a county of England, which derives its name from its situation amidst the three kingdoms of the East, West, and South Saxons. It is bounded on the north by Hertfordshire; on the south by the river Thames, which divides it from Surry; on the west by the river Colne, which separates it from Buckinghamshire; and on the east by the river Lea, which divides it from Essex. It extends about 23 miles in length, but hardly 14 in breadth, and is not more than 115 in circumference; but it comprehends the two vast cities of London and Westminster, which are situated in the south-east part of the county, it is by far the wealthiest and most populous county in England. It is divided into 62 liberties, containing 200 parishes, besides a vast number of chapels of ease, and 5 market towns, exclusive of the cities of London and Westminster. The air is very pleasant and healthy. The soil, which is gravelly, produces plenty of corn, and the county abounds with fertile meadows and gardeners grounds. In a word, the greater part of the county is so prodigiously assisted by the rich compost from London, that the whole of the cultivated part may be considered as a garden. The natural productions are cattle, corn, and fruit; but its manufactures are too many to be enumerated here, there being hardly a single manufacture practised in Great Britain but what is also established in this county.—Though London is the chief city, Brentford is the county town where the members of parliament are elected. In 1811 it contained 126,269 houses, and 924,358 inhabitants in towns, and 867,92 houses, and 48,918 inhabitants in the country, making altogether 953,276 inhabitants. See MIDDLESEX, Supplement.

MIDDLESEX is also the name of four different counties in the United States of America; one of them is in Massachusetts, another in Connecticut, a third in New Jersey, and the fourth in Virginia.