KINGS

KINGS, BOOKS OF THE, canonical books of the Old Testament, embrace three portions of sacred history, viz., the reign of Solomon, the parallel histories of Judah and Israel in their divided state after his death, and the history of Judah till the beginning of the captivity. Originally they formed one book, and were first divided by the Seventy, by whom they are classed as III. and IV. Kings. This arrangement obtains in the Vulgate. The name of the book gives a very inadequate idea of its contents, unless the theocratic position of the Jewish monarchs be borne in mind, with all its anomalous relations to the prophetic power. There was present in the nation an element to be found in no other human society; and hence the peculiar lights and shadows of the recorded history. To realize this, it is only necessary to contrast the history of Jezebel in the land of the theocracy, as given by the sacred penman of this book, with that of her cousin Dido in the classic pages of Virgil. The unity of the book has been denied by few. Jeremiah is the only prophet who may be reasonably named as its author; and it is certain there is throughout a considerable resemblance to his style. In compiling the history the author refers to certain works not admitted into the canon, and not now extant. The nature of these books has occasioned considerable variety of opinion, but it seems probable that they were authentic and official documents publicly known and accessible to the nation. There are few commentaries on Kings. The most satisfactory is that by K. F. Keil, Commentar über die Bücher der Könige, 8vo, Moskau, 1846.

KING'S BENCH, COURT OF. See ENGLAND, § Government and Laws.

KING'S COUNTY, an inland county of the province of Leinster, in Ireland, is bounded on the N. by the county of Westmeath, on the E. by the county of Kildare, on the S. by the Queen's county and Tipperary, and on the W. by the counties of Tipperary, Galway, and Roscommon. According to the Ordnance Survey, it comprises an area of 772 square miles, or 493,985 acres; of which 337,256 are arable, 145,836 uncultivated, 8258 in plantations, 902 in towns, and 1733 under water.

In the earliest periods of Irish history this county formed part of the territory of Hy-Falga, and was also known by the name of Hy-Laoighis, a denomination that comprehended also the Queen's county, Dublin, Kildare, and some other districts. The southern part of it afterwards obtained the name of Ely O'Carroll. It was also known by that of the kingdom of Offaly, and was confiscated to the crown in 1557, in the reign of Philip and Mary, during the administration of the Earl of Sussex, under the title of East and West Glenmallery. This large tract of country was then reduced into shire ground, and one portion was called the Queen's county, and the fort and town named Maryborough, in honour of Queen Mary; the western district was called the King's county; and the fort of Dingan, in honour of King Philip, was named Philipstown, and was originally the assize town, but has been superseded in favour of the more important town of Tullamore. The principal clans were formerly the O'Connors, the O'Carrolls, the O'Egans, the O'Delanys, and the O'Meaghers. These chiefs were very troublesome neighbours to the English Pale, and kept up constant skirmishes with the royal forces. The forfeitures consequent on the wars of 1641 and the revolution were extensive in this county, and the principal families attainted were the O'Carrolls, the Coghlan, the Geohegans, and the Graces. The King's county is now divided into the twelve baronies of Ballyboy, Ballycowan, Ballybritt, Clonlisk, Coolestown, Eghlish, Garrycastle, Geashill, Kilcoursey, Upper and Lower Philipstown, and Warrenstown. These are again subdivided into fifty-one parishes.

According to former ecclesiastical arrangements of Ireland, this county comprehended parts of the dioceses of Kildare, Meath, Killaloe, Ossory, and Clonfert; but under

King's County. the new distribution of the dioceses it is comprehended in those of Dublin, Meath, Killaloe, and Ferns.

