MERSEY, an important river of England, separates, in its lower course, the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire, and has its origin in the junction of the Throne and Goyt, on the borders of Derbyshire, e. of Stockport. It flows in a w.s.w. direction, and is joined on the right by the Irwell from Manchester, at which point it becomes navigable for large vessels. Besides the Irwell, the chief affluents are the Bollin and the Weaver from Cheshire. At its junction with the Weaver the 31ersey expands into a wide estuary, *which forms the Liverpool channel. The estuary is about 16 m. long, and from 1 to 3 m. broad; opposite Liverpool it is a mile and a quarter in width, with a considerable depth at low water. It is much obstructed by sandbanks; but the excellent system of pilotage in practice here renders the navigation comparatively secure. Congers, shrimps, flounders, and sparlings abound in the river and estuary. Entire length with the estuary, nearly 70 miles.
is a market t. of South Wales, with a pop., in '71, of 51,949 within the parish, which has a local board of health. The parliamentary borough embraces Aberda,re and two other outlying districts; pop. 97,020. It is on the northern border of the county of Glamorgan, abutting upon the county of Brecknock, and sur rounded by lofty hills. It is built upon the river Taff, 500 ft. above sea-level, 24 m. from its mouth and port at Cardiff ; and it includes the junctions of the greater and lesser Taff, the Morlais, and the Dowlais, streams which there unite to constitute the main river. Merthyr-Tydvil is the seat of the iron trade of Glamorgan, as represented by- the great works of Dowlais, Cyfarthfa, and Plymouth, and in a less dearree by that of Peny- darren. It also contains large collieries, and is celebrated, with Aberdare, for the excel
lence of its steam coal. The annual make of finished iron in this place, chiefly- in the shape of rails, merchant-bars, girders, and ship-plates, may be stated roughly at 200,000 tons. The exports of coal are considerable, and are increasing, but the chief consump tion is within the works. The population are all directly dependent upon the works, there being no other trade or manufacture. Railways branch from Merthyr-Tydvil to Brecon, to Swansea, to Cardiff and Penarth, and to Newport and Hereford. The borough was created by the first reform act, and now returns two members. Its chief town-officer is the headborough of the lordship, called the " high constable," and its government is vested in a local board. Dowlais contains some fine public buildings, but Merthyr-Tydvil is deficient in this respect. Though a busy, it is not a striking place, having risen very rapidly with the local trade, and having attained nearly its present dimensions before it was under any but the ordinary parochial government. There are, however, symptoms of improvement. It is well supplied with water, and the infantile mortality, long extraordinary, is now reduced. The people, chiefly Welsh, are indus trious, and, on the *hole, very orderly'. There are 17 establishachurches, and 113 dis 'tenting chapels in the borough.