History.—It is stated by Ptolemy that the count} Dublin was inhabited by the tribe of the Eblani, who dwelt for the most part in Heath county, but on their settling in Dublin founded the city Kblana, now presumed to be Dublin. Later writers affirm that the Eblaui were driven out by the Danes, who held sway until the battle of Clontarf (1014) resulted in the overturn of their power. When the English landed, the people to the north of the Lifi ey were known among the Irish as Fingall, or white foreigners, and those living south of the river were called Dulhgall, or black foreigners. The- Eev. Caesar Otway professed to be able to discern signs of the different races even as late as his day ; but the modern observer will fail to catch any marks whereby different portions of the community may be distinguished.
In 1210, King John formed this district into a county, comprising the chief portion of country within the English pale. The limits of the county were, however, uncertain, and underwent many changes before they were fixed. Although so near the seat of government, 67,142 acres of profitable land were forfeited in the Rebellion of 1641, and 84,536 acres in the Revolution of 1688. In 1603 the boundaries were definitely marked, the country inhabited by the O'Tooles and the O'Byrnes being formed into the county of Wlcklow. The absence of any considerable towns decreases the interest in Dublin county, and it has no historic fields to boast of. In 1867 the most formidable of the Fenian risings took place near the village of Tallaght, about seven miles from the city. The rebels, who numbered from 500 to 700, were found wandering at dawn, some by a small force of constabulary who, having in vain called upon them to yield, fired and wounded five of them ; but the great bulk of them were overtaken by the troops under Lord Strathnairn, who captured them with ease and marched them into the city.
Sir John Forbes, a distinguished Scotch physician, who visited Ireland in 1852, speaks thus of the county in his Memoranda : "Without leaving the county of Dublin, the antiquary would have no difficulty in finding numerous objects of interest and instruction, casting light upon the early history of the country. Among the ancient raths, duns, or forts constructed by the native Irish or the Danes, and more probably by both people, for defence or security in positions of natural strength, improved by art and labour, several remain in this county. One at Raheny, although much reduced in its proportions, is still traceable ; several yet more imperfect are faintly risible at Coolock ; one near Lucan is furnished with the subterranean vaults and passages not unusually found in connection with the larger specimens ; and another at Chankhill or Rathmichael, near the remarkable natural pass through the mountain called the Scalp, is of greater extent thari the others, more commanding in position, and in close proximity to the ancient church, and supposed fragment of a round tower. Numerous sepulchral mounds of the same period also exist scattered through out the county, occasionally somewhat similar in appearance to the raths, but generally smaller in extent, altogether artificial, and of conical form. Among its most interesting antiquities this county reckons three of the ancient round towers almost peculiar to Ireland, one at Swords, another at Lusk, forming one of the angles of the church steeple, and a third in the highest state of preservation at Clondalkin."
DUBLIN, the metropolis of Ireland, in the county of Dublin and province of Leinster, is a county in itself, and a municipal and parliamentary borough ; the area of the former is 3808 acres, It is distant 292 miles W.N.W. from London, 138 miles W. from Liverpool, and 60 miles W. from Holyhead, in 53 20 38" N. lat. and 6 17 13" W. long., and is situated in the great central limestone district which stretches across the island from the Irish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, on the River Liffey, extending to the junc tion of that river with the Bay of Dublin, the waters of which wash its south suburban shores.
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In the reign of James II. the population of Dublin was 64,483; in 1728 it had more than doubled; in 1753 it was 161,000; in 1798 Whitelaw estimated it at 182,000; according to the first census (taken in 1821) it was 185,881; it was 232,726 in 1841, 254,808 in 1861, and 246,326 in 1871. This last decrease is due to ths recent increase in wealth and the consequent extra-city residence of the traders and merchants. The suburbs of Dublin have wonderfully improved within the past twenty years, and constitute at present the chief of the many attractions which the stranger is wont to admire. The outlying townships of Rathmines and Rathgar, Kingstown and Pembroke, Clontarf and Dalkey, are all inhabited by persons engaged in the commerce of the city. If we include these populations, the city may be said to contain about 330,000 souls. The parliamentary borough, whose limits are more extensive than those of the municipal borough, covers an area of 5501 acres, and contained in 1871 a population of 267,717 persons. It returns two members to the imperial parliament.
