The landed property in Hertfordshire is so much divided that there are few great proprietors, and none so large as in many other counties ; few rentals of individuals exceed L. annum. A large part of the county is copy tenure, with fines in some instances fixed, and in some, such as the lords of the manors and the copyholders can agree upon. The farming buildings are generally neat, convenient, and substantial.
Though principally an agricultural county, yet Hertfordshire has several manufactures which give employment to the poor. In the western and north ern part of the county the making of thread lace gives occupation to the females. On the side towards Bedfordshire the plating of straw to make hats em ploys considerable numbers both of women and child ren. There are silk mills at St Albans, and mills for spinning cotton at Rickmansworth. Some of the finest writing paper is made at Twowaters by mills on the Colne and the Bulborne. Great quan tities of malt are made at Ware, Hertford, Bishops Stortford, and other parts of the country ; and the makers of it, as well as the numerous millers, have the advantage of water conveyancito the metropolis. As little wood is used for firing, the barges that con vey malt and flour to London bring back coals, or, when they are not wanted, are loaded with manure. These articles form the principal trade of the county.
A portion of the children of Christ Hospital, in London, are sent to Hertford at an early period of their entrance on that foundation. The building ap
propriated for this purpose forms three aides of a tri angle at the east end of the town, and contains ap partments for 500 children, their master, and attend ants.
This county abounds with many antiquities. The most striking is the Abbey of St Albans, a most beautiful Gothic pile, said to have been founded in honour of the first British martyr, in the year 303, on the site of the ancient Verulam. The vicinity of this abbey was the theatre of many bloody battles during the wars of the rival houses of York and Lancaster. Lord , Bacon was buried, not in the abbey, but in St Michael's church, near it, where his monument is still in good preservation. The ruins of Sopwell Nunnery, near St Albans ; the remains of Gorhambury Abbey ; the Roman Camp at Ravens borough; the Cross at. Waltham; the Church at Kings Langley, and the Castles of Anstey, of Bennington, of Hertford, and Bishops Stortford, all invite and gratify the attention of the antiquarian.
Hertfordshire returns six members to the House of •Commons ; two for the county, and two for each of the boroughs of Hertford and St Albans.
The towns, containing more than 1000 inhabitants in the year 1811, were the following : See Brayley's Hertfordshire, and Young's Survey.
(w. w.)