County of KILdare.

This county is bounded on the north by Eaft Meath, on the fouth by Catherlough, on the east by Dublin and Wicklow, and on the Weft by the King's and Queen's counties. Its length is about 37 miles and its breadth 23. It is a fine arable country, the foil being very rich and fertile, and the air temperate and pleasant, well watered by the Barrow, Liffey, and other rivers, and is well inhabited throughout and cultivated. It contains 228,590 Irish plantation acres, 9000 houfes which are daily increafing, 100 parifhes, 10 baronies, 4 boroughs, and returns 10 members to parliament. The chief

Kildare, the capital town of the county, and gives the title of marquis to the duke of Leinfter, on whofe ancestors the caftle and town of Kildare were bestowed by Edward II. who alfo conferred the title of earl of Kildare on this noble family of Fitzgerald. James the father of his grace William the prefent duke of Leinfter, was created duke by his present majefty. This town is governed by a fovereign, recorder, and two portrieves. It is the fee of a bishop who has precedence of all the Irish tifhops except

that

that of Meath; but as this fee is but very. poorly endowed, the bishops of Kildare for the time being are alfo deans of Christchurch, Dublin. It is 24 miles W. from Dublin, and the poft goes twice a week.

Kilcock. A town of no confiderable trade: there are two good inns in it, but the best is Byrne's, the new inn. Though the town is much frequented by travellers it is fuffered to remain neglected, the houses many of them being in a ruinous condition; it is on the great road to the north of Ireland.

Monafterevin. A fmall town of inconfiderable trade; near this town is the celebrated Curragh of Kildare, which is a large, open, level plain, large enough for a camp of ten thousand men, the horse races there, are the moft eminent in the kingdom, they begin annually on Eafter Monday; it is reckoned by all fportfmen to be the best race courfe in Europe. This town is 28 miles from: Dublin, and the poft goes twice a week. Many of the inhabitants in this part of the county are employed in the linen manufac

ture.

Kilcullen. A neat market town, 20 miles S. W. of Dublin, well known by all travellers, being in the high road from Dublin to the fouth part of Ireland: the poft goes twice:

a week.

Carton. The feat of his grace the duke af Leinster, which contains a magnificent and elegant stone houfe with large and confiderable

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fiderable offices, the demefne is fo highly im proved, that art and nature united cannot produce a more elegant and delightful spot; the affiftances of art having never been spared by this illuftrious family to render it such, however great the expence. Strangers are politely admitted to view the mansion and gardens and being only 10 miles S. of Dublin, it is well worthy their attention.

Hariftown. Is a fmall borough town, distant from Dublin 17 miles fouth weft; it is governed by a fovereign and burgeffes.

Athy. Is a fmall neat town, and has a gcod market, diftant from Dublin 31 miles, fouth, and from Kildare 10 miles fouth, fituated, upon the river barrow, over which there is a bridge. It is governed by a sovereign, two bailiffs, and a recorder; and the affizes are alternately held here and at Naas. Long. 10. 30. lat. 35. o. The poft goes from and to Dublin twice a week.

Maynooth. A large village near Carton, part of the eftate of the Duke of Leinster. Diftant from Dublin 10 miles, weft. The poft goes once a week.

Naas. The aflizes are held here alternately as in Athy, and is the fhire town; it is small, but has a good market.

There

have been two exceeding large long ftones placed here as bounderies, it is fuppofed, of the antient kings. This town is fituated on the great fouth road 14 miles S. W. from

Dublin,

Dublin, and fends two members to parlia ment. Poft goes once a week.

Ophaly. A fmall town, which gives the title of baron to the Duke of Leinster.

Boyd County of LOUTH:

The county of Louth is bounded on the north by Armagh and Carlingford bay, on the east by St. George's Channel, on the fonth eaft by Meath, from which it is parted by the river Boyne, and on the west by Eaft Meath and Monaghan. The foil is exceeding fruitful in corn and grafs, and the a ir is healthful and pleafant. It is the smalleft county in Ireland, being only 21 miles in length,, from Drogheda to Narrow Water, and 13 in breadth, from Dunany to Clonkines,, contains 126,980 Irish plantation acres, about gooo houfes, and 50 parishes. It fends two members to parliament for the county, and two for Drogheda, Dundalk, Carlingford, Atherdee and Dunleer. It contains many monuments of Antiquity, well deferving the attention of the curious, as is particularly noticed in the particular places where they occur. Chief towns are Drogheda. Dundalk. Carlingford,

Atherdee.

Dunleer.

Drogheda. Is a borough, a market and a poft town, and is the most ancient and largeft town in Ireland. It was formerly well fortified, but the castle and wall were demolished

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demolished by Oliver Cromwell, in 1649, who befieged Drogeda with an army of 10,000 men, took this town by ftorm and put the whole garrifon, confifting of 4,000 men, to the sword. It ftands near the mouth of the river Boyne, on a bay of its The harbour is very good, tho'

own name.

the entrance is fomewhat difficult; and there is a very great trade carried on here, which is every day improving, particularly to the north of Ireland, for which it is most conveniently fituated. There are imported from England hither, confiderable quantities of coals, not only for the ufe of the city but a fo for the adjacent country, which are conveyed to a great diftance by means of the river Boyne, which is a most noble and grand river, and of a very great depth, efpecially near the centre of the town, which is divided by this river into two parts, and has a ftrong ftone bridge over it, which leads into Shop-street.

It is diftant from Dublin 23 miles north, and from the Irish Channel 5 miles, and gives the title of Earl to the noble family of Moore. About three miles weft of this place on the river Boyne there is a magnificent Obelisk erected, in memory of King William IIId's paffage and victory there, in 1690, a few days after which, King James's garrifon in Drogheda furrendered to King William. It is at prefent governed by a mayor, aldermen and sheriffs,

and