a county of England, 47 miles in length, by 39' in breadth. It is bounded at its northern extremity by a point of Derbyshire; on the north-west by Staffordshire; on the north-east by Leicestershire; on the east by Northamptonshire; on the fourth-west by Gloucestershire, and on the south-east by Oxfordshire. It is situated partly in the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and partly in that of Worcester; it contains four hundreds, and one liberty, one city, 12 market towns, 18 parishes; sends fix members to parliament, and the population is computed at 208,190. The air is mild, pleasant, and healthy. The river Avon divides the north part of it, or the Woodlands, from the south, called the Feldon; and the soil of both is rich and fertile. Its productions are corn, malt, wood, wool, cheese, coal, iron, and limestone. The chief rivers of this county are the Avon, Tame, and Arrow. Warwick is the capital; but Birmingham is far superior to it in respect of trade and manufactures, and even to any other town in England.

Birmingham, in this county, of which the account given in the order of the alphabet is very deficient, is one of the most remarkable towns in England, or perhaps in Europe, for the extent, variety, elegance, and utility of its manufactures. This town was little distinguished previous to the reign of Charles II. but since that period it continued to increase in extent and importance. In the year 1700, the number of streets in Birmingham was only 30; they are now nearly 250. In the year 1779 there were only three houses on a particular spot, which in 1791 contained 833.

Birmingham owes its prosperity and population to its manufactures, which are in a great measure the consequence of its vicinity to coal, aided by the spirited and industrious exertions of a few individuals. It has been stated, and no doubt with great truth, that its prosperity is in no small degree indebted to its exemption from the restrictions of borough and corporate laws. To give some notion of the progress and extent of the manufacturies of this place, it may be mentioned that the late Mr Taylor, who introduced gilt buttons, japanned, gilt, and painted snuff-boxes, with various articles of manufacture in enamel, died in 1775, at the age of 64, having amassed a fortune of 200,000l. In painting snuff-boxes at so low a rate as one farthing each, one man could gain 3l. 10s. per week. The weekly produce of Mr Taylor's manufacture of buttons amounted to 800l. beside many other valuable and curious productions.

The manufactory of Messrs Boulton and Watt, which for its extent, variety, and importance, stands unrivalled in Europe, has been already noticed under the word SOHO. The new coinage of copper, which is so often deservedly admired, and the re-stamped dollars, are the productions of the Soho manufactory. The first coining mill was erected at Soho in 1784. It is now so much improved, that eight machines driven by the steam-engine, are going on at the same time. Each of those machines strikes from 70 to 84 pieces of the size of a guinea per minute, and hence the whole eight machines work off in one hour between 30,000 and 40,000 coins. The different processes of the machinery are, 1. Rolling the masses of copper into sheets. 2. Rolling them through cylindrical steel rollers. 3. Clipping the pieces of copper for the dye. 4. Shaking the coin in bags. 5. Striking both sides of the coin, and then milling it; after which it is displaced, and another is introduced, to be subjected to the same operation. But the most extraordinary contrivance of this ingenious machinery is, that a precise account of every coin which passes through it is regularly kept, so that it is impossible to practise fraud.

Beside the branches of industry already mentioned, there are manufactories of guns, bayonets, and swords, of sporting guns, of whips, of japan ware, of numerous works in brafs and steel, both for ornament and use, and at one time of leather to a considerable extent.

Birmingham contains a museum of natural and artificial curiosities, a handsome theatre, rebuilt since 1791, several churches belonging to the establishment, various dissenting meeting houses, and a number of charitable establishments. In the neighbourhood of Birmingham there are three extensive breweries; and by means of canals this place has the advantage of easy communication with almost every part of the kingdom.