BRECKENBOROUGH. formerly the county town, and comprises within the limits of the borough 773 houses, inhabited by 1,869 separate families, or 7,180 individuals, of whom 1,118 were children between the ages of five and fifteen, attending school.-Brechin is the seat of a presb. in the synod of Angus and Mearns. The living is a collegiate charge, the stipend of the first minister being £292, and of the second £340. The parish church is part of the cathedral, dedicated to St. Ninian, which was built by David I. on the site of the ancient Culdee abbey. It was originally a handsome Gothic edifice, but has been disfigured and defaced by time and modern alterations. It stands on the edge of a ravine, opposite the castlo. The Bishop of Brechin, in the reign of Charles I., is said to have distinguished himself by his determined conformity to the royal decreo establishing the liturgy, and to have carried firearms with him into the pulpit. There are a chapel of ease, three Free churches, three belonging to the United Presbyterians, a Congre- gational chapel, and an Episcopal church.-Part of the ancient chapel of Maison Dieu still remains, and has been occupied as a slaughterhouse and a stable. Near the cathedral is a "round tower," one of the only two found in Scotland, the other being at Abernethy. The 854 BRECKNOCKSHIRE. under Caractacus made so brave a resistance to th reign invaders. A Roman way was formed nor and there were two important stations. After the d ture of the Romans, this territory became a s principality, and acquired the name of Brychein, 1 which are derived the present Wolah namo and the English Brecknock. The rule of the m princes, the last of whom was Bleddyn-ap-Ma continued till about 1090, when the Norman adv Bernard Newmarch, invaded and got poi territory, defeating Bleddyn in a battle fought m Bannau. On the marriage of Bernard's eldest da ter, who succeeded to the lordship, it passed to 3 FitzWalter, afterwards Earl of Horeford. The of De Breos held it for about a century, from who passed to the De Bohuns. A quarrel having are 1286 between Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Her and the Earl of Gloucester, lord of Glam territories wore declared to be forfeited, and sentenced to be imprisoned. On the payment of he fines these sentences were remitted. It was in northern part of this district that the death of Llewel last prince of North Wales, took place in 11 severe struggle having occurred between the Eag fower of Brechin is built of fmastone, well wrought; it and Welsh Forces on the banks of the Irvan, is 80 feet high, with a spire or conical roof 23 feet more, and is 16 feet in diameter at the base. There are curious carvings about the doorway. The tower is said to lean alightly, and to be ahaken by high winds. Bre- chin Castle, now the seat of Lord Panmure, is built on the site of an ancient castle. It stands on a precipitous rock by the river, and is separated from tho town by a deep ravine. Towards the W. it presents a handsome and re- gular front, but towards the S. a confused mass of ancient remains and modern additions. The picturesque aspect of the place has been injured by the destruction of old woods and trees which formerly adorned it.-Maitland, author of the histories of Edinburgh and London; Gil- lies, author of a history of Greece; and James Tytler, a contributor to the first edition of the "Encyclopedia Britannica," were natives of this town.-Brechin supports a weekly newspaper, called the Brechin Advertiser. Tuesday is the market-day. Cattle fairs are held on Trinity Muir, 1 mile to the N. of the town, on the third Wednesday in April, the second Wednesday in June and two following days, the second Thursday in August, and the Tuesday before the last Wednesday of September. The June fair, for cattle, horses, and sheep, is one of the most important in Scotland, and has been held from time immemorial. BRECKENBOROUGH, a tnshp. in the par. of Kirby-Wiske, wap. of Birdforth, in the North Kiding of the co. of York, 3 miles to the N.W. of Thirsk. It is joined with the tnshp. of Newsham. The chief resi- dence is Breckenborough House. BRECKLES, a par. in the hund. of Wayland, in the co. of Norfolk, 5 miles to the S. of Watton. Larling is its post town. The living is a vic. in the dioc. of Norwich, of the val. of £45, in the patron. of Sir E. Kerrison, Bart. The church, which has a round tower with an octangular top, is dedicated to St. Margaret. Brockles Hall is the seat of Sir E. Kerrison. BRECKLES, LITTLE, a hmlt., once a separate par., now included in the par. of Shropham, hund. of the same name, in the oo. of Norfolk. There is no church, and the rect. was annexed to the vio. of Shropham boforo 1332. BRECKNOCKSHIRE, or BRECON-SHIRE, an inland co. of South Wales, bounded on the N. and N.E. by Radnorshire, on the E. by Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, ou the 8. by Monmouthshire and Gla- morganshire, and on the W. by Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. It is about 35 miles in length from N. to 8., and about 80 miles at its greatest breadth from E. to W., being in circuit about 140 miles, and com- prising an area of about 750 square miles, or 460,158 acres. It is situated between 51° 45' and 62° 17' N. lat., and 3° 0' and 3° 48' W. long. Its outline is very irregular.-At the time of the Roman Conquest this district formed part of the territory of the Silures, who latter being defeated, the prince fled, and was oruh and alain by Adam de Francton, who did recognise him. His remains were interred at a called Cefn-y-bedd ("Ridge of the Grave"), not far f Builth. The lordship of Brecknock was onlimi 1321 on the younger Despencer, who retained it death. With this exception it remained in the sion of the De Bohuns till the extinction of the line, when it passed to the crown by the mam Mary, one of the daughters of Humphrey de B with Henry IV. In 1439, Brecknock was in Henry, afterwards Duke of Buckingham, who the battle of Northampton, in 1460, and transita title and possessions to his grandson Henry. The distinguished himself as a supporter of ichard, L of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III., who large promises but did not fulfil them. Baki beut on revenge, took arms against the king, betrayed into his hands and beheaded without tal title and estates were subsequently restors by VII. to his son Edward, who was also made of England, and was the last to fill that off extinction of the dukedom by his execution, Brecknock reverted to the crown, and from 1534,♥ union of England and Wales took place, it d a separate history. - Brecknockshire is wholly tainous. Two principal ranges of mountains county in nearly parallel directions; that in called the Eppynt Hills, or Mynydd-Eppyns tains, and that in the S. not having a name, but including the loftiest peaks in South W The former extends in a north-westerly dirtie the borders of Carmarthenshire to the banks river Wye and the border of Radnorshire, connected with the Plinlimmon range by an im mass of barren hills. The latter (southern) eastward from the lofty hills called the Carmarthe Beacons on the western confines of the county, to howell, and terminates in Monmouthshire. The cipal summits in this chain, which are also the hi points in the county and in South Wales, are the Brecheiniog, or "Brecknockshire Beacons," tw spicuous peaks, about 4 miles to tho S. W. of R having an elevation of 2,862 feet above the the sea (these are sometimes called Under Arth "Arthur's Chair"); Mount Capellante, reg height of 2,394 feet; and Trecastle Beacon, one called the Carmarthenshire Beacons, 2,596 fest. of the Usk is another short chain called the Mountains, rising near Talgarth, the loftiest p which is Pen Cader Fawr, or the "Cradle Moud rising to the height of 2,545 feet. The highest of the Eppynt Hills is the mountain called D near Builth, which is about 2,070 feet high. Th
