a circle of the province of Zeeland, in the Netherlands, consisting of the island of that name, which is separated by the Elbe water from South Beveland; it is divided into six cantons, and contains 30,000 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, nearly in the centre of the island; it was once fortified, but is now with its walls converted into pleasing promenades. It is well built, and has twelve churches, one of which, the New Church, has a lofty tower, serving as a useful landmark. In 1830 it contained 14,700 inhabitants, viz. 6,469 males and 8,231 females. The city has manufactories of linen and woollen cloth, and is celebrated for its chocolate. It is connected by water with the West Scheldt, but its shipping operations have been on the decline, and but slightly revived since the return of peace. This city was the birth-place of the celebrated jurist Bynkershoecck. Long. 3. 32. 10. E. Lat. 51. 30. 6. N.

MIDDLETON, a market-town of the county of Lancaster, in the hundred of Salford, 190 miles from London and seven from Manchester, on the road to Rochdale. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the different branches of the cotton manufacture. It is a parish of itself, and has a market, which is held on Saturday. The inhabitants of the town were, in 1801, 3,265; in 1811, 4,422; in 1821, 5,809; and in 1831, 6,903; but at the last census the whole parish, which comprises also seven other chapelry or townships, contained 14,370 inhabitants.

MID-HEAVEN, the culminating point of the ecliptic, or that in which it cuts the meridian.

MIDDLE ISLAND lies off the south coast of New Holland, in longitude 123. 10. east, and latitude 34. 7. south. There is another small island of this name in the strait between the islands of Billiton and Banca, which it divides into two, namely, on the west, Gaspar's Strait, and on the east, Clement's Strait. It is also the name of a small island in the narrowest part of the Straits of Sunda, opposite to Hog's Point, in Sumatra, called also Thwart the Way. Long. 105. 43. E. Lat. 5. 55. S.