The surface of the country is for the most part level and uninteresting, the usual elevation being less than 300 feet above the level of the sea. The great field of flint limestone, that forms so much of the soil of Ireland, spreads itself over all but its southern portion. Beds of foliated limestone, of a greenish hue and a large granular texture, adapted for various useful purposes, are found at Tullamore. In the S.E. the Slieve Bloom Mountains extend in a direction from N.E. to S.W. for 20 miles, forming the line of demarcation between the King's and Queen's counties. They are steep and craggy, and have but one opening by which they can be crossed, called the Gap of Glandine. They consist of a nucleus of clay, surrounded by sandstone, with tracts of irremediable bog at their base. Pure white clay, of a quartzose nature, is found in them. Croghan Hill, about 3 miles N. of Philipstown, one of the most fertile and elevated of the eminences in the northern extremity of the county, rises above the surrounding level to the height of about 500 feet, clothed with verdure to its summit. It is composed of trap and flint limestone. On those parts of its surface the basis of which is lime, the soil is extremely barren; whilst on the other parts it is peculiarly fertile, producing, from time immemorial, good crops of oats and potatoes, without manure. The difference is so marked, that the line of junction of the two formations can be traced by the verdure on the surface. Another elevation of the country, but less remarkable than that of Croghan, is the Hill of Cloghan, between the River Brosna and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Numerous and abundant springs gush from it on all sides. The minerals found here are iron in small quantities, manganese, ochre, chalk, and potters' clay. The only river that can strictly be considered as belonging to the county is the Brosna, which rises in the county of Westmeath, and discharges itself into the Shannon. This latter river forms a considerable part of the western boundary of the county. The Barrow is its boundary to the S.E., and the Boyne skirts a small portion of its north-eastern extremity. The Lesser Brosna, also a branch of the Shannon, divides the county from Tipperary. The only lake within the county is Lough Pallas, of inconsiderable dimensions. The divisional line which separates the Queen's county passes through the middle of Lough Annagh, the northern portion of which is therefore considered as belonging to the King's county. It is of inconsiderable size, not covering more than 315 acres.

The soil is in general either a deep moor or a shallow gravelly loam; the former is the more productive in dry seasons, the latter in moist. Limestone is abundant in most parts. The pastures, though not luxuriant, form good sheep walks; that on the more mountainous tracts has proved excellent for young cattle. In reclaimed bog, corn crops are some weeks later in ripening than elsewhere, although the natural vegetation is earlier than in the upland pastures. A considerable portion of the Great Bog of Allen is in this county, which altogether contains about 146,000 acres, consisting either of flow bogs or coarse pasture land. The extent of the bogs may amount to about 120,000 acres, of which about one-third is capable of improvement for cultivation, by a system of perfect draining, followed by a coating of from 3 to 4 inches of clayey gravel, which occurs abundantly near the edges of most of the bogs. On the whole, including the elevated pastures, 45,000 acres are susceptible of improvement for cultivation; 94,000 acres might be drained, and 7000 acres are not improvable so as to repay the outlay. The returns of the number of inhabitants at various periods are as follow:—

The density of the population, which in 1841 was 190 persons to the square mile, had diminished in 1851 to 145 persons, being a decrease at the rate of 45 inhabitants on each square mile.

The proportion of Protestants to Catholics is about one to four; the number of Dissenters is inconsiderable.

The county was represented in the Irish parliament by six members—two for the county at large, and two for each of the boroughs of Philipstown and Banagher. The boroughs were deprived of the right of returning members at the Union; and as no change has since been made, the county is now represented by only two members.

The number of children receiving education in public schools was, in—

Of the numbers stated in the latter return, 2064 were of the Established Church, 7959 Roman Catholics, 22 Dissenters, and 94 whose religious persuasion was not ascertained. The total number of schools was 254, thirty of which, containing 1854 pupils, were supported by grants of public money; 24, containing 1404 pupils, by voluntary subscriptions; and the remaining 200, containing 6881 pupils, were maintained by the fees of those instructed. In 1851 the number of schools and of pupils attending them was ascertained to be as follows:—

The crops usually raised are wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes. Green crops are very general; rye-grass is much encouraged for early feeding. Great attention is paid to the rearing of horses, in consequence of which the county can boast of a fine breed. The uplands and moors are chiefly employed in feeding young cattle and sheep. The wool of these latter is highly esteemed at Ballinasloe. In the northern baronies there are many dairies. Lime, and limestone gravel, either by itself or formed into a compost with the gatherings of the farm refuse, constitute the general manure. The gravel burned in heaps, with the parings of the moors, produces very heavy crops. The produce of wheat on good lands averages twelve barrels of 20 stones per Irish acre, and on some choice lands has amounted to seventeen barrels. The crops grown, and the amount of land in cultivation since 1847, according to the agricultural returns collected by the Irish government, was as follows:—

The number of Holdings, and the amount of the different descriptions of Live Stock in the County in the following years were:—

There is every reason to suppose that the greater portion of this county was once an uninterrupted forest. Wherever the timber is protected it grows up to great size and beauty. The parts bordering upon Tipperary are richly wooded. Alder is indigenous. The ash grown here is preferred to any other by the Dublin workmen. The bogs furnish an inexhaustible supply of fuel, not only from their own peculiar vegetation, but from the trunks and roots of trees raised from them, which produce a quick and lively fire. Notwithstanding the great prevalence of bog, the general surface of the land is of sufficient elevation to afford great facilities for conducting the superfluous moisture to the rivers which intersect the country in all directions. The fences are generally of white thorn, which thrives remarkably well here.

