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WARWICKSHIRE.

Area 881 square miles, or 563,946 statute acres. Population in 1851-Males, 232,411; Females, 242,602; total, 475,013. Increase per cent in 50 years, 130. Houses inhabited, 96,731; uninhabited, 4596. To a square mile-539 persons; 110 houses. Acres-to a person, 1.2; to an inhabited house, 5.8. Average number of persons to each inhabited house, 4.9. Greatest length, 514 miles; greatest breadth, 36 miles. There are 235,000 acres of meadow and pasture land; and 60,000 are covered with artificial grass.

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ARWICKSHIRE is situated nearly in the centre of England. It is bounded on the north by Staffordshire and Leicestershire; on the east by Northamptonshire; on the south by Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire; and on the west by Worcestershire. In outline it is irregular, approaching to an oval. From the absence of steep and precipitous ground, this county is well adapted throughout for agricultural purposes. The soil, as usual in the midland districts, presents great variety. The climate is mild and healthy, and vegetation early. The highest points in the county are at Corley, in Hemlingford Hundred, and in the neighbourhood of Packington. Ancient writers divide the county into two parts, denominated the Feldon, or plain country, and the Arden, or woodland, the river Avon separating them; but the growth of population and industry has long ago abolished the distinction. The principal rivers are the Avon, Leam, and Tame. The smaller streams are the Anker, Arrow, Alne, Swift, and Stour.

At the time of the invasion of Julius Cæsar, two tribes occupied this county, the Cornavii, or Carnabii, and the Wigantes, or Wiccii. The former, besides their possessions in this county, were masters of all Staffordshire and Cheshire and portions of Shropshire, Flintshire, and Leicestershire.

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The territories of the Wiccii were more to the southward, including Worcestershire and the north of Gloucestershire. These tribes were partially subdued by Ostorius Scapula, the second Roman governor of Britain, about the year 50. Their conquest was afterwards completed by Suetonius Paulinus. When Ostorius visited the Arden of Warwickshire, he appears to have constructed entrenched camps and forts along the banks of the rivers Severn and Avon; but as to the number and position of these, great diversity of opinion exists among antiquarians. His great Ardenian station was Tripontium (Lilborn, Northamptonshire, on the borders of this county); and as Warwick is nearly in the centre of the line of forts, some writers make it the Præsidium of the Romans. There can be no doubt, however, that Alcester, on the south-western boundary of the county, was a Roman station; many relics, such as urns, bricks, and coins, sufficiently testifying to the fact. When Severus divided the Roman territories in Britain into two provinces, Warwickshire was included in Britannia Secunda. In the heptarchy this county formed part of the powerful kingdom of Mercia; several of the kings frequently holding their court at Tamworth, on its northern extremity. When the Danes invaded England, they committed great ravages here, plundering and burning most of the principal towns. In the wars of the Roses, Warwickshire shed some of its best blood for both factions. The town of Warwick, and a considerable part of the county, at the instigation of the Earl of Warwick, declared for the house of York; while Coventry, on the other hand, was equally zealous in its devotion to the house of Lancaster. In the war between Charles I. and the Parliament, Warwickshire sided with the Parliament; and it was at Edgehill, within its bounds, that the first great but indecisive battle was fought, A.D. 1642. Since that date, the general history of the county presents no facts calling for special mention.

The county takes its name from the town of Warwick. In Saxon annals it is written Weringscyre. It contains interesting remains of the several nations under whose sway the country has been in succession. Three of the Roman roads pass through it, viz., the Watling Street, the Ikenild Street, and the Foss Way. Watling Street divides Warwickshire from Leicestershire; and very distinct and interesting remains of it are to be seen at Mancester, and e sewhere. Ikenild Street, which traverses the kingdom from Southampton to Tynemouth, may be seen to advantage in the neighbourhood of Sutton Coldfield. The Foss Way may be traced,

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more or less distinctly, in various places, as, for instance, at Chesterton, where the remains of a camp may be seen. the line of these roads numerous relics of the Romans have been found. In various parts occur earth-works, which are attributed to the Saxons or early Normans. Urns, skeletons, coins, and other relics, have been frequently found. Some of the churches in this county present admirable specimens of the earlier orders of architecture.

