a county of Scotland, comprehending Annandale, Wachopdale, and Niddifdale, extends in length from west to east about 50 miles, and is about 34 miles in breadth where broadest. It is bounded on the west by Galloway and Kyle; on the east by Solway firth, and the marches between Scotland and England; on the north by part of Clydesdale, Tweedale, and Teviotdale; and on the south by the Irish sea. The country is rough and mountainous, not so well adapted for corn as for pasture; and, of consequence, innumerable flocks of sheep and herds of black cattle are bred in this county, and fattened for exportation to England. The face of the country is bare and brown, almost destitute of wood, and very deficient in fuel; yet the valleys being watered and fertilized by abundance of streams, produce good corn.—In the division called Niddifdale, are mines of lead, and, as it is said, of silver and gold also; but the two last mentioned are not worked.

the capital of the above-mentioned county, is a large flourishing town, situated at the mouth of the river Nid, in W. Long. 3° 20'. N. Lat. 54° 45'. The houses are well built and commodious, the streets open and spacious: The town has an old castle in tolerable repair; four gates; a stately church; an exchange for the merchants; a tolbooth; a large market-place with a curious cross; and a noble bridge of free-stone over the river, consisting of 13 arches, with a gate in the middle as a boundary between the shire of Dumfries and the stewartry of Galloway. This town gives the title of earl to the chief of the family of Crichton; it is the seat of a presbytery and provincial synod, and carries on a considerable foreign trade.