Buckinghamshire, taking its name from the town of Buckingham, is a southern inland shire, lying near the middle of England, equi-distant between the North Sea, at the mouth of the Thames, and the Bristol Channel. Its area is rather below the middle size of English shires; the main length of 53 miles is from north-west to south-east, and its greatest breadth about 47 miles the shape is very irregular, and it has few natural bound marks. On the north it is bounded by Northamptonshire; on the east by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex, from which latter it is parted by the Colne; on the south the Thames parts it from Berkshire; on the west it is bounded by Oxfordshire.

The area of the county was originally 457,694 acres, but under the provisions of the “Local Government (England and Wales) Act, 1888” (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), the parish of Stokenchurch, with 5,918 acres, and of Ibstone, 273 acres, were transferred from Oxon to Bucks, Kingsey, with 1,431 acres, being added to the former from the latter county, and the parish of Nettleden, reconstituted by the addition of part of Ivinghoe (with an area of 1,589 acres), transferred to Herts; by these alterations the county area is now 479,960 acres.

The population in 1831 was 130,982; in 1841, 138,246; in 1851, 143,655; in 1861, 167,993; in 1871. 175,879; in 1881, 176,323; and in 1891, 185,284, viz., males 91,195, females 94,089. The number of houses was, inhabited, 40,043, uninhabited, 2,507, and building 240.

The shire was formerly inhabited by Britons, who were driven out by a Belgic tribe, sometimes called Catyeuchlani, Catuellani and Cassii, and at the time of the invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar they formed part of the Belgic force under Cassibelaun, which fought with him. In the time of the Emperor Claudius the Romans got a footing here, and it is thought, killed in this shire a leader called Togodumnus; they afterwards planted the country, which they formed into part of province of Flavia Csesariensis; many of their roads are yet to be traced, particularly Watling Street, now the grand Holyhead road, by Brickhill and Stony Stratford; also Ikenield, Ikening, or Acknell Way, thought to have been named after the Iceni; further, Akeman Street, and others unnamed; they had several stations, but none of any great note. After the Romans went away, the English came in and drove out the Welch, planting the country, which was made part of the great kingdom of the Mid-English or Mercia. The people of Bucks long spoke a remarkable dialect of English, of which there are some old literary records.

During the Parliamentary wars the country was the field of many severe contests. Many eminent names are connected with Bucks; among others may be mentioned Milton. Hampden, Cowper, Herschel and Edmund Burke. The shire belongs to the chalk formation, and is cut across in the middle by the great chalk downs called the Chiltern hills; the central part of the shire is watered by the Thame, the northern by the Ouse, the southern by the Thames, and the eastern by the Colne. The highest hills in the Chilterns are 905 feet high, near Wendover; ivinghoe hills, 904 feet; Mazzle hill, near Brill, 744 feet; Bow Brick hill, 683 feet. The soil is chiefly good, though there are some gravels and wet clays, and sometimes sands; but these are more than compensated by the rich grounds in the Vale of the Thame, at Aylesbury, and on the banks of the Thames and Colne.

The Thames, at the southern border, flows to London and the sea, bearing large craft, and by canal it communicates with every part of England on its banks, in this county, are Great Marlow and Eton. The small river Wye, flowing from Wycombe, falls into the Thames, near Hedsor, after turning several paper mills. In the Thames are found barbel, trout, pike, carp, chub, tench, dace, roach, crayfish, eels, and other fish. At the southern part of the shire the river Colne, which turns many mills, falls into the Thames, and with its feeder, the Missen, or Misbourn, it waters the south-eastern part of Bucks.

The Chess flows by Chesham into Herts. The Thame is formed by a great many streams, and waters the Vale of Aylesbury, and thence flows past Thame to the Isis at Dorchester; it is after the junction of the Thame with the Isis that the latter properly becomes the Thames, though it is popularly known by the latter name throughout its course; it has trout, pike, eels, chub, perch, roach, gudgeon, &c. A small feeder of the Cherwell rises in Bucks. The Midland Ouse runs through the hire for about 43 miles, from near Brackley, by Buckingham, to Stony Stratford, thence through Newport Pagnellt Olney and into Bedfordshire; it receives the Tove, at Stony Stratford; a large stream from Wilmslow, and another at Newport Pagnell, called the Ousel, 30 miles long, flowing from Fenny Stratford. The Thame is navigable at Thame, the Ouse throughout the county. The chief canal is the Grand Junction, which passes by Ivinghoe, Fenny Stratford, and Stony Stratford; it has branches to Wendover, Aylesbury and Buckingham; thus most of the towns in this county have water communication.

