MUNICIPALITY. 
STATE AS TO PEOPLE. 
Section 1 . —Municipality. 
EXTENT OF THE CITY AND LIBERTIES. 
According' to the present charter of Londonderry, granted by Charles the 2nd, in the 14th 
year of his reign, and enrolled in the 18th, the extent of the “ city and liberties” is defined to be 
“ within, and by the space and circuit of three Irish miles, to be measured and limited from the 
middle of the said city of Derry, on each and every side of the said city.” 
The proportion annexed to the city on the west of the Foyle was originally computed at 4000 
acres, and divided into the upper and lower liberties, which are separated by the bishop’s demesne. 
The former division is included within a line, stretching from tjie demesne by the Sheriff s Moun¬ 
tain, and turning eastward by the road to Raphoe, and the hill above Dunmore, and thence to the 
bank of the Foyle. The latter extends from the demesne towards the west and north. 
The jurisdiction of the corporation at present extends over the whole parish ; but in Culmore 
only by sufferance, this townland not forming a property in the county. In Clondermot, on 
on the east of the Foyle, the limit follows the southern county boundary, and proceeds eastward to 
Lisdillon, inclusive : it then turns northward, and comprehends Glenkeen, Lismacarol, Gortica, 
Tirbraclcen, Managhmore, Managhbeg , Gortree, Gorticross, Cam, Ballyoan, Stradreaghbeg, 
Maydown, Carrakeel, Culkeeragh, and Lissahawley. 
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS. 
Charters. —On the conclusion of the warlike operations of Sir Henry Docwra, in 1603, 
the attention of the English government was particularly turned towards establishing a munci- 
pality in Derry, of which, as has been seen in Civil History that able commander may be 
considered the “ true founder.” By an abstract of charters from the patent rolls of James the 1st, 
it appears that on the 12th of September, 1603, a grant was made to Sir Henry Docwra to hold 
two markets, and a fair for six days, with horse-races during such markets and fairs, which horse¬ 
races were continued until 1834, when they were suppressed by the exertions of a number of the 
resident gentry, who considered that they led to immorality. Pursuant also to letters dated at 
Westminster on the 22nd of March, 1603, the king did “ give, grant, and confirm unto 
him, and the inhabitants of the Derrie, all the circuit and extent of land and water within the 
compass of three miles, to be measured from the circumference of the old church walls, directly 
forth in a right line, every way round about, every mile containing 1000 geometrical paces, and 
every pace five feet in length,” which “ shall be for ever a free, entire and perfect city and county 
of itself, to be called the city and county of Derrie, and shall be a corporation and body politic, 
made and created of the inhabitants of the same, consisting of 1 provost, 12 aldermen, 2 sheriffs, 24 
burgesses, and as many freemen as the said Sir H. Docwra during his life, and as the provost, 
aldermen, sheriffs, and burgesses, should think good to admit.” By the same letters the sheriffs 
are empowered to hold various courts, “ to nominate a recorder during behaviour the provost, 
or vice-provost, recorder, and two senior aldermen to be justices of the peace, to hold courts of oyer 
and terminer, and gaoldelivery.” The corporation also, in general, was empowered to keep courts, 
among other privileges. . . , 
In 1609 it was again determined “ that the liberty of the city should extend three miles 
°' ery Onthe 27th of January in the year 1612-13, the Irish Society was formed, and on the 29th of 
March they received their charter of incorporation, under the name of “ the governor and assistants 
of the new plantation in Ulster/’ By this charter “ it is granted that the city or town of Derry 
should be called the city of Londonderry, and all lands within the circuit of three Irish miles to be 
measured from the middle of the city, to be within the liberties and jurisdiction theieof. 
From the extracts just given it appears that, so far as the extent of municipal jurisdiction is 
concerned, the various charters agree. This agreement prevails pretty generally throughout, and 
the circumstances which led to their successive abrogation, and the final settlement of the present 
charter, have been fully detailed in the previous parts of this Memoir. 
