archdeacons, twenty-eight prebends, a sub-chanter, five vicars, seven lay-clerks, six choristers, four vergers, &c. Near the cathedral is St. Michael'sle-Belfry, a curious Gothic structure, containing several handsome monuments: All-Saints' in the Pavement, has a neat octangular steeple: and St. Mary's-Castle-Gate was once admired for its fine spire; a considerable part of it was taken down because of the damage it had sustained by lightning in 1797. St. Margaret's has a singular porch of Saxon architecture. The rest of the churches have nothing to render them remarkable. York is surrounded by walls, and is entered by four principal gates; viz. Micklegate, Bootham-bar, Monk-bar, and Walmgate-bar. In the reign of Edward III. this city was reckoned as a port, and furnished one vessel, with nine men, to his fleet. The streets of York are mostly broad and open; they contain many handsome buildings and are well paved, and lighted with gas. The castle, built by Richard III., is used as a prison; the river Fosse was formerly drawn into a deep moat, entirely around it, the only access being by drawbridges, the larger of which led to the ancient great gate from the country, on the south, the other from the city, on the north. About the year 1734, the latter was rebuilt in a handsome manner, and is now the only entrance, except a small postern near the mills. The castle walls are 1103 yards in circumference. On the right wing of the area is a spacious prison for debtors. In the left wing is a handsome chapel. The felons' court yard is between the two wings. On the west side of the area is the county hall, erected in 1777: it is a superb building of the Ionic order. The halls for the trial of prisoners and causes at Nisi Prius, are very convenient at the north and south ends, the entrance being by a portico of six columns. In 1780 an additional building was erected on the east side, having several spacious arched cells, for the confinement of prisoners for petty offences; also apartments for hard labor, and distinct hospital rooms. Without the castle gate, at the extent of the city liberties, are erected the city arms, where the sheriffs receive the judges of assize. Adjoining the castle is a high mound, on which stands the shell of a tower, called Clifford's tower, formerly furnished with cannon and a garrison. In York were formerly many convents and hospitals, several of their ruins being often dug up and converted into the foundations of new buildings. Of these ruins, those of St. Mary's abbey, near the cathedral, are the most considerable. At the foot of the bridge is a very convenient and spacious quay, up to which vessels of 120 tons burden can come. The guildhall was erected in 1446; it is supported on two rows of massive oak pillars. Here are held the courts of justice, and, adjoining, are rooms for the juries, and the lord mayor's justiceroom. The windows are of painted glass. In 1728 a stately and convenient structure was erected on the north end of Coney Street, for the residence of the mayor. The assembly house, which is situate in Blake Street, was built on a plan drawn by the earl of Burlington. It is 140 feet long and forty broad, adorned with Corinthian pillars. The theatre is a neat building, erected in 1770. Besides these public buildings, here are two receptacles for lunatics; a county hospital; a city dispensary; a blue coat boys, and gray coat girls charity school, extensive national schools; alms houses, and other charitable institutions. In this city are two public banks, a savings bank, a subscription library, news rooms, the Yorkshire philosophical society, and a museum for natural and artificial curiosities; also a gaol and a house of correction; with various chapels for Quakers, Roman Catholics, and different classes of dissenters. About one mile south of the city is a good race course, on which there are annual races. At a short distance from the town are extensive cavalry barracks. The new walk, along the banks of the Ouse, is an agreeable promenade, well shaded with lofty trees. York received its charter from Richard II., and is the only city in England, except London, whose chief magistrate is honored with the title of lord. Its jurisdiction extends over a considerable district, besides the sole conservancy of the rivers Ouse, Wharfe, Derwent, Ayre, Don, and some parts of the Humber. It sends two members to parlia ment, who are chosen by the freemen in general. The government of the city is vested in the lord mayor, a recorder, twelve aldermen, two sherifis, eight chamberlains, twenty-four common council men, twenty-two assistants, a town clerk, and other inferior officers. The market places, of which there are two, called the Pavement and Thursday market, are spacious and convenient. The cross in the former is square, with a dome, ascended by winding stairs and supported by twelve Ionic pillars. The other is used on a