The chief railway is the main line of the London and North Western, which proceeds from London, close to the Hertfordshire border, by Tring, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, and Wolverton. There are branches from Cheddington junction on this line to Aylesbury; from Bletchley by Fenny Stratford to Bedford, and thence to Cambridge, forming a junction with the Great Northern at Sandy; from Bletchley by Winslow to Oxford; and from Winslow, on the latter line, to Buckingham and Brackley and thence to Banbury. From Wolverton is a line to Newport Pagnell, belonging to the North Western Railway Company. The southern part of Bucks is well provided by the Great Western railway, which comes in near Colnbrook, and crosses by Slough to Maidenhead, Reading and the west of England, sending off branches to Eton and Windsor; and to High Wycombe, thence passing through Princes Risborough to Thame and Oxford; at Princes Risborough is the junction of the line to Aylesbury; a line from Aylesbury to Buckingham connects the northern and southern systems; from the High Wycombe line is a short branch to Great Marlow, and from Princes Risborough is the Watlington railway; from Colnbrook a short line was opened in 1887 to Staines. In 1886, a tramway line was laid down between Wolverton and Stony Stratford. The Metropolitan Extension gives railway facilities to Amersham, Chesham and Aylesbury in this county. From the Quainton Road station on the Metropolitan Extension there is a steam tramway to Brill. The Great Central (late Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire) railway have constructed a main line from Nottingham, which enters this county about six miles north-west of Buckingham, passing close to Quainton Road Junction, on the Metropolitan Extension line, over which it has running powers to London. The Great Central Company are now (1899) constructing a line from Quainton Road to Princes Risborough to join the Great Western, providing an alternative route to London.

The chief products are chalk, limestone, lime, sand, gravel, forest marble; beech, oak, and other timber; wheat, barley, clover, tares, turnips, hay; horses, cows, oxen, calves, sheep, lambs, pigs, butter and cream cheese; condensed milk is prepared at Aylesbury, and in that neighbourhood ducks are reared, which has now become a large industry; woven silk, bonnets, lace, shoes and paper are made; many persons are employed in the lace manufacture, of which the greater part are females. The making of straw bonnets and hats and the plaiting of straw also employ a number of females; the eastern part of the county, bordering on Herts and Beds, is the chief location of the straw manufacture. A trade peculiar to the county is that of the manufacture of wooden chairs of various patterns, wooden spades, brush handles, bowls, and various other articles of turnery from beech and other trees, with which the county abounds; High Wycombe is the chief seat of this trade.

The shire is in the Midland circuit, spring and summer assizes being held at Aylesbury, the latter having been removed by Act of Parliament from Buckingham: the quarter sessions are also held at Aylesbury, and there are 12 petty sessional divisions. The county contains 225 civil parishes, and is principally in the diocese of Oxford, and forms an archdeaconry, which is sub-divided into the rural deaneries of Amersham, Aylesbury, Bletchley, Buckingham (first and second portion), Burnham, Claydon, Ivinghoe, Mursley, Newport, Waddesdon, Wendover and Wycombe.

The Municipal boroughs are:-Buckingham, population, in 1891, 3,364, and Wycombe, 13,435. Other towns are, Amersham, 2,6131 Aylesbury, 8,680; Chesham, 8,018; Eton, 2,494; Fenny Stratford, 2,614: Great Marlow, 5,283; Newport Pagnell, 3,788; Princes Risborough, 2,318; Slough, 5,426; Stony Stratford, 2,019 and Winslow, 1,704. Brill is an ancient town with a mineral spring.

The Registration districts are:—

Parliamentary Representation of Buckinghamshire

Bucks formerly returned three members for the undivided county, but under the provisions of the “Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885,” it now returns three members in three divisions.

No. 1-The Northern or Buckingham division, comprises the sessional divisions of Ashendon, Buckingham, Newport, Stony Stratford and Winslow (except so much as is comprised in division No. 2), and the municipal borough of Buckingham.

