SOMERS.ETSHIRE. a maritime co. in the s.w. of England, is bounded on the li.w, by the Bristol channel, and in other directions by Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Wilts, and Gloneestei shire. Area, 1,019,81.1 acres, Pop '71, 463,4V•;3. Its form is oblong, its length hung about SO m., and breadth about 36. The surface is extremely diversified, there being every variation, from lofty hills and barren moors to rich vales and marshy "levels." nmuy lhomantis of acres of the latter being below high-water mark, and tlep:miling, for security on sea banks and sluices. The hills are divided into several rang•s running from e. to \vest. One range, known as the Mendips (q.v.), runs from 11..:1r the rite of Welk to the emkt at Broln-down. South of these hills is a vast marshy on wffich the Polite!' Nils stand out abruptly like an island. Another conspicu ous glut;', called the Qtrintoeks, rise near Taunton and at•in a maximum elevation of 1270 feet. And finally. in the extreme iv., is the wild district of Exmoor forest, eon. posed almost entirely of barren hills, the highest of which. Dunkery beacon, is 1668 ft. above the sea level. The rivers of the county rise chiefly in these high grounds, and are none of them of any magnitude except the Bristol Avon, which rises in Wiltshire, and for some miles divides Somersetshire from Gloucestershire. Paret drains the middle districts and is a tidal stream up to Bridgwater, presenting at spring-tides the peculiar phenomenon called the "bore." The soil is mostly and the pasture-lands are almost unrivaled for their luxuriance. The wheat and barley grown around Bridg water are famous; butgrazing and dairy farming form the great objects of husbandry, and the cheese of Cheddar has a great reputation. Cider is also produced in enormous quantities, but owing to the prevalence of small farms agriculture is in a backward state. The hilly districts are rich in minerals, especially iron, with some lead and
calamine; and the Radstock and Bedminster coal-fields supply the northern districts with excellent fuel. Oolite is largely developed in the neighborhood of Bath, where a beautiful building-stone is extensively produced. The principal manufactures are woolen cloth, coarse linens, lace, silk, and gloves; but these industries are not pro gressive, and the population of Somersetshire is diminishing largely in the rural tricts. The medicinal springs are an important feature of the county, having been the means of bringing into celebrity and sustaining the splendor of Bath (q.v.). Weston super-Mare, containing at the beginning of the century a few hovels, is now one of the finest watering-places on the western coast. Somersetshire is divided into three districts for electoral purposes, and returns six members to the house of commons. The parlia mentary boroughs are Bath, Taunton, and Frome—Bridgwater having been recently disfranchised for corrupt practices. In ancient times this part of the kingdom was inhabited by the Belfice, and the _Mendips appear to have formed so strong a against the Roman and Saxon that even to this day philologers can trace the strong Celtic element that held its ground here. British camps are very numerous on the hills, and extensive remains of stone circles are visible at Stanton Drew, near Bristol. In Saxon limes one of the earliest counties to embrace Christianity; and while a church was founded at Wells in 704, on the site now occupied by fine cathe dral, a monastery was founded at Glastonbury, which eventually became one of the wealthiest in the kingdom. Somersetshire was the principal arena of the rebellion of the duke of Monmouth in 1685.