an island of the county of Kent, surrounded by the sea except on the north-east side, where it is bounded by the branches of the river Stour, now inconsiderable to what they were formerly. It contains several villages, and the sea port towns of Margate and Ramsgate, and has the title of an earldom. It is celebrated for being the spot through which arts, sciences, and divine knowledge, came into this happy isle. The Britons called it Richborough, from its vicinity to the city of that name, now only a venerable ruin; but the Saxons called it Thanet, from fire, having so many beacons erected on it. It is in the north-east part of the county, lies open to the sea on the north and east, with the river Wantsum on the west and south, is about 10 miles long from the North Foreland to Sarre Bridge, and about 8 broad from Westgate to Sandwich Ferry. The north part of it is chiefly arable; and the south and west parts consist of marsh or pasture-lands. The soil is generally very fertile, especially in producing the best barley, of which it is computed above 20,000 quarters are annually sent to London.