No. 2-The Mid or Aylesbury division, comprises the sessional divisions of Aylesbury, Chesham, Desborough (second division) (except so much as is comprised in division No. 3), and Linslada and the parishes of Creslow, Oving, Pitchcott, Quainton, Shipton Lee and Whitchurch in Winslow sessional division.

No. 3-The Southern of Wycombe division, comprises the sessional divisions of Burnham, Desborough (first division) and Stoke, and the municipal borough of Chipping Wycombe, and the parishes of West Wycombe and Wooburn and so much of the parish of Chipping Wycombe as is not included in the Municipal borough of Chipping Wycombe.

Members of Parliament for the County

Mid division, Hon. Lionel Walter Rothschild F.Z.S. 148 Piccadilly, London.W North division, William Walter Carlile esq. D.L., J.P. Gayhurst, Newport Pagnell; & 10 Cadogan gardens & Carlton & Junior Carlton clubs, London S W South division, Viscount Curzon J.P. Woodlands, near Uxbridge; 20 Curzon street W; Carlton club S W; Constitution club S W; Travellers’ dub S W; Bachelors’ club W; Turf club W, & Marlborough club S W, London.

Military

Buckinghamshire is included within the No. 3, Home District Command.

Volunteers

Home Counties infantry Brigade.

Comprising the: —

1st (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Hertford.

2nd (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Great Berkhampstead.

3rd Volunteer Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Bedford.

2nd Volunteer Battalion Oxfordshire Light infantry, Oxford.

1st Bucks Rifle Volunteer Corps.

1st Volunteer Battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales’s(Royal Berkshire Regiment), Reading Supply Detachment Bearer Company.

Head Quarters, St. Mary’s Butts, Reading.

Fairs and Markets

Amersham, Whit Monday & Sept. 19. Market day, Tuesday.

Aylesbury, 3rd Saturday in January; Saturday next before Palm Sunday; 2nd Saturday in May; 3rd Saturday in June; 4th Saturday in September & 2nd Saturday in October; 2nd Wednesday in July, for wool; 2nd Wednesday in December, for fat cattle. Market day, Saturday; sales for fat stock every Wednesday.

Buckingham, 3rd Saturday in June, for wool & Saturday after Old Michaelmas day, for pleasure. Market day, Saturday, for live & dead stock & also for corn, & Monday for calves.

Chesham, April 21, July 22 & September 28. Market day, for corn & cattle, on Wednesday.

Colnbrook, April 5 & October 16 for cattle.

Fenny Stratford, April 19 & October 11. Cattle market, every alternate Thurday .

Ivinghoe, May 6 & October 17, both for pleasure.

Marlow, October 29 & 30, for cattle.

Newport Pagnell, June 22. Market day, Wednesday.

Olney, Easter Monday, June 29 & 30 (cherry fair), & October 13. Market day, Thurday.

Princes Risborough, May 6 & October 21. Market day, Thurday, for corn & cattle.

Slough, cattle market every Tuesday.

Stony Stratford, August 2 & the Friday following October 10, both for pleasure. Market day for corn on Friday & for cattle the first Monday in every month.

Wendover, May 13 & October 2. Market day, Tuesday.

Winslow, statute fair, Wednesday before October 11 & two following days. Market for live stock 1st & 3rd Wednesday in each monTh. & for corn every Wednesday.

Wooburn, May 4 & November 12.

High Wycombe, Monday & Tuesday preceding Michaelmaa day, for pleasure & hiring. Market day, Friday.

County Police

The force consists of 154 men & 7 private constables—1 chief constable, 1 superintendent & chief clerk, 5 divisional superintendents (one of the latter deputy chief constable), 6 inspectors, 23 sergeants, 118 & 7 private constables; head quarters & reserve—8 constables.

Staff

Chief Constable, Major Otway Mayne, Aylesbury Superintendent & Chief Clerk, Joseph Watson; office, Market square, Aylesbury; Assistant Clerk, Sergt. Charles Pollard.

Aylesbury (or Central) Division.

Superintendent, Christopher Pitson, Police station, Aylesbury.

Population, 41,155; acreage, 113,612 Strength of Division, 29 men.

Linslade, Benjamin Bunker, inspector; Wendover, William White.

Fenny Stratford (or Northern) Division.

Superintendent, James Lait, Police Station, Fenny Stratford Population, 37,764; acreage, 102,255 Strength of Division, 28 men.

