CAERMARTHENSHIRE, a county in South Wales, containing 926 square miles, or about 590,640 acres. The northern and eastern parts are moun tainous. Near the, sea the land is flat, but the gene ral surface of the county is hilly. It is intersected in almost every direction by valleys, from the sides of which the hills rise abruptly. These valleys are for the most part, very narrow. The most celebrated for fertility and picturesque beauty, as well as the most extensive, m the vale of Towy, which stretches thirty miles up the county, with a breadth of only two miles. From the celebrated Grongar Hill, and the ruins of the Castle of Dynevor, the picturesque beauty of this vale are seen to the greatest advantage.
The principal rivers in Caermarthenshire are the TowY, the Teivy or Tair, the Cothy, the Dubs, and the Gwilly. The Towy rises in Cardiganshire. It enters Caermarthenshire, at its north-eastern corner, crossing towards the south-west, and, passing Caer empties ispelf into the large bay, between the counties of Glamorgan and Pembroke, called Caermarthen Bay. Many rivulets join the Towy in its course, among which us the Cothy. This stream rises on ;he north side of the county, and, running mostly in a southern direction, unites with the Towy about six miles above Caermartben. The Teivy rises in Cardiganshire, between which county and Caer marthenshire it afterwards forms the boundary; soon after receiving the Keach, it enters the county of Pembroke.
• The principal ports in this county are LInnelly, Kidwelly, Caermarthen, and Llaugharne. Llanelly has a good port for vessels of ten feet draught, form ed by an inlet of the sea called Burry River, which divides this county and Glamorganshire. Llanelly is the port of entry of Kidwelly and Caermarthen: its exports are coal and tinned iron plates. Kid .welly is situated on two small streams, called Givan draeth, which form a little haven, but mostly chok. ed with sand. From this town a canal has been cut, at the expence of a private. gentleman, between three and four miles long, to his coal-mines and lime-quar ries ; and, by means of this canal, Kidwelly has been enabled to export a considerable quantity of coals. Vessels of 250 tons burden ascend to the bridge of the town of Caermarthen on the Towy, but the en trance of the river is rather difficult, in consequence of a bar across it. The principal exports of Crier. marthen are tin elates and cast-iron. Llaugharne, on a creek, is chiefly remarkable for a considerable flat tract in the vicinity, embanked from the sea, studof singular fertility.
The climate of this county is soft and gold, but moist ; the soil of the lower districts is fertile, being for the most part either a rich clay, or a sharp or deep loam. Little wheat is grown ; and, except on the soils, barley is not a common crop ; but oats are extensively cultivated, and in respect both of produce and quality, are a very profitable crop.
Great quantities are exported, chiefly to Bristol. The pasture land, especially where the soil is snit. able, support a heavy stock ; they are applied either to the dairy, or to the breeding of black-cattle and horses. The latter are reared in great numbers on the hills, and constitute the principal article of trade at the fairs of this and the adjacent counties. Much butter is exported. It is computed that 114,000 acres are in tillage ; and about double that number in pasture; the rest is unfit for cultivation, though by no means unprofitable. According to the origi. nal agricultural report of this county, there are only about 170,000 acres of wastes and commons. This county was formerly, extremely well wooded; but, of late years, great waste has been made of the timber. Its rivers and sea-coast. abound in fish, especially salmon of excellent quality, and a spc. cies of trout, called Suen, in high request with epi. cures.
Caermarthenshire is rich in mineral productions. Coals and lead are the most abundant and profitable. The greatest lead-mines are not far from Llandowry. Limestone also abounds, and there are considerable quantities of iron ore. The sands in the vicinity of Llaugharne, according to Mr Donovan, abound in shells of great rarity and beauty. On the road from Caermarthen to Llandillo Vawr, a medicinal spring has lately been discovered, containing carbo nic acid gas ; carbonate of iron, and lime ; muriate of soda and lime; and sulphate of lime. At Kastell. Karreg there is a fountain, which ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours. There are several re. mains of antiquity, chiefly Roman, to be seen in Caermarthenshire.
The inhabitants, who are not engaged in Lure, are principally employed in working the in manufacturing the produce of these mines, or in making woollen stockings. The most extensive manufactures of tinned iron-plates are carried on at Kidwelly ; here are also other manufactures of iron, for which there are large and excellent furnaces, forges, flatting-mills, &c. Tinned-plates and cast. iron are also manufactured at Caermarthen, and the works in both branches are extensive. In the neighbourhood of Llandowry, the woollen-stocking manufactory principally prevails.
The money raised for the maintenance of the poor P• in 1803 was L.17,046, at the rate of 12s.94. in the pound. In the year ending the 25th of March 1815, there was paid, in parochial rates, the sum of L.30,354, 6s. 9id. from 83 parishes alone, the re maining 43 riot having made any return. By the?'' population returns, in the year 1800, there were 13,449 inhabited houses, 67,317 inhabitants, 31,439 males, and 35,878 females; of this number 32,862 were returned as employed in agriculture, See Agricultural Report ',South of South Wales.—Evana's Exeurnone. (c4