the poll is not approved, nor any tuft on the cheeks. The shoulders are wide; the breast open and deep; fore and hind legs stand wide; they are round and straight in the barrel; broad upon the loin and hips; shut well in the twist, which is a projection of flesh in the inner part of the thigh, that gives a fullness when viewed behind, and makes a South Down leg of mutton remarkably round and short. The South Down farmers breed their sheep with faces and legs of a colour, just as suits their fancy; one prefers them black, another sandy, a third speckled; but they one and all exclaim against white. Grey, speckled, and mottled faces and legs are most common, In regard to the quality of flesh this breed is not surpassed by any in England; and its wool is little, if at all inferior to that of the Hereford sheep, as the common practice of sorting the different wools in Herefordshire is not known upon the Downs. Their hardiness is unquestionably demonstrated by their healthiness, and freedom from losses amid the storms to which they are exposed in winter and spring on their bleak native hills. All these recommendations, however, are crowned by an advantage which gives the South Down sheep a decisive superiority over other breeds; and this consists in the small quantity of food required for their consumption. " If," says the Rev. Mr. Young, "the proportion of stock to ground is extended over all the South Downs, and the contiguous land, so as to comprehend a tract of 150,000 acres, the number of sheep upon this surface from authentic accounts is estimated at 270,000 in summer, and 220,000 in winter; a rate of stocking which is not exceeded in any other part of England, marsh-land alone excepted."* The same writer calculates, that on the tract of Downs between East Bourne and Steyning, thirty-three miles by six, the average is about one ewe and a half per acret. Thorough-bred wethers will fat at three years old to 30 lbs. per quarter, and the average weight of each fleece may be computed at 2 lbs.

There are other breeds of sheep besides the South Down in

Y3

• Agricul. of Sussex, p. 304.

+ Ib. p. 302.

Sussex, Sussex, such as the Romney, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Somerset. The total amount of all the sheep kept in the county, including the native breed, is calculated at about 450,000.

Sheep-yards, or standing folds, are very judiciously constructed on the South Downs. Mr. Ellman has one which includes an area of fifty yards by twenty, and is sufficient for 750 sheep, at the rate of one yard and a half for each, so arranged as to contain sheds all round, nine or ten feet in width, and across the centre, if the flock is numerous. A rack for hay is placed against the wall which surrounds the whole; and another, a double one, along the central shed for the sheep to feed from in each division of the yard.

The horses employed in the husbandry of this county have nothing in them which deserves particular notice; and the hogs are descended either from the large Berkshire spotted, or from a cross between that and a smaller black and white breed.

Rabbits, which flourish in proportion to the size of the wastes, are, therefore, productive in this county. From Horsham and Ashdown Forests considerable quantities are sent to the markets of the metropolis.

In some parts of Sussex, as at North Chappel, Kirdford, &c. poultry are fattened to a size and perfection unknown elsewhere. A fowl when full grown will weigh seven pounds; the average is five pounds; but there are instances of their attaining double that weight. The Dorking fowls, as they are called, are all raised in the Weald of Sussex, but not the five-clawed species, which, though considered in other parts of England as the prime stock, is only a bastard breed.

Fish is an object of some consequence in this county. The Weald contains innumerable ponds, many of which date their origin from the time when that part of Sussex was the seat of an extensive iron-manufacture; and in the mill-ponds are now raised large quantities of fish. Carp is the chief stock; but tench, perch, eels, and pike, are also bred.

Of the agricultural implements used in Sussex there is little

to

to observe. The most common wheel-plough is the Kentish turnwrest. In the maritime division of the county a one-wheel plough is highly esteemed. Mr. Woods of Chidham has acquired considerable credit by the invention of a wheel-plough drawn by two horses abreast, and worked without any driver. It moves well in stiff land, and ploughs three-fourths of an acre in the same time that a full acre is ploughed in the common method.

Whether the broad-share belongs to Kent, or is a Sussex in vention, yet remains to be decided. The great use of this ad mirable tool is for cutting pea and bean stubbles, or weedy fallows, that do not require plowing. It consists of an oblong share two feet long, and four or five inches wide, fixed to the sock, or front of the ground-rist, by an iron shank in the middle, and sometimes bolted to the side of the ground-rist of a wheel-plough. It is pitched with an inclination into the ground, and raised, or depressed at pleasure, by the elevation or depression of the beam, on the gallows. After the stubbles are cut with this machine, they are harrowed, raked, and burnt; and the land is left in excellent order for wheat.

