Ireland 1852

This map of Ireland is from “The College Atlas” by H.G. Collins, 22 Paternoster Row, London which was published in 1852. The descriptive text that follows is compiled from the “Universal Gazetteer and Geographical Dictionary" published by John Thomson & Co, Edinburgh in 1843.

Ireland, a large and important island of Europe, in the Atlantic Ocean, lying to the west of Great Britain, from which it is separated by St George’s Channel, the Irish Sea, and the North Channel; the shortest distance being from the Mull of Cantyre to the Irish coast, 13½ miles. Ireland is divided into four provinces, viz. Ulster, Leinster, Connaught and Munster, which are again divided into 32 counties. The face of the country affords a pleasing variety of surface, In some parts there are rich and fertile plains, watered by copious and beautiful streams, while in other parts hills are found in frequent succession, which give diversity to the scenery. The climate is in general more temperate than that of other countries in the same latitude. It is, however, much more inclined to moisture. The soil is, generally speaking, a fertile loam, with a rocky substratum. The bogs form a very remarkable feature of the country. These are of different kinds, and in some places are very extensive. Agriculture is in a backward state, though in many counties improvements begin to be adopted. Oats are extensively cultivated and Ireland has long been celebrated for the excellent quality of potatoes it produces. The dairy husbandry is the most extensive and the best managed in Ireland. The linen manufacture is the staple branch of Irish industry. Roads in this country are generally well laid out, and kept in good order. The trade between France and Ireland is considerable; from France she imports wines particularly, and exports to that country provisions, linen etc. This country was conquered by the English in 1171. It has its own courts of justice, and the government is administered by a lord-lieutenant, appointed by the crown. It had a separate parliament till 1800, when a legislative union with Great Britain took effect. The population in 1754 was 2,372,634; in 1805 5,395,456, and in 1834 it was 7,947,848.