the chief town of Buckinghamshire in England, stands in a low ground, on the river Ouse, by which it is almost surrounded, and over which there are three handsome stone-bridges. The town is large and populous, sends two members to parliament, and had the title of a duchy. It seems, however, to have been but an inconsiderable place at the conquest; for, according to Doomsday-book, it paid only for one hide, and had but 26 burgesses. Edward the elder fortified it in the year 918 against the incursions of the Danes, with a rampart and turrets. It also had formerly a castle in the middle of the town, of which no vestiges now remain. The shrine of St Rumbald, the patron of fishermen, preserved in the church, was held in great veneration. The county-goal stands in this town, and here the assizes are sometimes kept. It was formerly a staple for wool, but that advantage it hath now lost. It is governed by a bailiff and 12 burgesses, who are the sole electors of the members. In its neighbourhood are many paper-mills upon the Ouse. W. Long. c. 58. N. Lat. 51. 30.

BUCKINGHAM-SHIRE, (supposed to derive its name from the Saxon word Buc, denoting a hart or buck), a county of England, bounded on the south by Berkshire, from which it is parted by the Thames; on the west by Oxfordshire; on the north by Northamptonshire; and on the east by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex. Its length is 39 miles, its breadth 18, and circumference 138; in which space it contains 441,000 acres; eight hundreds, three to the south, and five to the north of the Chelten; 11 market-towns, six parliamentary boroughs, 185 parishes, and about 111,000 souls. The boroughs are, Buckingham, Chipping-Wycomb, Aylesbury, Agmondeham, Wendover, and great Marlow, each of which sends two members to parliament, and the county two; in all 14. It lies in the diocese of Lincoln, and Norfolk circuit; and gives the title of earl to the family of Hobart.—The air is good, especially upon the Chiltem; and though in the vale it may not be altogether so pure and serene as upon the hills, the soil is more fruitful; yet that of the Chiltem is far from being barren; for, besides feeding large flocks of sheep, it produces very good wheat and barley. The meadows of the vale are among the richest pastures in England, as the sheep are among the largest; though the mutton is not so good as that of the downs, nor the beef equal to that of Somersetshire. The Chiltem was formerly over-run with wood, and infamous for being a harbour of thieves; but it hath long been cleared of both. The graziers of the vale are as considerable as any in England; and their herds of cattle as numerous, and of as large a size. The country is also well furnished with wood and water, so that it is inferior to few in England. The chief manufactures are paper and lace; the last of which is almost equal to that of Flanders. The chief rivers are the Thames, the Ouse, and the Caln.

(George Villiers duke of). See VILLIERS.

(John Sheffield duke of). See SHEFFIELD.