Buckingham (or North Western) Division.

Superintendent, William Clarke, Buckingham.

Population, 23,107; acreage, 116,913.

Strength of Division, 23 men.

Brill, George Knight, inspector.

High Wycombe (or South Western) Division.

Superintendent, John J. Maneely, Police Station, High Wycombe.

Population, 35,845; acreage, 85,753 Strength of Division, 30 men.

Chesham, Charles Summers, inspector; Great Marlow, George Marks, sergeant.

Slough (or South Eastern) Division.

Superintendent & Deputy Chief Constable, George Sutton, Police station, Slough Population, 33,975 5 acreage, 56,474 Strength of Division, 36 men.

Buckinghamshire County Council

Local Government Act, 1888, 51 & 52 Vic. c. 41.

Under the above Act, Buckinghamshire, after the 1st April, 1889, for the purposes of the Act, became an administrative county (sec. 46), governed by a County Council consisting of chairman, aldermen and councillors elected in a manner prescribed by the Act (sec. 2).

The chairman is, by virtue of his office, a justice of the peace for the county, without qualification (sec. 46).

The police for the county is under the control of a standing joint committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council, appointed as therein mentioned (sec. 9).

The County Council.

The coroners for the county are elected by the County Council, and the clerk of the peace appointed by such joint committee, and may be removed by them (sec. 82-3).

The clerk of the peace for the county is clerk of the County Council (sec. 83—1).

The administrative business of the County (which would if this Act had not been passed, have been transacted by the justices) is now transacted by the County Council.

The following Table shows the acreage under each kind of crop, and the number of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs in Buckinghamshire, as taken from the Agricultuial Returns, 1897:—

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BOUNDARIES, SITUATION, AND EXTENT

Buckinghamshire is an inland county, bounded on the north by Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire; on the east by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex; on the south by Berkshire; and on the west by Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The greatest length from north to south is about 45 miles; its breadth about eighteen, and its circumference 138 miles, containing 518,400 statute acres.

NAME AND ANCIENT HISTORY

The present appellation of the county was given it by the Saxons, and is supposed to be derived either from the beech trees, which then grew so plentifully in these parts, and were cailed Buccum, or from the abundance of deer which were found in the woods with which this country was covered: Buc, in the Saxon language, signifying a buck or hart.

This part of Britain, together with the adjoining counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, before the invasion by Cæsar, was inhabited by the Cattieuchlani, or as Ptolomy and Dio call them Cattuellani, Cathicludani, or Cattiduduni. Camden is of opinion that they were the ancient Cassii; and there are some remains of the name in Casho hundred, and Cashobury in Hertfordshire. Their king was also called Cassibelin, or Cassivilaun, which signifies the king of the Cassii. They were a warlike people, and had given such proof of their courage, in conquering part of the country of the Dobuni, their neighbours on the west, that when Cæsar landed the Britons unanimously chose Cassibelin their king, to be their generalissimo against the Romans, whom he so successfully opposed, that they were forced to retire into Gaul with little or no advantage.

Cassibelin being thus rid of a foreign enemy, turned his arms upon his own countrymen, the Trinobantes, who had favoured the Romans upon their invasion, and in a decisive battle killed Imanuentius, their king, and compelled Mundubratius his son to place himself under the protection of Cæsar, who was then in Gaul.

The next spring the Romans, under pretence of reinstating their ally, arrived again in Britain, bringing Mandubratius with them. Cassibelin vigorously opposed their landing, but without success, and at length after several severe encounters being besieged in his own city he was compelled to sue for peace; this he easily obtained upon the following conditions, viz. That Mandubratius being restored to his kingdom, should be suffered quietly to enjoy it, that he should give hostages to secure his submission for the future, and pay a yearly tribute to the Roman treasury. And so Cæsar departed, leaving the kings of Britain in the full possession of their former sovereignty, in which they continued until Aulus Plautius subjected them to the imperial power under Claudius Cæsar, and Buckinghamshire formed part of Britannia Prima. It was afterwards included in the province of Flavia Cæsariensis.

The Roman station in this county, from the few visible remains, are very difficult to fix. But by comparing the distances in the Iter of Antonine and Richard, we are enabled from their exact correspondence to discover that Magiovintum, must have been within the limits of this county, near Fenny Stratford. The site of this station is called Auld Fields, and abundance of coins and foundations of buildings have been discovered here.

