a maritime county in the N.W. of England, is bounded on the N. by Lancashire, on the N.E. by Yorkshire, on the E. by Derby and Stafford shires, on the S. by Shropshire and Denbighshire, on the W. by Flintshire, and on the N.W. by the Irish sea. Its greatest length from E. to W. is about 48 miles, and its greatest breadth from S. to N. about 33 miles. It possesses an area of 1,105 square miles, or 707,075 acres, and is thus the eighteenth largest county in England.

The principal geological formation is the new red sandstone, which extends over the whole of the central and western parts of the county. The coal measures occur in the north-eastern district, which is within the boundary of what is usually called the great Lancashire coal-field. This county, in addition to coal, yields small quantities of both copper and lead; but its principal mineral product is salt, of which enormous quantities are raised from the mines, which are principally situated near Northwich. These mines when lighted up (as they are sometimes on special occasions) present a most singular and beautiful spectacle, almost realizing the ideal of a fairy palace, sparkling with crystal and gems. Besides the rock-salt from the mines, large quantities are manufactured from the brine springs in the neighbourhood. It is said that nearly 500,000 tons of rock and manufactured salt are exported annually.

The general aspect of the county is flat; but there are some hills on the east, on the Derbyshire and Yorkshire boundary; while for a few miles to the N.W. of Macclesfield, and also on the southern boundary of the county, the surface is somewhat broken and undulating. There is also a low range of hills near Chester. The greater part of the county is richly wooded, and the surface is diversified by numerous pools of water and small lakes, called meres. There are some extensive tracts of peat, and much of the Cheshire county is very wet, having the surface covered with rushes and other subaquatic plants.

Cheshire possesses a number of streams and rivers, some of which are of considerable importance. The principal rivers are:—the Dee, which, rising in the Welsh mountains, forms the county boundary, separating it from Denbigh and Flint on the S.W., and, after traversing a portion of the county, forms a wide navigable estuary near Chester, and falls into the Irish sea; the Mersey, which rises in the Yorkshire hills, forms the county boundary along the whole of its northern edge, and after flowing in a nearly due W. course, and forming the important ports of Liverpool and Birkenhead, also falls into the Irish sea; the Weaver, which, after having received the Dane which rises in Derbyshire, flows in a N.W. course, and empties itself into the Mersey. By means of locks, this latter stream has been rendered navigable for vessels of 100 tons burthen as far as Northwich, which is ten miles from its mouth, and thus furnishes a ready means of transport for the produce of the salt mines.

The principal lakes are Combermere and Delamere, both of which have given titles to noble families. The royal forest of Delamere is also within this county.

The climate is temperate, and somewhat moist, and the soil is for the most part fertile; but owing to the general flatness of the surface, much of the land is very wet and greatly in want of draining. Dairy farming is the description of agriculture principally pursued; the greater portion of the land is therefore in pasture. On some estates a good deal has been done in draining, and in afterwards applying bone-manure to the surface with the best effect; but, generally speaking, agriculture is in a very low condition, and the general management of the land discreditable alike to landlords and tenants. The principal agricultural produce is cheese, of which an immense quantity is annually produced; and it is somewhat singular that the best quality is generally obtained from the poorest lands. It is said that not less than 14,000 tons of Cheshire cheese are annually sold in the London market alone. Seldom more than one-fourth of a dairy farm is cultivated, the other three-fourths being in permanent pasture. The crops usually raised on the cultivated lands are beans, potatoes, wheat, turnips, and oats. The farms are seldom large, and the farmers are a hard-working, hard-living race of men. It is calculated that not more than one-seventeenth part of the whole county is waste land; but of the remainder a large portion is in natural pasture.

This county is everywhere intersected by railways and canals or navigable streams, and thus possesses means of communication second to no county in England. The celebrated Bridgewater canals which traverse it rank among the finest and most useful works of the kind in any country, and have been the means of developing the resources and industry of the county to a surprising extent.

The principal towns are Chester, Birkenhead, Macclesfield, Stockport, and Congleton. At Stockport the manufacture of cotton and hats is carried on on a large scale, while Macclesfield and Congleton are chief seats of the silk manufacture. A large trade is also carried on in bricks and draining pipes, for making which the clay soils of the county are well suited.

Cheshire returned but two members to parliament from 1543 to the period of the Reform act. Since that time it has returned ten, viz., two for the southern, and two for the northern division of the county; and two each for the city of Chester and boroughs of Macclesfield and Stockport. The constituency of the northern division in 1852 was 7494. The political influence is chiefly in the hands of Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Egertons of Oulton Park, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and the Leighs of High Leigh. The constituency of the southern division in 1852 was 8117. The political influence is chiefly in the hands of the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Cholmondeley, and the Egerton family.

The average gross rental of the county is estimated at £28,76 per acre. The annual value of real property paying income-tax is £1,062,283; and the amount of property assessed for the relief of the poor is £1,593,157.

The population of the county by the last census was 455,725, giving an average of 412 persons to a square mile, or 1/6 acres to each person. Of the total number 222,386 were males and 233,339 females. The number of inhabited houses, including the represented city and boroughs, was 85,260; uninhabited, 4541; and building, 845;—giving an average of 77 inhabited houses to a square mile, and 53 persons to each house. The following table gives the census returns for the last 50 years:

| YEARS | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | |-------|------|------|------|------|------|------| | | 192,305 | 227,031 | 270,098 | 334,391 | 395,660 | 455,725 |

It is calculated that more than twenty-three per cent. of the population live by trade, manufactures, &c., nearly seven per cent. by agriculture; about one-eighth of the whole population are in the condition of servants, labourers, &c.; upwards of three thousand follow professions; while eight thousand Persons possess independent means.

Cheshire in 1844 occupied the nineteenth place in a table showing the ignorance of the kingdom, as illustrated by the numbers of men who signed the marriage registers with a mark—not being able to write. Its proportion above the average of ignorance was thus 0·4. In 1842-7 it occupied the thirty-fifth lowest position, in a table showing the crime of the kingdom, as illustrated by the criminal commitments of Wales to assizes and quarter sessions; its proportion above the average being 2·4. In a similar table showing the commitments for more serious offences against the person, and malicious offences against property, it occupied the forty-third or second worst place (Wales being taken in two divisions, and Yorkshire in three); the proportion above the average being 7·12. In a similar table showing the amount of bastardy in 1842, it occupied the fifth worst position; its proportion above the average being 40·3. In a similar table of pauperism for 1844, it occupied the fourth best place, its proportion under the average being 300.