CAERMARTHENSHIRE, one of the counties in South Wales, is bounded on the south by St George's Channel, on the west by Pembrokeshire, on the north by Cardiganshire, and on the cast by Brecknockshire and Glamorganshire. The general appearance of this coun ty is hilly ; and towards the north and cast these hills rise into mountains. The county is almost every where intersected with small narrow vailies, from the skirts of which the hills rise abruptly. The principal of these vallies is the vale of Towy, which extends thirty miles up the country, and in some places is above two miles broad. It abounds in picturesque beauties ; and from the classi cal spot of Grongar-hill, immortalised by Dyer, and the ruined castle of Dynevo•, the richest prospects arc to be seen.
The principal rivers in this county are the Towy, the Taw, the Cothv, the Dulas, and the Gwilly. The Towy, which rises in Cardiganshire, enters Caermarthenshire at the north-east side, and running south-south west, it empties itself into a large bay formed by the whole coast of the county, and inclosed by the projecting shores of the counties of Pembroke and Glamorgan. The river Cothy rises on the north side of the county, and runs chiefly in a southern direction, till it falls into the Towy, about six miles above Caermarthen. The Taw, 'Pave, or Tcivy, has its origin in Cardiganshire, and afterwards forms the boundary between that county and Caermarthenshire : After watering the north-west side of the county, it re ceives the Keach, and then bends its course into the county of Pembroke.
The climate and soil of this county are much celebrat ed. The air is reckoned milder and more salubrious than that of most of the adjacent counties ; and the soil, which is less rocky and mountainous, is more fruit ful in grass and corn. The flat tract of ground near Langharne, which is embanked from the sea, is singu larly fertile. The climate, however, is not favourable to wheat. Barley succeeds better ; and very considerable quantities of oats are annually exported to Bristol and other places. Horses and black cattle are reared in
great abundance on the hills, and forms the chief article of trade in the different fairs. The county affords good pasturage ; and a great deal of butter is made for expor tation. The rivers of the county abound in fish ; and excellent salmon, and a delicious species of trout, called Suen, are obtained in great quantities. The county was formerly clothed with a very considerable quantity of wood, but of late years it has suffered a great diminution. Limestone is very plentiful ; and there are several mines of lead and iron. There are great lead mines some miles to the north of Llandovery. The working of these mines, and the manufacture of woollen stockings, form the principal employment of the inhabitants. A consi derable quantity of pitcoal, and tinned iron plates, are exported from, Llanelly, which is situated upon an arm of the sea called Burry River, which runs between this county and Glamorganshire. The exportation of coals has been greatly facilitated by a canal, which has been cut from some collieries to Kidwelly, a small town si tuated on a creek near the mouth of the Towy.
The length of Caermarthenshire, from east to west, is about 45 miles ; and its extent, from north to south, is about 20 miles. It contains about 926 square miles, or 590,640 acres, of which 228,000 acres are in pasturage, 114,000 in tillage, and the rest in a state unfit for culti vation. It is divided into eight hundreds, viz. Carnwal Ion, Carthinog, Cayo, Dorllis, Elvett, lskennen, Kirk welly, and Perfedd. It has five market towns, Kirk welly, Llandilovaur, Llanclthy, Llangarne, and Llando very ; and contains 145 parishes, 13,449 inhabited hou ses, 67,317 inhabitants, 31,439 males, and 35,878 fe males, of whom 4343 were returned as employed in trade, and 32,862 in agriculture. The money raised for the maintenance of the poc r in 1803 was 17,0461. at the rate of 128. 9d. in the pound ; and the amount of the assessments under the pi operty tax for 1806 was 378,814/.