Camden mentions a Roman town in the western part of the county, which he supposes to have been destroyed by the Danes in 914, at a place called Burgh Hill, and by contraction the Brill; and adds that Roman coins were found there in his time.

After the departure of the Romans, the Britons being infested by the Picts and Scots were obliged to call in the Saxons for their defence, who finding the Britons weak, and the country abounding in all manner of plenty, brought over such numbers of their countrymen that in a few years they became almost entirely masters of it, so far as the jurisdiction of the Romans extended.

The Saxons, who divided this part of Britain into seven kingdoms, included this county in the kingdom of Mercia, and gave it as we have above mentioned the name of Buckinghamshire.

At the commencement of the Civil Wars in the reign of Charles I. this county was one of the first that joined in an association for mutual defence, on the side of the parliament.

CLIMATE, &C

The climate of this county is thought to be as favourable to health and longevity as any other in the kingdom. The air on the Chiltern Hills is remarkably healthy. And even in the vales it is more so than in the low grounds of other counties.

The scenery throughout the county is remarkably beautiful, and diversified with hill and dale, arable, meadow, and wood lands, particularly in the neighbourhood of Amersham and the Mi pendens. Between Marlow and Henley the scenery is rendered still more beautiful by the addition of the river Thames, and the view of its opposite banks. Among the most striking prospects in the county that from the hills above Ellecborough, commanding a very extensive view of the vale of Aylesbury, is particularly recommended.

RIVERS

The principal rivers, from which this county derives great advantages, are the Thames, the Ouse, and the Colne.

The river Thames forms part of the boundary, and the chief ornament of the southern part of the county, dividing it from Berkshire, during a course of about 30 miles. In its progress it passes Medmenham, Great Marlow, Hedsor, Taplow, Boveney, Eton, and Datchet, and is navigable the whole of the way.

The Ouse enters the western side of the county, and passing Water Stratford, pursues an irregular course until it reaches Buckingham; it winds from thence through a fertile tract of meadow land, passing Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnel, and Olney; and soon afterwards, turning suddenly to the east, leaves the county near Snelson in the parish of Larendon.

“The Ouse, slow winding through a level plain Of spacious meads, with cattle sprinkled o’er, Conducts the eye along its sinuous course, Delighted.“

Cowper's Task.

The Colne forms a part of the eastern boundary of the county, seperating it from Middlesex; it passes near Durham and Iver, through Colnbrook, to which it gives its name, and near Horton and Wyradesbury, and falls into the Thames between Ankerwyke and Staines.

The Thame is formed by the junction of several small streams, one of which near the borders of the county, in Hertfordshire, and in its subsequent course through the vale of Aylesbury is still further encreased by the waters of other streams, and at length enters Oxfordshire near the town of Thame.

There are several other small rivers, on which paper and flour mills are erected.

We are told that the following fish, of a remarkable size, were recorded on the kitchen walls of the old manor-house at Tynngham (now pulled down) as having been caught in the river Ouse in this county: a carp, in 1648, measuring 2 feet 9 inches in length; a pike in 1658, 3 feet 7 inches in length; a bream, 2 feet inches; a salmon, 3 feet 10 inches; a perch, two feet, and a shad, in 1683, one foot 11 inches.

The river Ouse is remarkable for fine perch, pike, and bream. The little river Wyck, or Wyke, produces trout, and other fish.

NAVIGABLE CANALS

The Grand Junction Canal enters this county near Wolverton, where it is carried across the valley, over the river Ouse, which is here the boundary of the county, by a magnificent aqueduct, of about three quarters of a mile in length; it passes near Lendford Magna, leaving Newport Pagnel on the north: by the Woolstons, Woughton, and Simpson, to Fenny Stratford; thence, leaving Stoke Hammond, Soulbury, and Linchlade on the west, it follows the course of the river Ouse to Grove; leaving Leighton Busard, in Bedfordshire, on the east, and afterwards leaves Cheddington on the west, and Slapton lvinghoe and Mansworth on the east. Near the last-mentioned place it quits the county.

An act was obtained, in the year 1794, for making navigable cuts from the towns of Aylesbury, Buckingham, and Wendover, to communicate with the Grand Junction Canal.

