INTRODUCTION. 



NORTHAMPTONSHIRE IS an inland county, fitua- 

 ted within the 53d degree of north latitude, 

 and near the centre of England. It is bounded on 

 the eaft, by the counties of Cambridge and Hunt- 

 ingdon ; on the fouth, by Buckingham and Bed- 

 ford ; on the weft, by Warwick and Oxford •, and 

 on the north, by Leicefter, Rutland, and Lincoln. 



This county is of an oblong form ; its greateft; 

 length from the fouth-weft corner near Aynhos, to 

 the north-eaft boundary at Crowland, is 65 miles ; 

 its greateft breadth from Higham Park on the eaft, 

 to Stanford on the weft, is 32 miles ; but its mean 

 breadth may be reckoned at 14 miles, making a 

 fquare fuperficies of 910 miles, or 582,400 acres. 



Surface. — The furface of this county is as pecu- 

 liarly advantageous for cultivation, as it is delight- 

 ful and ornamental. In no other part of the king- 

 dom, perhaps, are more agreeable and extenfive 

 landfcapes to be feen. Here, there are no dreary 

 waftes, nor rugged and unfightly mountains, to of- 

 fend the eye, or to intercept the view. The fur- 

 face is no where fo irregular, but it can be applied 

 to every purpofe of huft)andry and tillage. Every 

 hill is cultivated, or may be kept in a profitable ftate 

 of pafturage, and every inequality in the furface 

 contributes to its ornament and beauty. 



The upper and middle parts of this county are 

 richly ornamented with extenlive woods, which are 

 interiecled with numerous viftas and beautiful 



B lawns. 



■.\. 



