an island county of England, in form almost circular. It has Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to the north; Rutlandshire and Lincolnshire on the east; Warwickshire on the west, from which it is parted by the Roman military way called Watling-street; and by Northamptonshire on the south. It is 33 miles long, 28 broad, and 100 in circumference; containing 560,000 acres, 112,200 inhabitants, 200 parishes, and 13 market-towns. As it lies at a great distance from the sea, and is free from bogs and marshes, the air is sweet and wholesome. It is a champaign country in general, and abundantly fertile in corn and grass, being watered by several rivers, as the Soar, or Sore, which passes through the middle Leighton, middle of it, and abounds in excellent salmon and other fish; the Wreke, Trent, Eye, Senfe, Auker, and Aven. These rivers being mostly navigable, greatly facilitate the trade of the county. In some parts there is a great scarcity of fuel, both wood and coal; but in the more hilly parts there is plenty of both, together with great flocks of sheep. Besides wheat, barley, oats, and peas, it produces the best beans in England. They grow so tall and luxuriant in some places, particularly about Barton in the Beans, that they look, towards the harvest-time, like a forest; and the inhabitants eat them not only when they are green, as in other places, but all the year round; for which reason their neighbours nickname them bean-belters. They have plenty of very good wool, of which they not only make great quantities of stockings, but send a great quantity unmanufactured into other parts of England. They make great profit of their corn and pulse; and likewise breed great numbers of coach and dray horses, most of the gentlemen being graziers; and it is not uncommon to rent grass-farms from £500 to £2000 a-year. It is in the midland circuit, and diocese of Lincoln; and sends four members to parliament, two for Leicester, and two for the county.