a county of England, deriving its name from Hartford the capital; and that from the harts with which it anciently abounded, being then overrun with woods. It is bounded on the east by Essex, on the west by Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, on the south by Middlesex, and on the north by Cambridgeshire. This county is much indented 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 contain 19 market towns, 54 vicarages, 120 parishes, and near 950 villages, and in 1801, contained above 97,000 inhabitants; and sends six members to parliament, two knights for the shire, with two burgesses for St Albans'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 diocese of Lincoln, and partly to that of London. Though the soil in general, especially in the Chiltern 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 fell 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, fowing 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 thoroughfares through it, make ample amends.