Saturday as butchers' shambles. On the west side of the market place stands a cross, for a shelter in bad weather. The trade of York is chiefly in gloves, linens, livery lace, glass, and drugs; and printing and bookselling are conducted on a large scale. Markets on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. YORK, the capital of Upper Canada, is well situated in the township of the same name, on the north-west coast of Lake Ontario, on the north side of an excellent harbour, and very regularly laid out. The plot of ground marked out for it extends about a mile and a half along the harbour, but at present the number of houses does not greatly exceed 300. The public edifices are a government house, house of assembly for the provincial parliament, a church, court house, gaol, and numerous stores and buildings for the various parposes of government. The harbour is nearly circular, and formed by a very narrow peninsula stretching from the western extremity of the township of Scarborough, in an oblique direction, for about six miles, and terminating in a curved point, nearly opposite the garrison; thus enclosing a beautiful basin, about a mile and a half in diameter, capable of containing a great number of vessels, and at the entrance of which ships may lie in safety during the winter. YORK, a county, Maine, North America, bounded north by Oxford county, north-east by Cumberland county, south-east by the Atlantic, and west by New Hampshire. Chief towns, York and Alfred. YORK, a sea-port, the capital of York county, Maine; nine miles N. N. E. of Portsmouth, fortytwo south-west of Portland, sixty-seven N. N. É. of Boston. It contains a court house and a gaol. The courts for the county are held alternately here and at Alfred. A little business is carried on here in the fisheries. The shipping belonging to this port, in 1816, amounted to 1432 tons. YORK, a county, south side of Pennsylvania, bounded north-east by the Susquehannah, which separates it from Dauphine and Lancaster counties, south by Maryland, west by Adams county, and N. N. W. by Cumberland county. YORK, a borough, the capital of York county, Pennsylvania, on Codorus Creek; twenty-two miles W. S. W. of Lancaster, forty-eight north of Baltimore, fifty-two east of Chambersburg, eightyfive west of Philadelphia. It is a pleasant and flourishing town, regularly laid out, and contains a court house, a gaol, a market house, an alms house, a register's office, an Episcopal academy, and eight houses of public worship, one for Episcopalians, one for English Presbyterians, one for German Presbyterians, one for German Lutherans, one for Roman Catholics, one for Methodists, one for Friends, and one for Moravians. A large part of the houses are handsomely built with brick. A number of the public buildings are spacious and elegant. The surrounding country is fertile and very pleasant. YORKE (Philip), earl of Hardwicke, a celeorated English lawyer, born at Dover, in Kent, in 1699. In 1718 he was elected M. P. for Lewes. After serving as solicitor and attorney general, he was, in 1733, made lord chief justice of the king's bench, and created a British peer. In 1736 he was made lord chancellor, which office he held twenty years. In 1754 he was created earl of Hardwicke. In all his offices he acted so as to acquire the esteem of all parties. He died in 1764. YORKSHIRE. In delineating the leading features of this very extensive and highly interesting county, it will be necessary to depart, in some degree, from the plan hitherto pursued in the topographical sketches of the other counties. There are, however, a few leading points of a general character which may serve as an introduction to a more detailed description of the respective districts, or ridings, into which Yorkshire is divided. These particulars are chiefly the following:-The city of York, whence the name of the county is derived, was called by the ancient Britons Cær-Effroc, by the Romans Eboracum, by the Saxons Evor-vic, by Nennius Cær-Ebrauc, from the royal founder Ebraucus. Camden, however, is of opinion that the word Eboracum comes from the river Ure (now called the Ouse), implying its situation on that river. Hence Eborac, or Eurewic, by the gradual corruption of language, became Yorc, and lastly, York. All these various names appear to have been derived from Eure the river, and Wic the Saxon word for a place of refuge or retreat. The Brigantes possessed this district previous to the Roman invasion; York was their principal city. The Romans included it in the province named Maxima Cæsariensis. After their departure Yorkshire became part of the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. Yorkshire is a maritime county, bounded on the east by the German Ocean; on the south by the river Humber (which separates it from Lincolnshire), and by Nottingham and Derbyshire; on the west by a small part of Cheshire, by Lancashire, and