or COLERAIN, a county of Ireland, in the province of Ulster. It is bounded on the south and south-west by the county of Tyrone; by Antrim on the east, from which it is parted by the river Bann: by Donegal on the west; and that country and the Deucalondian ocean on the north. Its greatest length is about 36 miles, its breadth 30, containing about 251,510 acres. The bogs and heaths of this county are manured with sea-shells, as those of Donegal. Like that, too, it is pretty champaign, and not unfruitful. It is particularly noted for a very clear river called the Bann, abounding with salmon, a fish said to delight in limpid streams. This river, to distinguish it from a lesser of the same name, is called the Greater or Lower Bann. In order to cultivate, settle, and civilize this county, King James I. granted it, by letters patent, to a society, by the name of the Governor and Assistants at London of the new plantation of Ulster in the realm of Ireland. It contains fix baronies; and, besides the two knights of the shire, sends to parliament two members for the city of Londonderry, and two each for Colerain and Newton-Limavady or Lamnavady.

or Derry, the capital of the county, and the see of a bishop, stands at the bottom of Lough-Foyle. This city has a very good port, to which ships of the greatest burden have access, and a considerable trade. It will be ever famous for the gallantry and perseverance with which it defended itself in three memorable sieges, in defiance of the greatest hardships and discouragements, namely, 1st, In 1641, when the rebels could not reduce it either by fraud or force. 2dly, In 1649, when it was besieged by the lord Ardes, and reduced almost to extremity by famine, till at last relieved by troops sent from England. 3dly, When it held out against the French and Irish from the 7th of December 1688, to the last day of July 1689, though it was neither well fortified nor provided with a garrison or stores of provision and ammunition, and hardly any attempt made to relieve it during so long a time. Though the city is 20 miles up the river, yet very large ships can come up to the quay, where there are four or five fathoms of water. It is now well fortified with a strong wall, besides outworks; and along the banks of the river are several castles and a fort. This city is of no great antiquity, having been built and planted in the reign of James I. by a colony sent by the society above mentioned. The trade of the town is very considerable, having not only a large share in the herring fishery, but sending ships also to the West Indies, New England, and Newfoundland, for which they are so advantageously situated, that a vessel bound from thence to America often arrives there before a London ship can get clear of the foundations, or arrive in the latitude of Londonderry. Though there are a great many shallows in Lough-Foyle, which serves it instead of a road; yet they are easily avoided, as there are deep channels between them. These points called Emifone, Rutherhull or Caldy head, which lie a little to the west of the mouth of the harbour, are counted the most northerly of Ireland. The inhabitants of this city are almost all Protestants. It gave title of earl and baron to a branch of the family of Pitt, which became extinct in 1764; but part of the title was revived in Robert Stewart, who was created Baron Londonderry in 1789. A late traveller says, "Derry is, perhaps, the cleanest, best built, and most beautifully situated town in Ireland; and excepting Cork, as convenient as any for commerce, foreign and domestic." The lake almost surrounds it; and the whole ground-plot both of it and its liberties belongs to the 12 great companies of London. Great quantities of salmon, salted and barrelled, are exported from hence to America. It contains 10,000 inhabitants, and has a wooden bridge 1068 feet long, which was erected in 1791. Long, 7° 5' W. Lat. 55° 4' N.