a county of England, de- riving its name from Hartford the capital; and that from the harts with which it anciently abounded, be- ing then over-run with woods. It is bounded on the east by Essex, on the west by Bedfordshire and Buc- kinghamshire, on the south by Middlesex, and on the north by Cambridgeshire. This county is much in- dented by those that surround it; the longest part is about 35 miles, and the broadest about 27; and the circumference is 190, containing about 451,000 acres. It is divided into eight hundreds, which con- tain 19 market towns, 54 vicarages, 120 parishes, and near 950 villages, with about 16,500 houses, and 90,000 inhabitants; and sends six members to parlia- ment, two knights for the shire, with two burgesses for St Alban's, and as many for Hartford. Before the reign of queen Elizabeth, one sheriff served both for this shire and Essex; but in the ninth year of her reign, it had one allotted for itself. With regard to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, it belongs partly to the dio- cese of Lincoln, and partly to that of London. Though the soil in general, especially in the Chil- tern and southern parts, is but very indifferent, and much inferior to that of the neighbouring counties; yet the air is so much superior, that lands in this shire generally sell at three or four years purchase more than in many others on that account. But it must be owned, that the soil of Hartfordshire has been much improved of late, by draining, sowing grass seeds, and other methods. There are few or no manufactures in the county; but its markets are much frequented, in consequence of its being near London, for malt and all sorts of grain, which, with the many thorough- fares through it, make ample amends.