AGRICULTURE

Soil

The face of this county is much varied, and the general nature of the soil is described to be a rich loam, strong clay, chalk, and loam upon gravel. The Chiltern Hills and their appendages occupy the southern parts. The fertile vale of Aylesbury extends through the middle of the county, and the more northern parts are diversified with gentle sand hills, entering from Bedfordshire.

The Chiltern Hills stretch across the county from Bedfordshire to Oxfordshire, forming a part of that great line of high-land from Norfolk to Dorsetshire.

The soil of these hills is chiefly composed of chalk, intermixed with flints, and though much inferior to that of the Northern District, has been rendered remarkably productive by the great attention paid to its cultivation and improvement. The soil is here so very shallow and the grounds so elevated that flints seem to be absolutely necessary to keep the surface moist, and protect the grain from the too powerful effect of the sun.

The fertility of the vale of Aylesbury, which lies under the Chiltem Hills, is almost proverbial. We are told by Fuller, that a piece of pasture land, called Perryfield, in this vale, within the manor of Quarendon, belonging to Sir Robert Lee, was let for 800l. per annum, and that the tenant was well satified with his bargain: the value of the land at this time cannot exactly be ascertained, as the extent of the field is not mentioned. The late Agricultural Survey of the county, under the auspices of the beard of Agriculture, fully confirms what has been said of the richness and fertility of the vale of Aylesbury. In this paper it is said: “So rich and fertile is the soil about Aylesbury and Buckingham, that we are assured it is considered a disgrace to a farmer to suffer a heap of manure to be seen at the end of his field, to plough in straight lines, to disturb an ant-hill on his pasture, or to permit more water than falls from the heavens to pass over his meadow.“

In this district large tracts possess in such a hight degree the advantage of obtaining water, that the farmer can flow his grounds when and where he pleases, brooks and rivulets running through the greater part of these fine meadows, with few or no mills to interrupt or controul him in the free application of their fructifying streams; yet, excepting in the neighbourhood of one or two of the paper mills, there is scarcely an acre of land watered throughout the county.

In the northern parts of the county the soil is chiefly clay.

Crops and Mode of Cultivation

Wheat, barley, oats, beans, and santfoin, are cultivated upon the Chiltern Hills, and in their vicinity, where the soil is light, the management of the arable land is conducted with the greatest attention, and according to the most improved systems of modern husbandry. On the contrary in the vale of Aylesbury, and the more northern parts of the county, the richness and fertility of the soil has produced such a strong prejudice against any improvement among the farmers of these districts, that contented with the natural fertility which nature has bestowed upon their lands, they neglect every artificial means by which they might be rendered more productive.

For ploughing and the general business of agriculture horses are preferred to oxen. The flintiness of some parts of the soil, and the heavy quality of others, being found insurmountable objections to the use of the latter.

The swing and high-wheel ploughs, drawn by four horses, two abreast, are chiefly used in the southern district. In the northern division the loose-handle, swing, and low-wheel ploughs, drawn by five or six horses at length are preferred.

Live Stock

The horses in general are of the strong black kind, and the coach breed. The cows consist of the short-horned Lincolnshire and Yorkshire breed, but very different from those which are kept for milking in the environs of London. North-Wiltshire wethers for store, and Berkshire ewes for breeding, are the prevailing sheep of the county. The New Leicestershire breed has lately been introduced with considerable success, but the wetness of the soil in the lower parts of the county, occasioned by its tenacity and retention, frequently occasions very serious loss by the rot; a circumstance which tends to discourage any extensive improvements in the breed of sheep in this county. Oxen and cows constitute the principal stock of the grazing farms; the former are composed of Yorkshire and Herefordshire beasts, which are bought in lean from 121. to 451. per head; the latter are barren cows purchased of the dairymen.

Every dairy farm fattens a certain number of hogs, with skim-milk, and butter-milk, without any other assistance, except when there is a scarcity of milk, and then barley-meal, beans, and peas are used as a substitute.

The immense quantities of butter annually made on the dairy farms are mostly purchased by the London dealers, who contract for it half-yearly. The average weight produced weekly from each cow is eight pounds (sixteen ounces to the pound) in summer, and six pounds in winter.

They have a very useful machine in some of the dairies, called a mill-churn, lately introduced, by which the operation of churning is greatly facilitated, and its fatigue avoided, the mill being worked by a horse. In other dairies the barrel churn is used with two handles, turned by two men, who make from five to six score pounds of butter at one churning.

