.400 sterling ; and pays so much first-fruits to this day. Its real worth is reputed to be about L.8000. Among the archbishops of Armagh, Usher in the 17th century, and Newcombe in the last age, justly bald a distinguished place. The university of this place has been long extinct.
This town was frequently plundered by the Danes during their excursions into Ireland. It was first sub jected to the English, by sir John De Courcy ; but was afterwards destroyed by O'Neil, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. It was soon after rebuilt and garrisoned by the English ; and it has lately become a town of con siderable size, and its general appearance has been much improved through the munificence of the arch bishop, lord Rokeby, who has built a handsome archie piscopal palace, and a noble house for the school, which is one of the royal foundations, and is extremely well endowed. To these he has added a public library, for the promotion of science ; he also erected a complete observatory, with a liberal establishment far the support of an astronomer ; and he secured the permanency of these endowments by several acts of parliament. Ar magh has one of the best linen markets in Ulster, and there are many bleachficlds in the neighbourhood, on the banks of the Callen, a small stream which passes near the town. The distance of Armagh from Dublin is 62 miles. W. Long. 6° 32', N. Lat. 54° 21'. (w. B.)