— 
mpton, Portsmouth, Andover, Lymington, 
‘Christchurch, Stockbridge, Whitchurch, and Feters« 
eld, send each two members to Parliament, so that 
county sends in all twenty members to Parliament, 
ve of those sent the Isle of Wight: it pays 14 
; ofthe land-tax. reine in the province 
; Seagate mntate ere = inchester, and, with the 
‘county of the town tham , is included in the 
ened 
its chi 
is justly regarded as one of the most 
gland, — woo distinguished for 
of its soil, the thiness and mildness of 
te, and the beauty of its prospects. The sur- 
- ness of the seasons, and the convenience of the ports, 
operating: as strong inducements to continued fetid? 
The ridge of chalk hills may be traced across the coun- 
ty, g in the parallel of Winchester. The climate 
in the higher parts is bracing and healthy, from the 
clearness and pureness of the air ; towards the sea, it is 
~~ mild, and rather moist. : 
'_. The soil of Hampshire is extremely various, though, 
for the mee of a calcareous nature, On the bor- 
ders of Berkshire, it is aor ot a good quality, and very 
productive of corn and timber, particularly oak and elm. 
On the acelivities of the hills towards Basingstoke, it is 
also very i and strong, with a calcareous subsoil. 
Round Whitchurch it is less deep and chalky. From 
- Overton towards Stockbridge, and thence to Redbridge, 
there is a beautiful vale, which is divided into well- 
watered meadows. Round Andover the land is high, 
and es to the nature of downs. Towards Rom- 
it is more fertile. The country here is very beau- 
tifal, being interspersed with woods, and fine hedge- 
- row timber. The centre of the county in general, 
may be described as consisting of land higher and more 
chalky than’the rest of the county, but by no means of 
_an unfertile soil. On the borders of Dorsetshire, are 
vast tracts of waste land covered with heath. The vi- 
cinity of Redbridge is distinguished for its valuable salt 
marshes. Down land is met with between Petersfield 
and Portsmouth. On the banks of the Itchin, are 
some valuable water meadows. Perhaps the richest and 
most valuable soil in this county is near Alton. 
' The principal rivers in Hampshire, are the Itchin, the 
Avon, the Boldre Water, the Exe, the Anton, and the 
Tesse, or Test. Several smaller streams rise in the north- 
west parts of the county, but these soon quit it in their 
course to the Thames., The Itchin rises near Alresford, 
near the centre of the county ; and after passing Win- 
chester, it unites its streams with the water of South- 
ampton, about half'a mile to the east of that town. The 
Avon enters the county from Wiltshire, near Fording- 
bridge, and coasts the edge of the New Forest. This 
of its course is thus not only well wooded, but en- 
__ livened by the numerous villas that ornament its banks, 
After passing Ringwood, it flows through a less inter- 
____ esting sandy level towards Christchurch. Below this 
_ town, it receives the waters of the Stour from Dorset- 
shire, and with them falls into Christchurch bay. 
The Bolder Water is formed by various springs rising 
in the New Forest, which uniting, pass Boldre and Ly- 
mington to the seg. The Exe also rises in the same dis- 
trict, and’ opens in’ a broad estuary to the sea, below 
Exbury: The Anton rises in the north-west angle of 
HAMPSHIRE. 
623 
the county, and flowing th Andover, runs into Hampshire. 
the Tesse about a calle below Whiswell The Texe —y— 
has its origin below Whitchurch ; and after its junc- 
tion with the Anton assumes a southerly course, and 
passing Stockbridge and Romsay, receives several small 
streams from the New Forest, near Redbridge. Below 
this place it expands considerably, and forms the head 
of Southampton Water. This, properly speaking, is an 
arm of the sea, extending from above Sou to 
Caldshot Castle, and rendered very picturesque by its 
woody and irregular banks, Its whole extent is near- 
ly 10 miles. Near Southampton, it is about four miles 
broad: It is navigable almost to the head for vessels of 
considerable burden ; and the two principal rivers 
which flow into it, admit small craft some way up into 
the county. On tracing the sea coast from the east, 
we come to Portsea island, a low tract of considerable 
extent, s ted’ from the main by a shallow creek, 
over which a bridge is built. On this island Ports- 
mouth is situated. Off the point of land terminating 
this peninsula, is the noted road of Spithead, where the 
men of war anchor when prepared for actual service. 
From this, on the east side, commences Trissanton Bay, 
or Southampton Water. 
There are very few mineral substances found in this Mineral 
county. On the southern shores, iron-stone was for- productions, 
merly gathered in some quantity, which seems to have 
been rolled up by the surf. Between Milton and Christ« 
church a hard reddish stone is found, apparently calca- 
reous, tinged with the oxide of iron. cral ancient 
structures in the county are built withit. Chalk of va- 
rious qualities and colours is worked in different parts. 
Potters’ clay is met with in great abundance in Pool 
heath, at various dépths, from 10 to20 feet. From the 
circumstance of this heath bearing all the external marks 
by which the heath of Purbeck is distinguished, and 
their being divided only by Pool Water, it is not impro- 
bable that the Hampshire clay will be found equally 
valuable and useful as the Purbeck. 
Hampshire is distinguished as an agricultural county 
for its fine corn, especially wheat; its hops, cattle, 
sheep, wool, bacon, honey, timber, and the extent and 
excellent m ent of its water meadows. The lar- 
gest estates and farms are in the chalky parts of the 
county. The largest estate, however, does not exceed 
£8000 annum. ‘Tenures are various. Those es- 
tates, which formerly composed the demesne lands of 
the see of Winchester, are ted by the bishop as free- 
holds for three lives, and generally renewed to the fa- 
milies who hold them for many generations. ‘These 
estates consist chiefly of ancient manors and houses, to 
which certain feudal rights still appertain. Copyhold 
tenures are granted from manors vested in the church, 
or by the lay proprietors. There are also lands held on 
lives by lease, or indenture. Other leases are for 21 and 
14 years ; but here, as in other parts of England, the 
practice is extending of letting lands only at will. The 
average size of farms in the county is small, probably not Farms. 
exceeding 200 acres ; and certainly, if the chalk dis- 
tricts are excluded, not reaching that extent. The 
ploughs are various ; but oeineipall with one or two 
wheels, and by no means constru on good mechanical 
principles. ere are a few thrashing machines in the 
county. The chief part of Hampshire is inclosed, 
though large tracts of open heath and uncultivated land 
remain in the vicinity of Christchurch, and ‘on the bor- 
ders of Dorsetshire. The extent of the waste 
lands, exclusive of the forests, is supposed to amount to 
hearly 100,000 acres. 
Landed 
Property. 
