Note (return) — OLD COVENT GARDEN.

Hibernia.—Ireland is called by the Latin writers, Hibernia, Ivernia—Ierne1—and Verna—names differing but little in sound, and all, merely Latinizations of the Irish words Ibh Eirin—that is, the Land of Erié—for Ibh, in Irish, signifies a land, or country, and Eirin is the genitive case of Eire, the name of Ireland in the Irish tongue—from Ibh Eirin the Romans formed Hibernia, &c. the termination only being Latin—and from Eire, by adding land, the Saxons formed Eireland or Ireland. This Eire was a very ancient queen who gave her name to the country, as in modern times Virginia was called after Queen Elizabeth, Maryland after the queen of Charles I., &c.