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 near 40 miles in length from south to north; about 30 in breadth on the north side, but on the south no more than six.—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 is very different in different parts of the country. 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 affords pasture to a great number of sheep. This part of the country is called the Peak, from a Saxon word signifying an eminence. Its mountains are very bleak, high, and barren; but extremely profitable to the inhabitants. They yield great quantities of the best lead, antimony, iron, scythe-stones, grindstones, marble, alabaster, a coarse sort of crystal, azure, spar, and pit-coal. In these mountains are two remarkable caverns, named Pool's Hole, and Elden-Hole; for a description of which, see these articles.