In the neighbourhood of Medmenham, Great and Little Hampton, &c. many calves are suckled.

Perhaps (the Pevensey Level and Romney Marsh excepted) no land in the kingdom is better calculated for grazing cattle than the vale of Aylesbury. Its amazing fertility soon makes a visible alteration in the appearance of the animal, and the extraordinary size they afterwards attain is a proof of the nutritive quality of the grass they feed on, Manures.

In the neighbourhood of the Chiltern Hills every variety of materials that will either constitute or encrease the stock of manure is carefully collected and preserved for use.

In that part of the county which borders on Bedfordshire, about Wavendon, Broughton, an. d the Brick Hills, where the soil is a deep sand, a rick blue marl is found, which is very advantageously used as a manure.

The other manures are peat, ash, sand, and rabbits’ dung. On some of the strong and cold soils hair and hoofs are strewn with much advantage, and soot and ashes are found to be equally beneficial to the wheat and young clover.

Size of Farms

In looking over the division of the estates in this county, it evidently appears, that they were originally in few hands; consequently that the property possessed by individuals was large, which is indeed to this day in some measure the case: but the great influx of wealth, and the prevailing desire of acquiring landed property, has of late years been the means of considerably encreasing the number of proprietors. The generality of farms however are from sixty pounds to two hundred and fifty pounds a year throughout the county. There are not many farms of 500l. per annum, and not more than two or three of 1000l.

Wood Land

The south-west parts of the county abounds in woods, and it is calculated that one sixth part of the land is covered with beech.

These woods require but little attention, as the old trees shed a sufficient quantity of seed to keep the wood constantly full of young plants. This valuable wood is converted to a variety of purposes; one of which is the affording an abundance of fuel to that part of the county where coals are scarce and clear.

In the parish of Wycombe there are supposed to be 709 acres of common (beech) woodland In the neighbourhood of Chesham, are large thriving beech woods, extremely well managed. In the parish of Amersham are woods of fine beech, growing upon chalk; and in the beautiful park of William Drake, Esq. there is a variety of thriving timber. The heaths in the parishes of Wavendon and Brickhill, which formerly were covered with short heath, &c. were some years ago purchased by Colonel Moore, of Fgginton, who, after leaving a more than sufficient allotment for the poor, inclosed the remainder, and planted it with Scotch firs and other timber trees.

These are at present in a very thriving state, and promise to become a great source of wealth to the proprietor: they have already so altered those formerly barren tracts, as to make them at this time of great value. These plantations are now in the possession of the Duke of Bedford, who has had rides cut through them, and thereby much enereased their beauty.

Whadden Chace is divided into several coppices, containing together about 2200 acres, part of which is shut up for a certain number of years, and then laid open to the deer, as well as to the commoners, for so many years more. The coppices produce large oak, ash, and other timber as well as underwood: but, from the custom of the deer and the commoner’s cattle being suffered to depasture thereon without restraint, the young timber is at this time nearly destroyed.

According to ancient historians, this county formerly was so covered with woods as to be almost impassable, till Leofstan, abbot of St. Alban’s, had several of them cut down, because they afforded harbour for thieves and outlaws. The whole of the Chiltern district is said to have been a forest: the western part bordering, on Oxfordshire, was occupied by the forest of Benwood, which was disforested in the reign of King James I.

A tract of land on the Chiltern Hills, extending from the Beacon Hill in Ellesborough, across the parish of Little Kimble into that of Great Kimble, and containing more than 100 acres, is covered with box wood, which appears to be the natural growth of the soil.

The neighbourhood of Chesham abounds with the black cherry, chiefly planted in the hedge rows.

Commons and Waste Lands

In the Agricultural Survey of the County, the common fields were estimated at 91,900 acres, but a large proportion has since been inclosed. The waste lands are but inconsiderable, their extent not being more than 6000 acres, the greatest part of which are comprised in the heaths of Iver Fulmer, Stoke, and Wycombe.

These are the most considerable commons in Buckinghamshire, and contain as follows: Wickham Heath, about 1500 acres. Iver Heath, about 1150 acres. Stoke Heath, about 1000 acres. Fulmer Heath, about 600 acres; and Great Harwood Common contains about 560 acres.

