DAL'RIA'DA. The ancient name for the northern half of the county of Antrim in Ireland, now known as 'The Route.' The Dalriads are supposed to have descended from Carbry Riada (Riogh-fhada, i.e. of the long wrist), a son of a chief of the Scots in Ireland, who ruled not only in the district of Ireland, named after him, but, according to Leda, crossed to Scotland and settled in the lands of the Picts. In the begin ning of the sixth century the Dalriads, led by Fergus, passed over to Argyllshire. where they settled themselves permanently, and formed the kingdom of 'Dalriada in Albany.' The Scottish colonists increased so pinch in power that they threw off the yoke of Ireland, and, about attempted to subdue that island, but were de feated at Magh Rath, in County Down. The Dalriads nevertheless extended their kingdom in Scotland. and in 843 their king, Kenneth, he came King of Albany, and thus united under one sceptre the Dalriads, or Scots, and the Picts. Later the Kingdom of Albany was known as Scotland.
DALRYMPLE, (15.1-rInep'1, ALEXANDER ( 1737 1808). A British thydrographer; a younger brother of Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes (q.v.). He was born at New Hailes, near Edin burgh, July 24, 1737. In 1752 he obtained an appointment in the East India Company's ser vice: but he labored under the disadvantage of youth and imperfect education, until Lord Pigot, Governor of the Presidency, gave him lessons in writing. In 1758 he made a voyage of observa
tion among the Eastern islands, and at Sulu negotiated a commercial treaty with the Sultan, which he returned to consummate in 1762. but was unsuccessful. In 1765 he returned to Britain, and in 1775 was sent to Madras as a member of council, but was recalled in two years, apparently without good reason, for in 1779 he was appointed hydrographer to the East India Company, and shortly after received a pension. In 1795, when the British Admiralty resolved to establish a similar office, it was conferred on Dalrymple, who held it until his summary dismissal, occasioned by an excess of zeal, on May 28. 1808. Depression at the humil iation occasioned his death, three weeks after wards, on June 19, 1808, at Marylebone, London. He wrote a vast number of letters. pamphlets, etc.. containing plans for the promotion of Brit ish commerce in various parts of the world, political dissertations, accounts of geographical expeditions, etc., and his library, containing valuable geographical and scientific works, was acquired by the Admiralty.