Westmorland; and on the north by Westmorland and the county of Durham. This county extends 130 miles in length from east to west, and ninety miles in breadth from north to south; being not less than 460 miles in circumference. Its superficial contents are computed at 3,698,380 acres. It is divided into three ridings, twenty-eight wapentakes, besides the ainsty of the city of York. There are one city, fifty-nine market-towns, of which thirteen are boroughs. All the ridings are in the province of York, except a small part which belongs to the bishopric of Durham. Rivers. As some of the principal rivers bound, a few of them intersect the different ridings. Mr. Bigland, in his well-arranged description of this county, in vol. 13 of the Beauties of England and Wales, thinks it is best to notice them under the general description. The Tees rises in the mountains of Westmorland, and, taking an easterly direction, divides the north riding from the bishopric of Durham through its whole extent. Next in geographical position is the Swale, which, rising in the western extremity of the same riding, waters the romantic tract called Swaledale; and, passing by Richmond and Catterick, enters the vale of York, and flows in that level country till it receives the Wiske, a small river, which, rising near Osmotherley at the foot of the moors on the western edge of Cleveland, takes first a northerly, than a westerly direction; and afterwards, turning its course to the south, runs a little to the west of Northallerton aud Thirsk, and falls into the Swale below Topcliff. The Swale, after having received this addition to its waters, continues its course till it joins the Ure at Myton, a few miles below Borough bridge. The Ure rises in a mountainous tract on the borders of Westmorland. Collecting many tributary streams in its course through the beautiful valley of Wensleydale, it flows with a rapid current for many miles within the north riding. Passing Askrig, Middleham, and Masham, it turns south-easterly, flowing by Rippon and Boroughbridge; soon after which it receives the Swale, and, passing on towards York, it takes the name of Ouse, from an insignificant rivulet with which it there forms a junction; then, passing on to the village of Nun-Monkton, its waters are further increased by those of the Nid, which rising among the Craven Hills passes by Ripley and Knaresborough, and falls into the Ouse about seven miles above York. The Ouse thus augmented flows gently on to York, where it is joined by the Foss, a small stream which takes its rise near Craike Castle. From York the Ouse, with some considerable windings, takes an almost direct southerly course, and becomes the boundary between the east and west ridings. The Wharfe, which rises in the Craven Hills, and runs south-east almost parallel to the Nid, and passes by Ottley, Wetherby, and Tadcaster, falls into the Ouse at the village of Nun-Appleton, about eight miles below York. After this new accession to its waters, the Ouse flows south-east with a smooth and broad stream, by Selby, and about four or five miles below that town directs its course nearly east, till it receives the Derwent. This river, rising in the eastern moorlands in the north riding, within about four miles of the sea, and eight or nine from Scarborough, at first takes a southerly direction, through the village of Hackness, and along a most picturesque valley to Ayton, running in a line almost parallel to the coast till it comes to the foot of the Wolds. It then takes a west and afterwards a south-west direction; and having received the Rye from Helmsley, passes by the town of Malton, to which it is navigable from the Ouse for vessels of twenty-five tons. It is the boundary between the north and east ridings, from its junction with the small river Hertford, till it approaches near Stamford Bridge, where it enters the east riding, within the British History from Brutus to Henry I. He was which it falls into the Ouse, near the village of a native of Beverley, and died in 1129.-Eugene Barmley, about three miles and a half above How- Aram, one of the most extraordinary self-taught den. After receiving the Derwent, the Ouse con- scholars this or any other county ever produced, and tinues its course nearly south-east, and within less but little inferior to the admirable Crichton, born than a quarter of a mile of Booth ferry is joined by at Ramsgill in Netherdale, in 1704.-William Burthe united Calder and Aire; this junction brings ton, an eminent physician. Born at Rippon in to the Ouse a great accession of waters. The Aire, 1697. Died at York, 1759.-George Calvert (lord which is one of the most considerable rivers of Baltimore) was born at Kipling about 1582. He Yorkshire, rises in the hills of Craven, about five was a wise and prudent statesman in the interest of and a half or six miles north-east of Settle, and runs the Roman Catholics. Died April 15th, 1632.