Devil in Dublin City (The). The Scandinavian form of Dublin was Divel-in[a], and the Latin Dublinia.
(See Notes and Queries, April 9th, 1881, p. 296, for another explanation.)
"Is just as true's the deil's in hellDevil looking Over Lincoln (The). Sir W. Scott in his Kenilworth has, "Like the Devil looking over Lincoln." A correspondent of Notes and Queries, September 10th, 1892, says -
Or Dublin city."
Burns: Death and Dr. Hornbook.
"The famous devil that used to overlook Lincoln College, in Oxford, was taken down (Wednesday, September 15th, 1731), having about two years since [previously] lost his head in a storm." - Gentleman's Magazine, 1831, p. 402.We have other similar phrases, as "The devil looking over Durham."