Agricultural Improvements

The progress of agricultural improvement in this county is considerably checked on many estates, by the injudicious restrictive conditions on which they are leased. The tenants being in general, and without any reference to the quality of their land, confined to two or three crops, and a fallow, with a prohibition to the growth of clover and green food.-These restrictions are wholly inconsistent with the introduction of the improved systems of husbandry, and are as injurious to the proprietor of the soil as they are vexatious to the tenant.

MINES AND MINERALS

No minerals of any value have been discovered in Buckinghamshire. At Wavendon, on the borders of Bedfordshire, are the celebrated fuller's-earth pits, one of which is now only occasionally worked in a close shaft. The sale for this earth from Wavendon Pits has of late much diminished, the dealers having got into a practice of procuring an article of inferior qualily, from other parts of the kingdom, which they sell as the produce of this neighbourhood.-Mr. Pennant, on his journey from Chester, had an opportunity of seeing a large pit, which had been excavated to a considerable extent, and was open at the top. He thus describes the strata: “The beds over the marie are first several layers of reddish sand, to the thickness of six yards; then succeeds a stratum of sand stone, of the same colour; beneath which, for seven or eight yards more, the sand is again continued to the fuller’s earth, the upper part of which, being impure or mixed with sand, is flung aside; the rest taken up for use. The earth lies in layers, under which is a bed of rough white freestone, and under that sand, beyond which the labourers have never penetrated.”

In Doomsday Book salt works are mentioned to have been as Risborough.

There are no mineral waters of any note in the county; there was formerly one at Cuddington, but at present it is unknown.

CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISIONS

Buckinghamshire was anciently divided into eighteen hundreds; there are now only eight, which compose separate districts. The modern hundred of Buckingham includes the ancient hundred of Rouelai, Stodfald, and Lamua. The three ancient hundreds of Bonestou, Sigelai, and Moleslou, are now called Dunstow, Segloe, and Mulso, and comprised under the general name of Newport hundred. The hundreds of Elesberie, Stanes, and Riseberge, now comprise one district called the three hundreds of Aylesbury. The ancient hundreds of Coteslau, Mureslai, and Erlai are included in the hundred of Cotslow. The hundreds of Essedene, Votesdone, and Tichessele are comprised in the present hundred of Ashendon, excepting that of Adstock, formerly in Votesdone, is now in the hundred of Buckingham, and Hoggeston and Crestlow in that of Cotslow. The hundreds of Dustenburgh and Stoches arc called Desborough and Stoke. The hundred of Burnham preserves its ancient name and extent, excepting that Farnham and Eton, which were formerly comprised in it, are now in the hundred of Stoke. Desborough, Stoke, and Burnham, are the three Chiltern hundreds, the custody of which is well known to be a nominal office, accepted by any member of parliament who wishes to vacate his seat.

Buckinghamshire lies within the diocese of Lincoln, and is subject to an Archdeacon, who takes his title from the county. It is divided into seven deaneries: Buckingham, Burnham, Muresley, Newport, Waddesdon, Wendover, and Wycombe.-The parishes of Halton, Monks-Risburgh, Wotton Underwood and Little Brick-hill, are in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aston Abbots, Granborough, Little Harwood, and Winslow are in the diocese of London, and in the jurisdiction of the archdeacon of St. Alban’s, to the monastery of which place they formerly belonged.

The present number of parishes in this county, as nearly as they can be ascertained is 201, of which 79 are vicarages, and 29 curacies or donations.

Buckinghamshire has no city. It contains fourteen market towns: Agmondesham, or Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Ivinghoe, Great Marlow, Newport Pagnel, Olney, Prince’s Risborough, Stony Stratford, Wendover, Winslow, and High or Chipping Wycombe.

The county sends fourteen members to parliament, two for the county town, and two for each of the boroughs of Aylesbury, Amersham, Great Marlow, Wendover, and Chipping Wycombe.

The summer assizes for the county are held at Buckingham; the lent assizes at Aylesbury. The quarter sessions are always held at Aylesbury.

According to the returns made under the act of parliament, for ascertaining the population of this kingdom in 1801, it appears that there were then 20,448 inhabited houses, and 543 uninhabited houses, in Buckinghamshire. The total number of inhabitants is stated to be 107,444, of whom 52,084 were males, and 55,350 females. Of this total number there was 25,083 employed in agriculture, and 20,138 in trade, manufactures, and handicrafts.