— with a slow stream by Skipton ; then winding to the James Calvert, a nonconformist divine of learning. east and south-east, and passing by Leeds, Ponte- Born at York, and died in 1698.-James Cawfract, Snaith, and Rawcliff, falls into the Ouse a little thorne, an agreeable poet. Born at Sheffield, 1721. below Armin and near Booth Ferry. The Calder He was killed by a fall from his horse in 1761rises in Lancashire, and running eastward falls into William Congreve, by some said to have been a the Aire about five miles north-east of Wakefield. native of Ireland, others of Staffordshire, and others The Don rises near the borders of Cheshire; and, of Bardsey near Leeds, in this county. Born in running south-east to Sheffield, directs its course February 1669. He was a distinguished poet and north-east, passing by Rotherham, Doncaster, and dramatic writer. Died January 19th, 1728-9, and Thornand falls into the Ouse at Goole. The Tees was buried in Westminster Abbey.-Captain James separates this county from the bishopric of Dur- Cook, the celebrated circumnavigator. Born at ham, and falls into the German Ocean in the north- Marton in Cleveland, 1728; and was killed in one east extremity of the county. The Ribble rises of the South Sea Islands, by an Indian chief, on among the Craven Hills; and, running south by the 14th of February, 1779.-The learned and Settle and Gisborne, passes into Lancashire. The pious martyr and prelate, Dr. John Fisher. Born less considerable streams of this county are the at Beverley in 1459. He was beheaded for not Rother, the Cock, the Washbrook, the Idle, the swearing against his conscience in the case of Hobden, the Want, the Dent, the Kebeck, the Henry VIII's marriage with Anne Boleyn, on the Hyde, the Foulness, the Gret, and the Revel. Be- 23d of June, 1535.-Dr. John Fothergill, a pious sides these rivers and streams, the Humber should and learned physician among the Quakers, was be particularly noticed. This is in fact only an- born at Carr End in 1712. Died in 1780.-Dr. other name for the Ouse, which, having received all Samuel Garth, a celebrated poet and physician, was the Yorkshire waters, becomes as wide as the born in this county, and died in 1719.-Dr. John Thames at London, and after making a circuit to Green, a learned prelate. Born at or near Hull, the south near Swinefleet, takes a north-easterly di- about 1706. Died April 25th, 1779.-Dr. Zachary rection to its confluence with the Trent, from Lin- Grey, an ingenious divine, and miscellaneous colnshire. Here it takes the name of Humber, writer. Born about the year 1687. Died Noand becomes more than a mile in width. At Brom- vember 25th, 1766. He is chiefly known for his fleet it receives the little river Foulness; then roll- curious notes on Hudibras.-Andrew Marvel, an ing its vast collection of waters eastward in a stream incorruptible political writer. Born at Huli in between two and three miles in breadth, washes the 1620. Died 1678.-William Mason, an ingenious town of Hull, where it receives the river of that poet and divine. Died 1797.-John Metcalf, name, which, rising near the foot of the Wolds, commonly called Blind Jack of Knaresborough, an takes a southerly direction at Duffield, and, passing ingenious self-taught surveyor of roads, and a guide within about half a mile of Beverley, continues its to strangers. Born in 1717. Died in 1810.-Dr. course to Hull, where its mouth forms a secure but Conyers Middleton, a learned divine and critic, but contracted haven. A few miles below Hull, and not always a fair controversialist, was born at York opposite to Hedon and Paul, the Humber takes a in 1683.-Matthew Poole, a learned annotator on direction nearly south-east, and widening to a vast the Scriptures, was born at York in 1624.—Died in estuary of about six or seven miles in breadth, dis- 1679.-Dr. Beilby Porteus, late bishop of London, embogues itself into the German Ocean. The a learned and most excellent prelate, was a native Humber, resembling (says Mr. Bigland) the trunk of this county. He was born in 1731, and died of a vast tree, spreading its branches in every di- May 14th, 1809.-Dr. John Potter, another learnrection, commands, by the numerous rivers which ed prelate, and an antiquary of considerable celeit receives, the navigation and trade of a very ex- brity, was born at Wakefield in 1674. Died 1747. tensive and commercial part of England. This in--Dr. Joseph Priestley, born at Field-Head, in the land communication is greatly aided by several canals, which will be noticed in describing the different ridings. This county returns thirty members to parliament. As it is impossible in numerous instances to point out the particular riding which gave birth to certain distinguished natives, it will be proper here to enumerate the most. Thomas Adams, a learned divine. Born at Leeds, 1701. Died 1784.-Dr. John Alcock, a learned prelate. Born at Beverley. Died in 1500.