QUEENBOROUGH-
Tlie powerful family of Butler, towards the latterpart of the fifteenth century, made a well-organisedand successful attempt to wrest from the turbulentFitzpatricks, their most troublesome neighbours, theterritory of Ossorv, comprising, at that period, themost valuable part of the district now denominated theQueen’s County. Open war was accordingly com-menced between Peter, earl of Ormonde, and thedynasty of Ossory, the former being supported by hisrelations, friends,"and followers, and the latter aidedbv those contiguous septs which believed their ownsecurity to be involved in the issue of the contest.The earl was ably assisted by his countess, the ladyMargaret Fitzgerald, one of the most celebratedfemales of her age. This lady had augmented thestrength and resources of her family, by contractingalliances between her children and the most powerfulof the nobilitv connected with Ireland. To advancethe object of his triumph over the Fitzpatricks, thecarl, who stood in high favour at the British court,proposed to partition fairly between the friends whoassisted him in the irndertaking, such lands and pos-sessions as might be yielded to their united arms.To prevail over opposition was, however, found moreeasy than to retain possession of the tract nominallyconquered; and it would appear that the oneroustask of keeping down the F'itzpatricks chiefly de-volved, according to the terms of his family-alliancewith the earl, upon Sir Oliver Morres, whose nameis, consequently, one of the most conspicuous in theannals of Ossory relating to this disturbed and san-guinary era.
Although this district was constituted a separatecounty in the reign of Mary, it received no otheradditional linglish settlement than the fort of Mary-borough until the time of queen F'lizabeth, when theFitzpatricks proved the most valuable allies of theEnglish in completing the subjugation of a tract ofcountry, so truly formidable whilst its native posses-sors remained united. It was chiefly during thegovernment of sir Henry Sydney that the power ofthe O’Mores, who had formerly exercised almostunlimited sway in these parts, was finally broken.In obedience to the dreadful practice of the times,this object was achieved by the unsparing use of thesword. The followers of the O’Mores, and theirdependant septs, were banished into the southerncounties of Cork and Kerry, then nearly depopulated.At this juncture many respectable English families,to whom lands destitute of hereditary owners weregranted by the crown, fixed themselves permanentlyin the Queen’s Count}’, their descendants, in severalinstances, still holding a distinguished place amongthe did resident gentry. Seven of these families,whose founders bore a prominent share in subduingtile natives, and in building forts and castellatedhouses for the defence of their estates, acquired theappellation of the Seven Tribes.
In the reign of Charles I. very considerable grantsof land in this county were made to Villiers, duke ofBuckingham, which now constitute the extensivemanor of Villiers.
In the eastern division of the county, the range ofthe Dysart hills form a prominent and picturesqueobject rising in a detached group from the flatcountry by which they are surrounded. These hillscommand the view of a rich and beautiful countrv,adorned with extensive plantations and splendiddemesnes.
QUEENSFERRY. 879
Considerable quantities of corn are produced inthis county, and large tracts of land are profitablyappropriated to pasturage. Butter, principally madein the barony of Ossory, affords a lucrative article ofcommerce ; and the cheese of this county, althoughfar from being good, is considered superior to anymade in other parts of Ireland. Considerable atten-tion is bestowed on the breed of cattle ; and oxen areusually joined with horses in ploughing, and in manyother agricultural operations.
The principal rivers are the Barrow and the Nore;the former of which is navigable, from the town ofPortarlington to the sea near Waterford.
A branch of the grand canal passes along thenorth-eastern part of the county, and meets the riverBarrow at the town of Athy. The whole county isdeficient in wood ; but the demesnes of afHuent resi-dents are frequently well planted. Large tracts ofbog still remain in many parts, although much hasbeen lately reclaimed, with exemplary perseveranceand success. Amongst the mineralogical produc-tions of this district may be noticed iron and copper,which abound in the hills, but are at present notworked. Large quantities of coal are found in thebarony of Slewmargy, and are disposed over neigh-bouring districts by the conveyance of cars, or sentto Dublin by means of the grand canal. No manu-facture of importance is cultivated in this populouscounty, with the exception of serges and stuffs, whichwere formerly made more largely than at present,chiefly in the neighbourhood of the few principaltowns.
This county contains several handsome seats ; andthe antiquarian visiter will be gratified with the viewof many relics of ecclesiastical and military architec-ture, often the emphatical memorials of importantpassages in the history of Ireland.
Queen’s County sends two members to the Britishparliament, and has a resident population of 145,843persons.
Queenborodgh. A borough town in the countyof Kent, situated in the isle of Sheppey. It is a neattown, and the houses are nearly all of modern con-struction. The church is an ancient building, butconveniently fitted up within. The old market-house,which stood near the centre of the town, has beentaken down, and a guildhall erected on its site. Itrests on four columns, and is very neatly finished :under it is the market-place and gaols. The inhabit-ants of the town are mostly fishermen, and theirprincipal employment consists in the oyster fishery.Previous to the passing of the Reform Act, in 1831,Queenborough returned two members to the Britishparliament; it was then, however, disfranchised, andis now simply a market town. The inhabitants, bythe last official returns, amounted to GOOO persons.Queenborough is forty-five miles E. of London, andone and a half from the town of Sheerness.
Queensfebby. A royal burgh in the county ofLinlithgow, Scotland. This town is situated on t heshores of the Frith of Forth, and derives its principalamount of importance from the ferry across the Frith,which is much frequented on account of its being themost eligible place for crossing. The breadth of tboFrith of Forth at Queensferry is about two miles, andthe ferry is under excellent regulations. The town issaid to have received its name from Margaret, queenof Malcolm Canmore, who w as its patroness. Queens-ferry, in conjunction with Culross, Stirling, Dunferm-