The navigation of this system of rivers commences at llchester on the Yeo, which is navigable for seven miles into the Parret at Lang port. A little above Langport the navigation of the Ferret commences, and continues to the mouth of that river. Ships of 200 tons can get up to Bridgewater. The Toue is navigable from Taunton to its junction with the Ferret. The Bridgewater and Taunton Canal runs from the Parret, a little above Bridgewater, to Tauutou, a distance of 121 miles. Another canal unites Chard and Ihninster.
In the fork between the Tone and the Parret is the Isle of dthelncy, in which Alfred the Great took refuge when the Danes overran Wessex, and which still retains its name. It consists of a rising ground, of about 100 miles in extent, and was anciently covered with alder wood. There is a farm-house on the isle.
The Ex rises in Exmoor Forest, in the most western part of the county, and flows first south-east and then south into Devonshire, which it enters a little west of Bampton, having previously formed the boundary between the two couuties for about two miles. The Barle, a considerable feeder of the Ex, also rises in the most western part of Somersetshire, and flows south-westward past Dulverton into the Ex, on the Devonshire border.
The principal coach roads are those from London to Bristol, which unite near Bsth ; the road from Bath to Bristol through Keynsham ; the road from London to Exeter through Salisbury, which passes through Yeovil, Crewkerne, and Chard ; the Falmouth road, which runs through Wincauton, Ilchester, and Ilminater; the road from Bristol through Axbridge to Bridgewater, whence one road runs along the coast through Watchet, Dunster, and Porlock to Ilfracombe in Devon shire ; a secoud by Milverton and Wiveliscombe to Barnstaple, Devon; and a third to Taunton, whence there are two roads to Exeter; the road from Bath to Taunton, through Wells and Glaston bury; the roads from Bristol and Bath, which unite at Shepton Mallet ; and two roads leading westward from Frome, one to Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, and Taunton, and the other to Bruton, Castle Cary, and Ilchester.
The Great Western railway enters the county near Bath, and runs by Bath to Bristol, where it is connected with the Bristol and Exeter railway, which taus past Bridgewater, Taunton, and Wellington into Devonshire. Short branch lines connect Clevedou and Weston-super Mare with the Bristol and Exeter railway. The Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth railway, which leaves the Great Western at the Corsham station, is open thence to Frome on the east of this county. All there railway. are on the broad gauge, which system is carried northward by the Bristol and Birmingham line.
Soil, Climate, and Agriculture.-The county of Somerset possesses a soil and climate well united to the growth of wheat and all the agricul tural produce usually raised in England. There is a fair proportion of woodland without any extensive forests. In somo of the vales,
such as the extensive valo of Taunton, the soil is of a rich nature, and the wheat grown there is of superior quality. Excellent butter and cheese are made on the best pasture lands. The Cheddar cheese is famous for its quality. The cows are mostly of the Devon breed, but there are also many short-horns. The oxen fatted are either Doyens or Herefords and shorthorns. The state of agriculture has greatly improved of late years. The sheep on the best lands are of the Leicester or South Down breeds, with crosses between these and the Cotswold sheep. Many hogs are fatted, and very good bacon is cured. There are a few hop-gardens, and some good cider orchards.
Divisions, Towns, dc.-The county is divided into 40 hundreds, which we enumerate, commencing with the eastern division at the mouth of the Avon :-1, Portbury : 2, Hartcliffe and Bedminster : 3, Keyneham : 4, Bath-Forum, in which is the city of Bath : 5, Hampton and Claverton : 6, Wellow, ou the eastern border : 7, Chew : 8, Frome : 9, Kilmensdon : 10, Chewton : 11, Winteratoke : 12, Wells Forum, containing the city of Wells : 13, Whitatone : 14, Bruton : 15, Norton-Ferris : 16, Horethorne, the most south-eastern part of the county, including the town of Blilborne Port : 17, Catsash : 13, Glaston-twelve-hides, in which is the town of Glastonbury : 19, Beton stone : 20, Brent-with-Wrington, along the east coast of Bridgewater Bay to the Brue, which river iu the lower part of its course separates the eastern from the woatem division of Sousersetshire.
In the western division are :-1, Huotepill and Puriton : 2, North Petherton, in which is the town of Bridgewater : 3, Whitley : 4, Somerton : 5, Pitney : 6, Tintinhull, which contains the town of Ilchester : 7, Martock : 8, Stone, on the southern border, containing Yeovil : 9, Houndsborough, Barwick, and Coker : 10, Crewkerne, also on the southern border, contaiuing the town of Crewkerne : 11, South Petherton, which comprise. the most southern part of the county, and exteuda west of Crewkerne up to the Parrot : 12, East and Weet Kingsbury, consisting of several unconnected portions, and containing the town, of Chard, Wellington, and Wiveliscombe : 13, Abdick and Bulstone, containing the town of Ilminster : 14, Taunton and Taunton Dean, which includes the vale of Taunton and the greater part of the basin of the Tone : 15, North Curry : 16. Aodersfield, iucluding the isle of Athelney : 17, Cannington : 18, Williton and Freemanners : 19, Carhamptoo, which includes all the coast beyond Watchett to the Devonshire border: and 20, Milverton, which liee on the Devonshire border, and contains the town of Milverton.
Somcreetshire contains the cities of Be= and Vats, a part of lb* city of flazerat, the parliamentary boroughs of TAUNTON, BRIDGE". WATER, and nom; and the following places, some of which are municipal boroughs, and nearly all market-towns—Asalnez, Ilntrrox,