-Albinus Flaccus Alcuinus, one of Bede's pupils, and a learned divine, was born in this county. Charlemagne gave him large abbeys. He died 804.-Alredus, Alfredus, or Alneredus, author of a Latin work entitled Annals of parish of Berstell, March 13th, 1733, O. S. Died in America, February 6th, 1804.-Dr. John Radcliffe, founder of the famous library at Oxford bearing his name. Born at Wakefield, 1650. Died 1714.-Matthew Robinson (Morris) lord Rokeby. Born at York 1713. Died November 30th, 1800.-Dr. John Sharp, Archbishop of York. Born at Bradford in 1644. Died 1713.-Dr. Thomas Sharp, youngest son of the archbishop, a learned and able divine, was also a native of Yorkshire. He died in the year 1758. He was the fathe. of the late learned Granville Sharp, esq.-John Smeaton, an eminent mechanic and engineer. Born at Austhorpe in 1724. Died in 1792.--Dr John Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury, one of the brightest ornaments of the Christian church, was born at Sowerby in 1630, and died in 1694. Obadiah Walker, a learned divine, and tutor to Dr. Radcliffe. Died in 1698.-Dr. George Wallis, a learned physician, poet, and dramatic writer. Born at York in 1740. When he died does not appear.-Brian Walton, bishop of Chester, and editor of the Polyglot Bible, was born in Cleveland 1600. Died 1661.-Thomas Wentworth, earl of Strafford, was a native of this county. He was beheaded on Tower Hill, May 12th, 1641.John de Wickliffe, styled The morning star of the Reformation,' was born in the parish of Wickliffe, died in peace at Lutterworth in 1384, and was buried in his own church. To all these may be added the name of Constantine the Great, who was born at York about the year 274. Died in 337. Gibbon, however, denies this fact respecting the birth-place of Constantine; but it is certain that he assumed the imperial purple at this city. Manufactures, trade, commerce.-This, as applied to Yorkshire, is a most copious and extensive department; too much so, indeed, for the limits of this work to admit of much detail. The woollen manufacture has always been considered the staple trade of the county. This is carried on chiefly in the west riding, which is considerably larger than both the other ridings put conjointly. The cotton business, particularly in calicoes, dimities, thicksetts, and other strong goods, is carried on in several parts, but especially on the borders of Lancashire. -The hardware of Sheffield has long been famed for its excellent quality, particularly in cutlery. In that town, indeed, iron and steel are wrought in all the variety of forms; and the manufacture of silver plated goods is carried on to a great extent, and brought to the highest degree of perfection. East Riding. This is the least of the three grand divisions of Yorkshire. Its name points out the relative situation which it occupies in the county. It is bounded on the north and west by the rivers Hertford and Derwent, which separate it from the north riding as far as the vicinity of Stamford Bridge. An irregular line from the Derwent to the Ouse, commencing about a mile above Stamford Bridge, and joining the latter river about a mile below York, forms the rest of the boundary between the two ridings. From that place the east riding is bounded on the west and south-west by the Ouse, which divides it from the west riding. On the south it is bounded by the Humber, and on the east by the German Ocean. It contains 819,200 acres. The climate of this district admits of some variations, being colder on the eastern than on the western side of the Wolds, which break the force of the cold and raw winds from the German Ocean. Near the coast the country is exposed to fogs from the sea and the Humber. On the Wolds the air is much sharper, and the snow lies longer, by reason of their elevation. The levels in the western part of the riding enjoy a milder climate, by being sheltered from the easterly winds. This riding admits of almost every variety of soil, from a deep warp to a blowing sand. The Wolds are lofty ranges of hills, extending almost from the northern to the southern limits of the riding. The soil is generally unfavorable to the growth of wood, though attempts at plantations have been made, and some with comparative success. That part of the riding situated north of the Wolds, and extending along VOL. XXII. the rivers Hertford and Derwent, from Filey to Malton, is a long narrow strip, a considerable part of which is a light sand, with variation of gravelly loam, strong loam, clay loam, and free loam. The situation of a large part of this division is flat; its soil coarse, with a spongy bottom, and liable to be flooded. The country adjoining the east district, and extending between the Ouse and the foot of the Wolds, and on each side the Derwent to Bubworth, is flat, but with a few gentle swells; the soil contains every kind of loam; a very