Belloc,
_Avril_ (1905); A. Tilley, _The Literature of the French Renaissance_
(2 vols., 1904).

FOOTNOTE:

[1] For the date of his birth, commonly given as 1525, see H.
Chamard, _Joachim du Bellay_ (Lille, 1900).

DUBLIN, a county of Ireland in the province of Leinster, bounded N. by
Co. Meath, E. by the Irish Sea, S. by Wicklow, and W. by Kildare and
Meath. With the exception of Louth and Carlow, Dublin is the smallest
county in Ireland, having an area of 218,873 acres, or about 342 sq. m.
The northern portion is flat, and the soil good, particularly on the
borders of Meath; but on the southern side the land rises into
elevations of considerable height. The mountains are chiefly covered
with heath, except where a subsidence in the ground affords a nucleus
for the formation of bog, with which about 2000 acres are covered. There
are also a few small tracts of bog in the northern part of the county.
The mountain district is well adapted for timber. The northern coast of
the county from Balbriggan to Howth has generally a sandy shore, and
affords only the small harbours of Balbriggan and Skerries. In the
promontory of Howth, the coast suddenly assumes a bolder aspect; and
between the town of Howth and the rocky islet of Ireland's Eye an
unsuccessful artificial harbour was constructed. Kingstown harbour on
the south side of Dublin Bay superseded this, and is by far the best in
the county. Dalkey Island, about 22 acres in extent, lies about midway
between Kingstown harbour and the beautiful bay of Killiney. North of
Howth lies Lambay Island, about 600 acres in area. Shell fish,
especially lobsters, are taken here in abundance. Small islets lie
farther north off Skerries; the most interesting of which is that known
as Inispatrick, reputed as the first landing-place of St Patrick, and
having the ruins of a church said to be the saint's first foundation,
though it shares this reputation with other sites. Ireland's Eye, off
Howth, is a very picturesque rock with about 54 acres of grass land. It
has afforded great room for geological disquisition. The chief river in
the county is the Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow mountains about 12
m. S.W. of Dublin, and, after running about 50 m., empties itself into
Dublin Bay. The course of the river is so tortuous that 40 m. may be
traversed and only 10 gained in direction. The scenery along the banks
of the Liffey is remarkably beautiful. The mountains which occupy