The condition of the peasantry, though more comfortable than in some other parts of Ireland, is, notwithstanding, low in comparison with that of the English of the same class. The houses are small and poor, mostly covered with thatch, and seldom weatherproof. Earthen walls and straw roofs are preferred by most, not only from habit, but as being warmer than stone and slate. Fuel is everywhere plentiful, the bogs furnishing an inexhaustible supply of excellent quality. The food, in general, is potatoes and oatmeal. The peasantry are industrious when excited by what they deem adequate remuneration.

The only manufactures carried on are those of wool and linen; but the quantities wrought are merely sufficient for the home consumption. The Grand Canal, which crosses the county from E. to W., affords a cheap and expeditious mode of conveying its superabundant produce to other parts. Breweries and distilleries absorb much of the grain raised in the county.

Remains of antiquity of very remote date are frequent. In the Slieve Bloom Mountains there is a large pyramid

of white stones, called the Temple of the Sun, or the White Obelisk. Of Danish raths, which are numerous, the most remarkable is that in Finglas parish. A chain of moats, chiefly situated at the passes of the bogs, may be traced throughout the county. At Clonmacnais are two round towers and several stone crosses. This sequestered spot was the site of several places of religious observance, whence its name of the Seven Churches. The monastery is said to have been founded by the O'Melaghens, princes of Meath; and the castle, the detached ruins of which form a most picturesque object, to have been erected in 1214. Clonmacnais was also a bishop's see, which merged in that of Meath in 1568. There were three religious houses at Killeigh. Monasteris Monastery, founded by one of the Bermingham family, in the district called Thotmoy, was a place of great repute. Durrow was also the site of an extensive abbey. The remains of military antiquities are still more numerous. Rathmore Castle, the area of which comprehended two acres, is looked upon as the oldest in the county. At Banagher are the remains of a fortress which commanded an important pass over the Shannon. Bire or Parsonstown Castle, formerly the residence of the O'Carrolls, having become the property of the Parsons family, is now the residence of Lord Rosse, and is well known as containing the most powerful reflecting telescope in existence. Cangor Castle, in Clonlisk barony, is noted for its defence against the Irish, by whom it was ultimately taken and burned, and its garrison put to the sword.

The population is mostly rural. The towns are few and small. Philipstown, named in honour of Philip the second of Spain, was formerly the capital of the county, but in consequence of its decayed state, the assizes were some years ago transferred to the more important and central town of Tullamore. The place was formerly the site of Dingan Castle, the residence of the O'Conors, who were driven from

Kinghorn it in 1546 by Sir William Bellingham, and forced to fly to
Kingston Connacht. The town was taken and burned by King
James's forces in 1690.

Parsonstown, formerly called Birr, has within a short
period risen from an obscure village to the rank of a popu-
lous, well-built, and thriving town, second only to Tulla-
more in importance, and exceeding it in the number of in-
habitants. The church is an elegant modern building of
the Gothic style. In the town is a low Doric pillar, sur-
mounted by a statue of the Duke of Cumberland, who
commanded the English army during the Scotch rebellion
in 1745. About a mile from the town are the barracks,
capable of accommodating three regiments of infantry.
Tullamore, on the Grand Canal, now the principal and as-
size town, owes its present improved condition to its situa-
tion on the Grand Canal, on which it is the principal town.
From its central situation it has become a place of con-
siderable business. It is also in some degree indebted for
its regular, modern, and respectable appearance, to a con-
flagration which destroyed most of the mean and ruinous
huts of which it chiefly consisted before. Its principal
buildings are, the parish church, an elegant modern struc-
ture, the county gaol and court-house. The number of
inhabitants in 1851 was 4928. No other town in the county,
except Parsonstown and Tullamore, contains so many as
2000 inhabitants. (II. 8—9.)