GENERAL HISTORY.---At the period of the arrival of the Romans in Britain, Sussex was inhabited by a people whom those conquerors have denominated the Regni. It seems pretty certain, that this part of the island was never visited by Cæsar, and that its reduction was reserved for Flavius Vespasian, who was commissioned by Claudius about A. D. 47, to establish the Roman dominion in the maritime provinces of the island. This he accomplished without much difficulty, and fixed his head-quarters at the place now called Chichester. The site of his encampment is still plainly to be traced on the Broile, near that city. This general appointed Cogidubnus governor of the Regni, and honoured him with the titles of king, friend, and ally, of the Roman people. From this time we meet with no particular mention of this district in history, till the departure of the Romans left an open field for new invaders.

In the year 450, the first Saxon force, under Hengist and Horsa, arrived in Britain. Their success allured fresh adventurers; and in 477, another chieftain, named Ella, landed with his three sons, and a considerable number of followers at West Wittering, a village about eight miles south-west of Chichester. Ella soon made himself master of the adjacent coast, but found himself too weak to penetrate into the country, which was bravely defended by the inhabitants. He therefore sent home for succours, which, in 478, arrived in such numbers, as enabled him to undertake the siege of the capital of the Regni. The Britons exerted all their strength in the defence of this important place; and so harassed the besiegers, that the Saxon leader was obliged to apply for a still more numerous reinforcement. All resistance was now hopeless, the city was taken by assault; and Ella, in revenge for the obstinate defence of the inhabitants, ordered them all to be put to the sword, without distinction of age or sex. The rest of the district immediately submitted without farther opposition.*

Ella now assumed the title of King of the South Saxons; and hence this province received the appellation of Sud-sex, or Sussex, He had reigned six years, when, on the death of Hengist, he was chosen as the head of the Saxon confederacy, which dignity he continued to enjoy till his decease, in 504, or 505.

Cissa, the youngest, and only surviving son of Ella, succeeded bim in the government of the South Saxons. Being of a pacific disposition, he cultivated the arts of peace in preference to those of war, and employed his time and treasure in rebuilding, and improving his capital, to which he gave the appellation of Cissa, cester, after his own name. Having ruled the South Saxons upwards

• Such is the account given by Hay in his History of Chichester, on what authority does not appear. It seems not improbable, that he has transferred to this place an event which actually belongs to the ancient city of Anderida, respecting the site of which our antiquaries are by no means agreed.

wards of 70 years, he died, as it is related, in 577, at the advanced age of 117 years.

In the year 650, we find Adelwalch, or, as he is also called, Ethelwald, on the throne of Sussex. This monarch was attacked, vanquished, and taken prisoner, by Wolphur, King of Mercia; but having at the court of the latter embraced the Christian religion, he was reinstated in his dominions. During his reign, Ceadwalla, a prince of the blood royal of Wessex, having acquired great popularity and influence among his countrymen, sought to usurp the supreme authority; but his designs being timely discovered and frustrated, he was obliged to quit the kingdom: upon which he fled to the forest of Anderida, now the Weald of Sussex, where he subsisted for some time by heading a band of freebooters. To rid himself of this troublesome inmate, Adelwalch attacked and expelled him from his territories. Some time afterwards Ceadwalla undertook an expedition against Kent with no better success; but, in his retreat, again met Adelwalch, whom he now defeated and killed.

On the death of the king, Berthun and Anthun, two South Saxon nobles, rallied their countrymen around them; and by their valour and conduct compelled the invader to retire with great loss. Very soon afterwards the King of Wessex died, and Ceadwalla having found means to mount the vacant throne, prepared to renew the war with the South Saxons. He accordingly again entered their country with a strong army. Berthun and Anthun made the best opposition they were able; but the former being slain in battle, their forces were dispersed, and the whole province was miserably ravaged by the enemy. Ceadwalla, however, was so much employed in wars with Kent, that he was obliged to leave to his successor the complete subjugation of the South Saxon monarchy.

After this event no mention is made of this province till, in 803, Egbert King of Wessex annexed it to his dominions. On the Norman invasion Sussex shared the fate of the rest of the kingdom, and was parcelled out by the Conqueror among some of