a county of North Wales, 40 miles in length and 37 in breadth; bounded on the north by Merionethshire and Denbighshire, on the north-east and east by Shropshire, on the south by Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Cardiganshire, and on the west by the last-mentioned county and part of Merionethshire. It is divided into six hundreds; and contains five market towns, 47 parishes, and 47,978 inhabitants. It lies in the three several dioceses of St Asaph, Bangor, and Hereford; but sends only two members to parliament, one for the county, and one for the town of Montgomery. The air is pleasant and salubrious; but this county, being extremely mountainous, is not very fertile, except in the valleys, which afford some corn and plenty of pasture; but the south, south-east, and north-east parts, being more level, are extremely fruitful, especially a pleasant vale, watered by the Severn.