a county of Ireland, in the province of Leinster, bounded on the south by the county of Waterford, on the north by the Queen's county; on the west by the county of Tipperary, on the east by the counties of Wexford and Catherlogh, and on the north-west by Upper Offory. The greatest length of this country from north to south is 40 miles, the breadth from east to west 20; and it contains 10 baronies. It is one of the most healthful, pleasant, and populous counties of Ireland. The members sent by it to parliament are 16, viz., two for the county, two for Kilkenny, and two a-piece for Irish-town, or St. Kennis, Gowran, Thomaltown, Callan, Inniskill, and Knocktopher. This county is divided, as it were, into two parts, by the river Neor or Nore, which has its source in those lofty mountains called the Slieve Bloom or Blandinchills.

the capital of a county of the same name in Ireland, situated in W. Long. 7. 15. N. Lat. 52. 30. takes its name from the cell or church of Canic, who was an eminent hermit in this country. It is the seat of the bishop of Offory, which was translated from Agabo, in Offory, about the end of Henry II's reign, by bishop O'Dullany. The city is divided into the English and Irish towns. The English town is much the newer and most considerable; the other, (which is also called St Kenny's or Canic's,) from the cathedral dedicated to that saint, which stands upon an eminence (where there is a most delightful prospect), being only a kind of suburbs. Both together make one of the Kilkenny, largest, most wealthy, populous, and trading towns in the kingdom. Here are barracks for a troop of horse and four companies of foot; and a well endowed free-school, called the college. The supreme council of the rebels under the pope's nuncio sat at Kilkenny during the time of the general massacre. The city is pleasantly situated on the Neor, a navigable river that discharges itself into the harbour of Waterford. It is said of Kilkenny, that its air is without fog, its water without mud, its fire without smoke, and its streets paved with marble. The two latter are, indeed, matter of fact; for they have, in the neighbourhood, a kind of coal, that burns from first to last without smoke, and pretty much resembles the Welsh coal. Most of the streets also are actually paved with a very good sort of black marble, of which they have large quarries near the town, which takes a fine polish, and is beautifully intermixed with white granite. The air too is good and healthy, though not remarkably clearer than in many other parts of the kingdom. Here is the ancient seat of the Ormond family, which is an ornament to the city; and the neighbouring country is well cultivated and very fertile.

About two miles from this city, in the neighbourhood of the park-house of Donmore, formerly occupied by the duke of Ormond, are a number of caves as curious, perhaps, as any mentioned in history, except those of Antiparos in the Archipelago: we shall present the reader with a description of them taken on the spot, by an ingenious gentleman of Dublin. "After a difficult descent of about 100 feet, the entrance into this subterranean world is gained. The appearance of the first cavern is uncommonly awful; and gives rise to an idea of a Gothic structure, grand in ruin. The solemnity of this place is not a little increased by the gaiety of those scenes that present themselves on every side previous to our entering it. The floor is uneven, and stones of various sizes are promiscuously dispersed upon it. The sides are composed of ragged rocks; in some parts covered with moss, and in others curiously frosted; and from the roof, which is a kind of arch, several huge rocks project beyond each other, that seem to threaten instant ruin. The circumference of this cave is not less than 200 feet, and its height about 50. Here is a small but continual dropping of water from the ceiling, and a few petrifications resembling icicles. This place has its inhabitants; for immediately on entering into it, you are surprised with a confused noise, which is occasioned by a multitude of wild pigeons. Hence there is a passage towards the left, where, by a small ascent, a kind of hole is gained, like to, but larger than, the mouth of an oven, which introduces to a place, where, by the help of candles, day-light being entirely excluded, a broken and surprising scene of monstrous stones, heaped on each other, chequered with various colours, inequality of rocks overhead, and an infinity of stalactite stones, presents itself. It would be matter of much difficulty, or rather impracticable, to walk over this apartment, had not nature, as if studious for the safety of the curious, caused sorts of branches to shoot from the surface of the rocks, which are remarkably smooth, very unequal, and always damp. These branches are from four to six inches in length, and nearly as thick. They are useful..."

useful in the summits of the rocks to prevent slipping; Killiecrankie and in the sides are ladders, whereby to descend and ascend with tolerable facility. This astonishing amazementous passage leads to a place far more curious than any of the rest. On entering into it, one is almost induced to believe himself situated in an ancient temple, decorated with all the expense of art; yet, notwithstanding the beauty and splendor that catches the eye on every side, there is something of solemnity in the fashion of the place, which must be felt by the most ordinary spectator. The floor in some parts is covered with a crystalline substance; the sides in many places are incrusted with the same, wrought in a mode not unlike the Gothic style of ornament; and the top is almost entirely covered with inverted pyramids of the like elegantly white and lucid matter. At the points of these stalactical streets are perpetually hanging drops of pellucid water; for when one falls, another succeeds. These pendent gems contribute not a little to the glory of the roof, which, when the place is properly illuminated, appears as if formed of the purest crystal. Here are three extraordinary and beautiful conglomerations, which, without the aid of a strong imagination, may be taken for an organ, altar, and cross. The former, except when strictly examined, appears to be a regular work of art, and is of a considerable size; the second is of a simple form, rather long than square; and the third reaches from the floor to the roof, which must be about 20 feet. These curious figures are owing to water that falls from the upper parts of the cave to the ground, which coagulated into stone from time to time, until at length it acquired those forms which are now so pleasing; or to an exudation or exfoliation of petrifying juices out of the earth; or perhaps they partake of the nature of spar, which is a kind of rock-plant. The former seems to be the most probable supposition; as these figures, in colour and confidence, appear exactly like the icicles on the top, which are only seen from the wet parts of the caverns; and in this place there is a greater oozing of water, and a much larger number of petrifications, than in any other.

When this curious apartment has been sufficiently examined, the guides lead you for a considerable way through winding places, until a glimmering light agreeably surprises. Here the journey of above a quarter of a mile, through those parts, is ended; but, upon returning into the first cavern, the entrance into other apartments, less curious indeed, but as extensive as those we have described, offers itself. The passages into some of those are so very low, that there is a necessity of creeping through them; by these we proceed until the noise of a subterranean river is heard, but farther none have ventured.