( 9 ) 



quantities of oak, bark, and grain are fent back in 

 return. 



TOWNS, POPULATION, and MANU- 

 FACTURES. 



This diftrid is divided into 20 hundreds*, com- 

 prifing now 316 parifhes, or townfliips, though on 

 the firft divilion of the county into parifhes, the 

 number was 330 ; but feveral of them have been 

 united of late years. The principal market-towns 

 are Northampton, (the county-town), Peterborough, 

 Wellingborough, Kettering, Owndle, Kigham-fer- 

 rers, Towcefter, Brackley, Daventry, Rockingham, 

 Rowell or Roth well, Weldon and Cliff. Though it was 

 not poflibie to afcertain the number of inhabitants 

 with any great degree of corrednefs, yet from the 

 information received of the population of particular 

 parifhes in different parts of the diftrid, the num- 

 ber of inhabitants may be reckoned at 400 in each 

 of the country parilhes or townfhips, and 3C00 in 

 each of the market-towns, making in all 167,600, 



C of 



* England was firfl divided into tithings and hundreds by King Alfred, about the 

 year 900. The ancient tithings confifted of 10 men and their families ; and as by the 

 original inftitution, 10 of thefe tithings were directed to meet once every 2 or 3 weeks, 

 in order to inquire into the ftate of the country, fuch meetings were therefore called 

 hundreds. By this law, the honed inhabitants of every village or townfhip, became an- 

 fwerable in their own private fortunes and property, for all the honfe breakings, rob- 

 beries, and other depredations committed within their refpeftive diftrifts, and were alfo 

 compelled to aflbciate with their neighbours in arms, in order to fupprefs every aft of 

 violence, aijd to maintain peace and public order. And it is worthy of remark, that 

 the damages fuftained by individuals, in confequence of the very alarming riots which 

 happened in London in the year 1780, were levied on the inhabitants at large, on the 

 principles laid down in this very ancient inftitution. 



