DOWN

The maritime county of Down, in the province of Ulster, is bounded on the east and south by the Irish Sea (Carlingford Bay separating it from Louth), on the north by the county of Antrim and Belfast Lough, and on the west by the county of Armagh. It comprises, according to the Ordnance Survey, an area of 611,404 acres, of which 502,677 are cultivated; the proportion of mountain and bog, hitherto unproductive, being somewhat more than a sixth. In 1821, the population amounted to 325,410; in 1831, to 352,012; and in 1841, to 361,446. It is divided into the baronies of Ards, Castlereagh, Dufferin, Lower Iveagh, Upper Iveagh, Kinealearty, Lecale, and Mourne. Its principal towns are Newry (part of which is in the county of Armagh), the assize town of Downpatrick, one of the most ancient boroughs in Ireland; Newtownards, Hillsborough, Castlewellan, Banbridge, Warrenspoint, Strangford, Bangor, and Donaghadee. The county is remarkable for its inequality of surface; for although the mountains are chiefly confined to the southern district, where they are magnificent, the lesser hills are abundant in all parts; hence it is said to have derived its ancient name, Dunum, "which signifies a hill, or a hilly country." This peculiar character-a

perpetual rise and fall in the landscape-renders it highly picturesque; 158 it is not ill wooded; it contains many rivers; the ocean is its boundary on three sides; and the huge inland sea," Strangford Lough," forms another striking and interesting feature of the county.

The tourist proceeding northwards to Belfast, or en route to "the Causeway," will pass through the pleasant and flourishing town of Newry 159-distant fifty miles from Dublin; from which, if he be in search of the picturesque, he must verge to the right for about seven miles, along the banks of the Newrywater, to visit the beautiful village of Rosstrevor-not inaptly termed the "Montpelier of Ireland." The drive all the way is full of interest; on the opposite side of the river are seen the lofty range of the Carlingford mountains, while the still loftier and more famous mountains of Mourne form its northern boundary, stretching far up into the county, hanging over the sea, and forming indeed a huge peninsula that juts out into the ocean, extending from Dundrum Bay to the Bay of Carlingford.

The ruined castle of Narrow-Water stands about two miles from Newry; but its date is no more remote than the reign of the second Charles, having been built after "the restoration " by the great Duke of Ormonde, as a protection to the river, to which it still renders essential service, as contributing largely to its pictorial effect. A modern "castle" has, however, been erected upon the "rising ground" above it, by Roger

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eto de Causeway," will pass ...t and flourishing town of etty miles from Dublin; te in search of the på turesque, thet for about seven miles, Fans of 5. Newrywater, to visit ti e : villam Kostrevor-not inaptly

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Mer of Ireland."

The drive

of interest; on the opposite side seen the lofty range of the Carntains, while the still loftier and is mourtains of Mourne form s oundary, streteling far up into the anging over the sea, and forming inluce peinsula that ju's out into the , extending from Dundrum Bay to the Bay i Carli ford.

The rud castle of Narrow-Water stands alt miles from Newry; but its date is no

mote than the reign of the second Charks, been bullt after "the restoration" by the Duke of Ormonde, as a protection to the Ex to which it still renders essential service, uting largely to its pictorial effect. A

Rosstrevor

castle has, however, been erected rising ground above it, by Roger

Reproduced from a Painting by Francis S. Walker, R. H. A.