a county of England, bounded on the west by Berkshire and Hampshire, on the south by Sussex, on the east by Kent, on the north by Middlesex, from which it is parted by the Thames, whence it had the name of Suth-ree from the Saxons, i.e. the country on the south side of the river. It is 38 miles in length from east to west, 23 in breadth from north to south, and 112 in circumference. It contains 13 hundreds, 140 parishes, of which 35 are vicarages, 13 market-towns, 450 villages, 592,000 acres, and about 269,043 inhabitants. The members sent from it to parliament are 14, of which two are sent by each of the following boroughs, viz. Southwark, Blechingley, Rye gate, Guildford, Gatton, Haslemere, and two for the county.

The air of this county, towards the middle, which consists mostly of hills and heath, is sharp, but pure and wholesome. About the skirts, where it is more level, and the soil richer, the air is milder, but also salubrious. In the middle parts the soil is barren enough in general; but towards the extremities, and where the country is open and champaign, it is fruitful in grass and corn, particularly on the south side in Holmsdale, in which meadows, woods, and corn-fields, are agreeably intermixed. The soil is also very fertile along the Thames, especially towards London, where it greatly contributes to maintain plenty in the London markets. It has several rivers, abounding with fish, the chief of which are the Wye, the Mole, and the Wandle.