an inland English county in the Oxford circuit, and nearly in the centre of the kingdom. It is bounded on the north by Staffordshire and Shropshire, on the south by Gloucestershire, and on the east by Warwickshire. Its figure is very irregular; and it is remarkable for having several detached portions scattered about the neighbouring counties, which makes it difficult to ascertain its dimensions. It may be stated as about thirty miles in length and twenty-four in breadth, and to be 723 square miles or 462,720 acres in extent.

The population of the county at the four decennial enumerations has been as follows: in 1801, 139,331; in 1811, 165,464; in 1821, 184,424; and in 1831, 211,400. At the last three periods the males were 103,353 and the females 107,082. The number of dwelling-houses was 41,406, inhabited by 45,512 families; of whom 14,654 were chiefly employed in agriculture; 19,040 were chiefly employed in trade, manufactures, and handicraft; and 11,828 were not classed in either of the preceding classes. At the same period the number of males twenty years of age was 52,796; the occupiers of land employing labourers were 2686; the occupiers not employing labourers, 1260; the labourers employed in agriculture, 14,590; the labourers employed in manufactures, and in making manufacturing machinery, were 8024; those employed in retail trade or handicraft, as mixers or workmen, 12,693; those described as bankers, professional and other educated men, 2085; labourers employed in labour not agricultural, 6544; other males under twenty years of age, 1079; male servants twenty years of age, 446; female servants, 8162.

There is a soft beauty on the face of this county, when viewed from any elevation, such as the Malvern or Abberley Hills, which is highly gratifying. From such spots the soil of its cultivation appears to great advantage, as there are no parts of any considerable extent so barren or neglected as to be destitute of an agreeable and profitable verdure. With the exception of those hills, the former of which rise to the height of 1440 feet, the whole county consists of gentle undulations, wholly enclosed, well wooded, and intersected by the great rivers Severn and Avon, and their several tributary streams. The abundance of orchards of pear-trees, and the scattered hop plantations, give a peculiar richness to the annual scenery. Even the poorer parts of the county, between the towns of Droitwich and Bromsgrove, have of late been cultivated; and though they do not rival in beauty the vale of Evesham, they are far from the aspect of sterility which they exhibited twenty years ago. The farms are generally of small extent, from forty to three hundred acres, and the cultivation is generally well conducted. The arable land, which, in the rotation of crops, produces artificial grasses, is estimated to be 360,000 acres; the permanent grass land 100,000 acres; and the woods, wastes, rivers, roads, sites of towns, and gardens, 40,000. The crops of wheat, barley, and especially of beans, are more productive than the average of England. Hops are extensively cultivated, and the pear-trees are so abundant and so productive as to afford perry for the common drink of the labourers in agriculture. There is no breed of cattle peculiar to Worcestershire, as it is found more profitable to buy oxen and sheep in a lean condition from poorer districts, and to fatten them in this county, than to breed them on its rich soil.

The great rivers Severn and Avon are both navigable, the former to an extent of nearly two hundred miles from its mouth, and the latter to Stratford from its junction with the former. The Severn abounds with salmon, shad, and lampreys, though those delicious fish are never known to ascend the Avon. The other rivers are, the Stour, the Salwarpe, the Ledden, and the Rea. This county has partaken largely of the benefit communicated by internal navigation. The canals are, the Trent and Severn, the Droitwich, the Worcester and Birmingham, the Dudley and Leominster. The town of Stourport has risen into importance since the extension of canals, and exhibits a large maritime town in the centre of the kingdom, connecting its various productions in a focus, and distributing them where needed.

Although this county has hitherto had no railways formed through it, yet as one portion of it is in contact with the town of Birmingham, that part has, by the vicinity, the means of the most rapid communication with London, Liverpool, and Manchester; and projects are now on foot which in a few years may give facilities of speedy intercourse with Bristol and Exeter, and may perhaps be extended to Plymouth.

The county possesses a variety of manufactures in hardware, carpet-making, gloves, and china. At Dudley, Stourbridge, and Old Swinford, about 450 males upwards of twenty years of age are employed at the forges, who make anvils, chains, and the heavier kinds of iron tools and machinery. At Woolverley, and some other neighbouring villages, about 280 men make gun-barrels, edge-tools, and files. At Tardebig, and the parishes near it, 540 men make needles and fish-hooks. The number of nailers throughout the county is about 3000, chiefly in and near Bromsgrove, Dudley, and Swinford. At and around Kidderminster, 2300 men are employed in making carpets, and in preparing materials for that manufacture. At Worcester, and in its suburbs, nearly 1000 men, and a much greater number of females, are employed in making gloves; and about fifty men, besides many females, are occupied in making china, chiefly in burnishing and other delicate operations. At Pershore, some men are employed in making watch-springs.

The salt made at Droitwich supplies nearly one half of England with that indispensable article. The duty collected there before the abatement of the tax amounted to more than £1,000 per day. The water, from which the salt is made by evaporation, is more highly saturated than any other that has been discovered. Researches in the bowels of the earth have shown that a river of salt water, about twenty-two inches in depth, runs about 250 feet below the surface. Immediately above this subterranean stream is a bed of gypsum 130 feet thick. When this stratum is penetrated by the borer, the spring rises to the surface, and yields a never-failing supply of water, so fully saturated that no more salt can be dissolved in it. The springs at Droitwich hold in solution about one fourth of their weight in salt; and no other in England holds more than a ninth. The subter- Worcester. Raneous river runs over a bed of rock-salt, whose thickness has not yet been ascertained. Besides the springs at Droitwich, other mineral springs are found at Malvern, which are resorted to for their healing properties, as well as for the pure air of the district. The combinations of the wells are carbonate of soda, carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, sulphate of soda, and muriate of soda.

The most considerable places, and their population in the year 1831, were the following:

| Place | Population | |----------------|------------| | Worcester | 18,610 | | Dudley | 23,043 | | Kidderminster | 20,865 | | Bromsgrove | 8,612 | | Stourbridge | 6,148 | | Evesham | 3,991 | | Bewdley | 3,908 | | Tardebig | 3,627 | | Malvern, Great and Little | 3,535 | | Droitwich | 2,487 | | Upton on Severn | 2,343 | | Pershore | 2,080 |

The titles derived from the county are the marquisate of Worcester and the earldom of Beauchamp. For election purposes the county has been formed into two divisions, distinguished as the eastern and the western, each of which elects two members to the House of Commons. The election for the eastern division is held at Droitwich; and the other polling places are Pershore, Shipston, and Stourbridge. The election for the western is held at Worcester; and the other polling places are Upton, Stourport, and Tenbury. The city of Worcester and the borough of Evesham, as formerly, return two members, and Bewdley one. By the reform bill, Droitwich has been deprived of one of its members, and Kidderminster and Dudley have been constituted boroughs, each electing one member.

Among the numerous seats of noblemen and gentlemen in this county, the most distinguished are, Madresfield, Lord Beauchamp; Hagley, Lord Lyttelton; Croome Court, earl of Coventry; Northwick, Lord Northwick; Hartlebury Castle, bishop of Worcester; Dailsford, late Warren Hastings; Ombersley Court, marquis of Downshire; Hewell Grange, earl of Plymouth; Hanbury Hall, John Phillips; Overbury, James Martin; Winterdyne House, William Mosclay; Westwood House, Sir Herbert Packington; and Whitely Court, Lord Foley.