12 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
extending the prosperity of the state ; none can 
tend more to promote the general happiness of the 
species. 
With the view of bringing under your considera- 
tion some of the most remarkable facts as connected 
with the statistics of the county, I may observe that 
the situation of Worcestershire is completely inland, 
and very near to the centre of the kingdom. The 
outline is very irregular. The boundaries are, Here- 
fordshire on the south-west ; Shropshire on the 
north-west ; Staffordshire on the north ; Warwick- 
shire on the east ; and Gloucestershire on the south. 
In latitude it extends from 52" to 52° 30^ north; 
and in longitude, from V 30' to 2" 30^ west. The 
official estimate laid before parliament, states the 
contents of the county at 431,360 square acres; 
of which there are 150,000 acres pasturage ; and 
200,000 acres arable ; these, besides corn and cattle, 
produce wool, hops, cider, and perry. Other objects 
of cultivation are great quantities of culinary and 
other vegetables, grown in the vales of the Severn 
and Avon, furnishing ample supplies to their imme- 
diate vicinities, and to their less productive neigh- 
bours, the mining and manufacturing districts. The 
air and soil have been long considered as favourable 
to health, yielding in this respect to few situations 
in the kingdom. The temperature of the air in 
the most elevated parts of the county, is not so 
bleak as considerably to impede vegetation. The 
highest point of the Malvern Hills is covered with 
verdure, and the potatoe flourishes nearly to its 
