DERBYSHIRE, a county of England, bounded on the east by Nottinghamshire, and a part of Leicestershire, which last bounds it also on the south. On the west it is bounded by Staffordshire, and part of Cheshire; and on the north by Yorkshire. It is 56 miles long by 33 broad, and contains 972 square miles, or 622,080 acres.—The air is pleasant and healthful, especially on the east side; but on the west, about the Peak, it is sharper and more subject to wind and rain. The soil varies much. In the east and south parts it is very fruitful in all kinds of grain; but in the west, beyond the Derwent, it is barren and mountainous, producing nothing but a little oats. There is, however, plenty of grass in the valleys, which afford pasture to a great number of sheep. This part of the county is called the Peak, from a Saxon word signifying "an eminence." Its mountains are bleak, high, and barren; but yield abundance of lead, copper, iron, grindstones, marble, alabaster, a coarse sort of crystal, fluor or Derbyshire spar, as it is called, which is extensively manufactured into various ornaments, and pit-coal. In these mountains are two remarkable caverns, named Pool's Hole, and Elden-Hole. See these articles. The population of Derbyshire in 1811 was 185,487. See DERBYSHIRE, SUPPLEMENT.