a parliamentary burgh and seaport of Ireland, on the borders of the counties of Down and Armagh, is beautifully situated in the valley traversed by the river of the same name, not far from its mouth in Carlingford Bay, 32 miles S.S.W. of Belfast, and 63 N. of Dublin. It consists of a fine square, and several good and well-paved streets lined with well-built and handsome houses chiefly of brick. The parish church is a fine modern building of early English architecture, with a tower and spire 190 feet high. There are also Presbyterian, Independent, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches; a town-hall, court-house, two jails, custom-house, infantry barracks, assembly-room, fever hospital, dispensary, and workhouse. The manufactures are extensive, consisting of beer, brandy, leather, linen, cordage, cotton, glass, iron, brass, coaches, &c. The trade of the place is also considerable, especially in the export of butter, eggs, provisions, and cattle, and the import of coals, iron, &c. The river, which is here crossed by four stone bridges, admits vessels of 600 tons burden up to the town, and those of 1000 tons to within 6 miles of it. There is also a ship-canal leading to the sea, and a boat-canal to Lough Neagh, which is 32 miles distant. The number of ships registered at the port, 31st December 1856, was 114, and their tonnage 6648. In that year there entered the port coastwise, 753 sailing vessels, tonnage 47,495; and 254 steamers, tonnage 42,115. From the colonies, 16 sailing vessels, tonnage 7306; from foreign parts, 15 sailing vessels, tonnage 2535—in all, 824 sailing vessels, tonnage 57,336; and 254 steamers, tonnage 42,115. In the same year there cleared, coastwise, 278 sailing vessels, tonnage 15,111; and 250 steamers, tonnage 42,945; for the colonies, 5 sailing vessels, tonnage 2401; for foreign parts, 4 sailing vessels, tonnage 1962—in all, 287 sailing vessels, tonnage 19,474; and 250 steamers, tonnage 42,945. Steamers ply regularly twice a-week between this town and Liverpool, a distance of 153 miles. Newry is a place of great antiquity, and a Cistercian abbey was founded here in 1157 by Maurice McLoughlin, king of Ireland. The name of the town is supposed to have been derived from the number of yew-trees which grew here, and two especially within the limits of the abbey which was called in Irish Na gar ("of the yew-trees"). After the Reformation, the abbey was granted to Sir Nicholas Bagnal, marshal of Ireland, who converted it into a dwelling-house, erected a church and castle, and rebuilt the town. Newry formerly sent two members to the Irish, and now sends one to the imperial Parliament. Pop. (1851) 13,191.

NEW SOUTH SHETLAND, a group of islands in the Antarctic Ocean, lying between S. Lat. 60.32, and 67.13, and W. Long. 44.53, and 68.15.; about 600 miles S.S.E. of Cape Horn. They are twelve in number, and extend for a distance of 300 miles from N.N.E. to S.S.W., being bounded on the S. by a broad strait called Bransfield Strait, separating them from an extensive country which apparently lies near the S. pole. The islands are rocky and mountainous, having some peaks between 6000 and 7000 feet high. They are covered with snow for nearly the whole year, and the only vegetation that is found in these desolate regions consists of lichens and mosses, and some scanty grass, which appear in a few tracts of the islands in the warmest time of the year. They are of volcanic formation, and some of the mountains are covered with scoria and lava; while hot springs have been discovered rising from among the snow with a temperature of not less than 146°. The only animals that are found on these islands are sea-fowls, of which the albatross, the penguin, and the sea-cormorant are the principal. Whales and seals of different kinds are found in the seas; and the islands are frequently visited for the purpose of taking these animals. New South Shetland was discovered in 1819 by Captain Smith.

NEW SOUTH WALES. See Australia.