DOWN, a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster; bounded on the east and south by St George's channel; on the west by the county of Armagh; and on the north by the county of Antrim. It lies opposite to the isle of Man, Cumberland, and Westmoreland; and the north part of it fronts the Mull of Galloway in Scotland, and is about 44 miles from it.—It is about 44 miles in length and 30 in breadth. The county of Down contains 60 parishes, and in 1792, the population amounted to 220,000 souls. It sent 14 members to the Irish parliament, two for the county, and 12 for the boroughs.
This county is rough and full of hills; but the air is temperate and healthy. The soil naturally produces wood, unless constantly kept open and ploughed; and the low grounds degenerate into bogs and moors where the drains are neglected. But by the industry of the inhabitants it produces good crops of corn, particularly oats; and, where marl is found, barley. This last is exported from Killough to Dublin. The staple commodity of this county is the linen manufacture.