LANCASHIRE is a maritime county on the north west coast of England. It is bounded on the north by West moreland, and a part of Cumberland ; on the east by York shire ; on the west by the Irish sea ; and on the south by Cheshire. In shape, it is very irregular ; at the northern extremity, there is a considerable portion of it entirely detachcl from the rest, across an arm of the sea. Indeed it may, in some measure, be regarded as composed of three peninsulas, of which this just mentioned is one. This is comprehended between the river Dudden, which separates it fiom Cumberland, and the Ken, which divides it from Westmoreland ; the second peninsula lies between the Ken and the Ribble ; and the third between the Ribble and the Mersey, which is the boundary betwixt this county and Cheshire. The first of these, which Camden and other ancient geographers call Furness-falls, and which is still known by the name of Furness, is in some places 14 miles from north to south; but in most, not above seven, and about 18 from east to west ; the line of coast, however, stretches upwards of 30 miles. The second peninsula, or natural division of Lancashire, which is comprehended be tween Westmoreland, that divides Furness from the rest of the county, and the river Ribble, was called by the Saxons, Acmundi-ness ; by the Normans, Agmardernesse; and now commonly Anderness, extends about 25 miles from north to south, and about 12 miles from east to west. The last natural division of the county lies between the rivers Ribble and Mersey ; it is the largest and finest part of Lan cashire, extending about 22 miles from north to south, and in some places 35 from west to east.
The greatest length of the whole county is about 74 miles ; its greatest breadth, which is at the southern end, 45 ; its circumference 34 miles; its area covers about 1800 square miles ; and the number of acres is abort 1,200,000. It is divided into six hundreds; Salford, West Derby, Ley land, Blackburn, Amounderness, or Anderness, and Lons dale. The number of parishes in Lancashire is extremely small, considering the size of the county, proving its thin population at the period when they were divided ; they amount only to 61. There are 27 market towns, of which the principal are, Lancaster, the county town ; Liverpool and Manchester, nearly of a size, and next in population to London ; Bolton, Rochdale, Preston, Garstang, Wigan, Berry, Warrington, &c. It returns 14 members to Par
liament; two for the county ; two for Lancaster ; two for Preston ; two for Clithcroe ; two for Wigan ; two for Li verpool; and two for Newton. It is in the province of York, and diocese of Chester and Carlisle, and in the northern circuit.
Lancashire is a county palatine. The duchy was forfeit ed to the crown in the first year of Edward IV. ; and at the same time an act was passed to incorporate it with the county palatine. The landed property which his majesty possesses, as Duke of Lancaster, is of great extent, and lies in the most northern parts of the county. The court belonging to the duchy of Lancaster has the power of de ciding all causes belonging to it ; and amongst its officers, has a chancellor, attorney-general, &c. ; the offices of the duchy court arc at Somerset-place, London.
The principal rivers of this county arc, the Irwell, the Mersey, the Douglas, the Ribble, the Calder, the IN yre, and the Lune ; they all direct their course to the west, and fall into the Irish sea. The Irwell rises on the hills that form the boundaries between Lancashire and Yorkshire. Its first course is to Bury ; it then bends to the west, and afterwards to the south-east, to Manchester, where i its wa ters are enlarged by two streams : its course s again changed to the west, till it falls into the :Mersey below Flexten. The Mersey rises on the borders of Cheshire and Derbyshire ; it divides Cheshire and Lancashire, for a course of nearly 60 miles, about 35 of which arc navigable from Liverpool, where it falls into the sea, to the mouth of the Irwell. The Ribble rises in the Craven Moors in Yorkshire : its course is first south to Clithcroe ; it after wards declines to the west to Rochester, and the valley of Ribblesdale, to Preston ; and soon afterwards falls into the Irish sea, by a very broad estuary. The Lune rises in the falls of Westmoreland ; and, being formed by several streams, it flows through the valley of Lonsdale to Lan caster ; here it becomes navigable; and two miles below the town, bears ships of considerable burden ; it also joins the sea by a very broad estuary. The Dudden, which di vides the west side of Furness from Cumberland, at its junction with the sea, forms a considerable bay, at high water. The Crake, which runs nearly parallel to the Dudden, connects Thursten water with the sea, at Leven sands.