considerable part consists of a light sandy loam, with an open spongy bottom. The soil of the country adjoining this division, and extending between the Wolds and the Ouse and the Humber to Hull, consists of a strong clay, a free and sandy loam, a small part of which is much lighter than the rest, and has a spongy bottom. Along the side of the Ouse and the Humber there is a considerable quantity of warp land. The soil extending from Hull to near Spurn-head, along the side of the Humber, and nearly adjoining the Pattrington road, including the Sunk Island, is mostly warp, generally strong, but some parts intermixed with sand. The country from this last division, extending between the sea and the foot of the Wolds, on each side of the river Hull, consists chiefly of gravel, hazel earth, strong loam, and clay, some parts coarse and thin, with an open bottom. This riding, although it displays a great variety of aspect, is far less conspicuously marked with the bold features of nature than the other parts of the county. Yet some parts are beautifully picturesque, and afford very extensive and even magnificent prospects, especially when the sea or the Humber forms part of the view. The Wolds have just been mentioned. The level tract along the coast may be said to begin at Filey, as has already been intimated. As far however as Bridlington the face of the country is diversified with lofty swells; and the Wolds in some places extend to the coast, which, near the villages of Speeton, Bempton, and Flamborough, rises in cliffs of 100 or even 150 yards in perpendicular height. At Bridlington the county sinks into a flat, which continues for eight or nine miles to the southward, without almost any variation. At about the distance of seven miles to the south of Bridlington begins the wapentake of Holderness, the eastern part of which towards the sea-coast is a finely variegated and fertile country; but the western edge is a fenny tract of about four miles in breadth, extending nearly twenty miles in length to the banks of the Humber. The southern part of Holderness also falls into marshes bordering on that vast estuary; and the county terminates in a point at Spurn-head, the Ocellum Promontorium of Ptolemy. In almost every part of Holderness the prospects are rendered more agreeable by a view of the Yorkshire, and in some places of the Lincolnshire Wolds; one or the other of which, and sometimes both, make a beautiful appearance from every elevation. The ascent to the Wolds is somewhat steep, except on the eastern side, whence they rise in gentle and successive swells, presenting a beautiful aspect towards the flat country. But their height, which in the most elevated parts is not supposed to exceed 600 feet, is inconsiderable when compared with that of the eastern and more especially of the western moors in the north, and the Craven Hills in the west riding. Many parts of the Wolds, how 2 Z ever, afford magnificent and delightful prospects. From their northern edge the vale of the Derwent is extended below like a map, and beyond it the black moors towards Whitby, rising in sublime grandeur. The western hills command an extensive view of the southern part of the vale of York, reaching far beyond that city into the west riding; and the eastern elevation affords a beautiful prospect, in some places of the German Ocean, and in others of Holderness, rising with a very gentle swell from the intervening tract of fenny land called the Carrs. But the southern edge of the Wolds is the most distinguished for the beauty and diversity of its prospects. From several elevated points between the Humber and the high road from KirkElla, by Riplingham, leaving York minster, Howden church, &c., on the west, Flamborough Head, Bridlington priory, Beverley minster, the churches of Hull and Heydon towards the east, may be distinctly seen. From some situations in this tract, the cathedrals of York and Lincoln are said to be at once distinctly visible. The eastern part of this elevated district, skirting the Humber, commands a magnificent view of that vast estuary, extending to the south-east till it vanishes in the horizon. It presents to the eye an interesting spectacle of numerous vessels trading to the port of Hull; while that opulent and commercial town, in its low situation, close to the banks, and surrounded with the masts of its shipping in the docks, seems to rise, like Venice out of the water; and the further distances are filled with a view of the shores of Holderness and Lincolnshire. The western hills, towards Caver, afford a very extensive prospect over an immense level, terminating in the high lands of the west riding faintly appearing in the horizon; and much nearer and more towards the south the large rivers Trent and Ouse, meeting at right angles, and forming a junction where the lofty promontory of Aukborough overlooks the adjacent country, present a beautiful and