NORTHAMPTON. one of the interior counties of England, is bounded on the north by Leicestershire, Rutland, and a small part of Lincolnshire; on the cast, by the shires of Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, and Buckingham; on the south, by that of Oxford ; on the west, by those of Osforcl and Warwick. Its figure is elongated and irregular ; and no county in the kingdotn borders on so many others The greatest length is from Aynho the south west, to Crowland in the nortli-east, and measures about 66 miles; thc breadth varies from 30 to 8. The circumference is estimated at 216 miles; and the area at 1017 square miles or 650.880 acres. It is divided into twenty hundreds, and these again into 336 parishes: it contains one city and eleven market towns ; lies in the diocese of Peterborough ; and sends nine members to Parliament.
The surface is pleasing and variegated ; broken into hills ancl dales, watered by numerous brooks and rivers, and generally covered with rich verdure. The numer ous mansions and pleasure-grounds of the wealthier claSs add to its beauty. " The fertilitie," Norden ob serves, " salutarie ayrc, pleasant prospects, and conve niencie of this shire, in all things, to generous and no ble mynde, have so allured nobilitie to plant themselves within the same, that no shire within this realme can an swer the like number of noblemen as are seated in these parts. 01 gentry it is so full, that it may be called the _Herald's Garden." 1\-lost part of the county was at a former periocl covered with wood; and considerable tracts ol forest land still give a picturesque appearance to the eastern and the southern quarters. There arc likewise some fens, but of no great extent.
Northamptonshire lies nearly at an equal distance from the eastern ancl the western border of England; and, though tar from mountainous, it forms the most elevated portion of the great plain which comprehends all the south-eastern divisions of the kingdom. Its height above the neighhouring districts is demonstrated by the cu rious fact, that while no portion of itself receives a drop of water from any other county, it sends forth streams towards every point of the compass—to the German Ocean, to the Irish Sea, and the river Thames. The Great Ouse rises at Ousewell, near Brackley, in the parish of Farthingo; and soon entering Buckingham shire, again tnuches its parent county at Olcl Stratford; from whence it pursues its long and devious course through Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Cambridge shire, and Norfolk-, to Lynn-Regis. The Avon rises at
Avonwell, near Nasehy, flows westward into Warwick shire, and being joined by the Leam, which rises at the village of Hellidown, also in Northamptonshire, ulti mately mixes with the Severn in Worcestershire. From the vicinity of Naseby there likewise springs another river, which being augmented at Northampton by a west ern branch, assumes the name of Ncn or Nyne. After draining the greater part of the county, it falls into the Wash between Lincolnshire and Norfolk. It approaches the Welland, which falls into the Fossdyke Wash, after a long course from Sibbertoft in the west. The Char well, a smaller stream, proceeds from Charwelton, passes Banbury, and joins the Thames at Oxford.
The Avon and the Ouse, when they issue flora the county, are but rivulets: the Ncn and the Welland continue in it till they become navigable rivers. By the aid of some improvements, completed in 1762, the Nen can be ascended as far as Northampton. It is little fre quented except by coal barges. The internal commu nication is farther promoted by the Oxford and Grand Junction Canals, which cross each other at Braunston, on the western edge of the county, and both continue in it for a number of miles. From Blisworth, on the latter, a railway extends to Northampton.
In regard to climate, this county differs in no impor tant respect from the generality of English inland coun ties, and is equally agreeable and healthful with any of them. The soil appears to be of a stiff loamy nature : in some places it is cold and wet, but for the most part fer tile ; the average rent and tithes of a square mile being 7094 ; though large spaces are covered with wood, or subject to the right of common pasturage, and thereby rendered comparatively useless. Peterborough Fen, which is in the latter case, contains between six and se ven thousand acres: the soil is said to be of a very high quality, but yields little; the tight of keeping cattle on which is divided among thirty-two parishes, conjointly denominated the Soke of Peterborough, being scarcely deemed of any value by each individual.