Warwickshire boasts of many distinguished names. Besides Shakspere, the glory of Warwickshire and of England, this county has given birth to Michael Drayton, one of the most esteemed of our early poets. More recently Warwickshire produced William Somervile, author of "The Chase," and other poems; and Richard Jago, author of " Edge Hill," the intimate friend of the poet Shenstone, to whom several of his pieces are inscribed. Other distinguished names in connection with literature are those of Sir William Dugdale, author of "The Antiquities of Warwickshire," and other elaborate and valuable historical works; Edward Cave, the founder of the "Gentleman's Magazine;" Nehemiah Grew, M.D., the celebrated botanist. Several of the Earls of Warwick acted very important parts in the history of the kingdom in former times. The chief of these were the renowned Guy, the subject of numberless legendary tales; Richard de Beauchamp, styled by Sigismund, "The father of courtesy ;" and Richard Neville, "the setter up and plucker down of kings." Among other famous natives may be mentioned John de Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of Edward III.; Laurence Sheriff, the founder of Rugby School; Henry Compton, Bishop of London, 1675-1713, one of the most eminent prelates who ever occupied that see. The chief of the preceding names, as well as some others, will come to be briefly noticed in the course of this work, in connection with the places of their birth or residence. We subjoin a list of natives who, though less noted, are sufficiently distinguished to be here recorded:-Daniel Rogers, a Latin poet of considerable ability, born 1540, died 1590; Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, an elegant poet, and a liberal patron of learning, 1554-1628; Francis Holyock, rector of Southam, a learned and laborious lexicographer, 1567-1633; Sir Nathaniel Brent, a distinguished lawyer, 1573-1652; Nicholas Byfield, a Puritan divine of considerable eminence, 1579-1622; Humphrey Wanley, a noted antiquary, 1561-1626; Sir Thomas Overbury, a writer of some reputation in prose and verse, 1581-1613; Samuel Clark, minister of St. Bennet's Fink, whose "Marrow

of Ecclesiastical History" displays much learning and industry, 1579-1682; Samuel Annesley, a celebrated Nonconformist, 1620-1696; Richard Claridge, a Quaker writer of some eminence, 1649-1723; Thomas Wagstaff, a non-juring divine, and writer of considerable ability, 1645-1712; Samuel Johnson, chaplain to Lord Russell, and rector of Corrington, remarkable for his learning and his steadiness in suffering, 1649-1703. To these we may add the following literary names associated with this county by their works:-Dr. Thomas, the continuator of Dugdale; William Hutton, the historian of Birmingham; Robert B. Wheler, the historian of Stratfordon-Avon; J. Norris Brewer, author of an interesting and well-written account of Warwickshire, etc. Not a few illustrious names might be mentioned as connected with this county by residence or otherwise. Addison has made Bilton Hall classic ground. The learned Samuel Parr, LL.D., was forty years curate of Hatton, where he died and was interred. The philosophic Dr. Priestley was a dissenting minister in Birmingham; and there he pursued his studies in chemistry and electricity. James Watt's name will always be associated with the steam-engine manufactories of Soho, near Birmingham. The late Sir Robert Peel has invested the ancient town of Tamworth with a fresh interest. Thomas Attwood, of Birmingham, was the founder of the "Political Union," which secured the passing of the Reform Bill.

The mineral productions of Warwickshire are, coal in abundance, limestone, freestone, blue flagstone, ironstone, marl, blue clay, manganese, etc. There are mineral springs at Leamington, Ilmington, Stratford-on-Avon, Southam, Willoughby, King's Newnham, and near Birmingham on the Coleshill road. The county is well adapted for agriculture, which is in a state of considerable advancement. The largest estate is said to be that of Stoneleigh, about 12,000 acres. It is calculated that 235,000 acres are in pasture, and 60,000 under cultivation. The average of farms is under 100 acres. There is a tendency here of late years, as well as in other midland counties, to increase the size of farms by diminishing their number. The usual breeds of cattle are to be observed on the farms. The large polled, or ancient Warwickshire sheep, is advantageously crossed, particularly with the Leicestershire breed. The stock of sheep is about 350,000, and the produce of wool between 8000 and 9000 packs annually. In 1851 there were 4028 farmers, and 24,655 farm servants; 22,949 being males, and 1706 females.

The principal English manufactures are worthily repre

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