interesting spectacle. The whole taken together composes a scenery which for beauty and grandeur can scarcely be exceeded. The other natural division of this riding extends from the western foot of the Wolds to the boundaries of the north and west ridings. This tract, which is commonly called the Levels, is every where flat and unpicturesque. The country is here overspread with villages and hamlets, but is in most parts extremely dirty and disagreeable. Throughout the whole of this riding the most extensive and valuable agricultural improvements have been made. Extensive tracts of land, formerly flooded a great part of the year, and producing scarcely any thing but rushes and a little coarse grass, are now covered with abundant crops of grain; and the value of the land has been increased in a tenfold proportion. On the Wolds very great improvements have taken place. The valleys and the declivities of the hills wave with plentiful crops of wheat, where formerly oats and barley only were known. The rabbit warrens are rapidly disappearing, and the breed of sheep, by crosses from the Leicestershire, has been considerably improved. The Levels have also been much improved; and indeed almost every part of the riding has been brought into an excellent state of culture. The productions of this riding, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, do not appear to possess any very peculiar characteristic. North Riding. This district is situated between 53° 57′ and 54° 38′ N. lat., and between 0° 19 and 2° 23′ W. long. from Greenwich. It is bounded on the north by the river Tees, which separates it from the county of Durham; on the east and northeast by the German Ocean; on the south-east by the east riding; on the south by the ainsty of York and the west riding; and on the west by the county of Westmorland. The length of the riding from east to west is eighty-three miles, and its breadth from north to south thirty-eight miles; and Mr. Tuke, whom Mr. Bigland justly calls an accurate surveyor, computes its contents at 2048 square miles, or 1,311,187 acres. The climate of this district is exceedingly various. In the Vale of York the air is mild and temperate, except near the Moors, where the influence of the winds from those mountainous regions is sometimes severely felt. The climate of the Howardian Hills is cold. Rydale and the Marishes, on the skirt of the Derwent, enjoy a mild air; but the dampness of their flats, and a want of a better drainage, render them less healthful than most other parts of the riding. The very elevated situation of the eastern moorlands renders their climate extremely cold, and presents an insuperable obstacle to their improvement. About the end of August cold and damp vapors begin to descend, and in the form of dense fogs impinge in the morning against the moorland hills, on an elevation of about 700 or 800 feet; and, as they become rarefied by the warmth of the day, either ascend above their summits, or remain upon them at an elevation in proportion to their rarefaction. As the autumn advances, they hang in the morning lower on the hills, and leave their summits sometimes clear, although but for a short time. The country is afterwards, during several months, enveloped in fogs, chilled with rain, or locked up with snow, from an elevation of about 600 feet, with but little interruption. The vale of Cleveland, having these moors on the east and south-east, the sea to the north and north-east, and lying open to the west to the winds from an extensive and mountainous country, has a climate somewhat severe; but the dryness of the soil, and the frequent use of lime, concur to accelerate the harvest, which is nearly as early here as in the warmer parts of this riding : the same remark may be made on the narrow tract which lies along the coast from Whitby to Scarborough. The climate of the western moorlands is colder than that of the eastern moorlands. The western moorlands, being much more elevated than the eastern, and not like them exposed to the sea airs, remain longer covered with snow, and are far more subject to rain. In Yorkshire, as well as in all the counties bordering on the German Oceat, the east wind usually predominates in the spring, and during a great part of the summer, as do the west winds in the western parts of the island. The conflict of these two winds generally takes place in the western moorlands, and to this cause must be attributed the almost constant rains that fall in this mountainous district. The clouds from the Atlantic, pushed forward by the westerly winds, are there stopped in their course by the powerful resistance of the easterly winds, as well as by the mountains that arrest their progress and fall upon the moorlands in almost incessant rains. Such is the description of the climate given by Mr. Big land in the sixteenth volume of The Beauties of England and Wales, a volume drawn up with con |