carried into execution, and the whole of the docks are now nearly completed.

The fleet which sailed from Hull, in 1805 for Russia carried out, among other things, one hundred and ten valuable horses, many of them stallions of the first breed and celebrity, selected in various parts of this county, some English cows: a few dogs, and a number of game cocks and hens.

The number of vessels fitted out at Hull for the whale fishery in 1804, amounted to 40. These vessels took in the whole 397 whales, 23,659 seals, and 51 sea unicorns, which produced 10,479 butts of blubber, 4,018 tons of oil and 143 tons of fins.

Hull is regularly built, well paved, and the streets broad and handsome. There are two churches, Trinity, and St. Mary's; the former is very large, (but the pillars remarkably small) in which is a fine altar piece by Parmentier; the latter is thought to have been larger formerly than it now is. King Henry VIII. used it as his chapel royal, and with the same freedom; for this defender of the faith, and protector of the church, pulled down the steeple, because it stood opposite to the palace where he resided. The inhabitants afterwards built it up again at their own expence. Hull lies very low, and was formerly subject to great innundations; but by proper drains is now rendered more dry and healthy.

Though the recorder has the power by charter (repeatedly confirmed) of gaol delivery; yet, from motives of delicacy he never uses it and it is only once in three years that the judge comes to hold the assize, a circumstance often attended with a miserable length of confinement to the unhappy prisoners in the gaol. The quarter sessions are held Thursday in the week after Epiphany, Thursday in the week after Easter, Thursday in the week after Thomas-a-Becket, and Thursday in the week after Michaelmas. There is also a court of venire for

civil

civil actions, and a court of conscience for the recovery of small debts.

The corporation have two swords; one a present from King Richard II. and the other from King Henry VIII. one of which is carried before the mayor on all public occasions, and a cap of maintenance, and oar of lignum vitæ, as ensigns of honour: the last being also a badge of his admiralty within the limits of the Humber.

The Trinity-house is a corporation of itself, composed of a society of merchants. It was begun by voluntary contribution, for the relief of distressed and aged scamen, and their wives and widows; but was afterwards improved by the government, and incorporated. They have a government by twelve elder brothers, and six assistants. Out of the twelve they choose annually two wardens (but the whole eighteen vote in electing them) and two stewards. These have a power to decide disputes between masters of ships and their crews, in matters relating to sea-affairs; with this limitation, that their judgment be not contrary to the laws of the land; but such deference is paid to it, that in trials at law in such affairs they are often called to give their opinions.

In the Trinity-house is an excellent picture of his present majesty, with a model of a draw bridge, in Holland, and a ship, both well executed. Also the boat, dress, oars, &c. of a man taken in the North Seas, called the bonny boatman, supposed to be an Eskimaux. He was taken up at sea in a leathern boat, which he sat in, and was covered with skins, which drew together about his waist, so that the boat could not take in water, and consequently could not sink. The man would neither eat nor speak, and died of hunger and sulkiness in three days.

Near the Trinity-house is an ancient hospital called God's House, with a chapel near it; both of

which were pulled down in the civil wars of 1643, but were rebuilt in 1673.

There is a good free-school in Hull, founded by John Alcock, bishop of Worcester, afterwards of Ely, who was born at Beverley, but chose to extend his beneficence to this place.

The Infirmary is a very handsome building, and liberally supported by voluntary subscriptions.

Hull sends two representatives to parliament. Having returned 33 Edward I. it ceased sending until 12 Edward II. The right of election is in the burgesses, which is derived either from being born the son of a burgess, from having served seven years apprenticeship to a burgess, from purchase, or from donation for public service. The number of electors is computed at about 2000. The sheriff is the returning-officer.

According to the returns made under the act of parliament in 1801, the population of Hull, includ ing Sculcoates, appears to be as follows, viz.

Wards. |inhab. families mules females| Total.

Humber,

houses

478 898 1508 1931 3439

Total,

912 1338 2334 3104 5438

4278 6979 1209415408 27502 Average four persons to a family.

A very remarkable curiosity was discovered at Hull, in the spring of the year 1805; some sawyers in Mr. Gleadon's ship-yard, in cutting up an elmtree, of considerable size, found a bird's-nest, in

which there were found four or five eggs in the heart of the tree, which was sound in every part round where the nest was lodged. From the appearances, and firm texture of the wood, it is conjectured that the nest must have been placed there 50 or 60 years ago. Journey from Whitby to York; through Pickering,

Kirkby Moor-side, and Helmsley Blackmoor. WHITBY is a sea-port, situated at the mouth of the Esk, on two opposite declivities declining towards the river, and connected by a draw-bridge. It has an excellent harbour, and a good trade by sea, and is said to have above 200 ships belonging to it. A great number of ships for the coal trade are built here.

The houses are strong and convenient; the number of inhabitants about 12,000. Ship-building is their principal manufacture, for which they have several capacious dry-docks, which at spring-tides will receive ships of 500 tons burden. The weekly market is held on Saturdays.

The harbour and piers being in a state of decay, were repaired by virtue of two acts of parliament, in the 1st and 7th years of Queen Anne; and in 1733, an act passed to preserve, continue, and keep the piers in repair for ever.

The piers of Whitby have been rebuilt and completed by means of these several acts of parliament; but for some years past the entrance into the port has been rendered narrow and difficult, by reason of a bank of sand, which has been gathering about the head of the west pier, insomuch that it was likely to choak up the harbour; nor could this inconvenience be redressed, in the opinion of the best judges, but by lengthening and extending the west pier, and its head, about 100 yards further into the sea; for this reason another act passed in the 8th of George II. for lengthening the west pier and for improving the harbour.

Whitby is noted for the great quantity of rocks

close

close to the town called the Ammonite, or Snake Stones, which are found in the scar or scair, between high and low water-mark.

This scar or rock is formed by a stratum of alum mine, nearly level with the surface of the ocean. The snakes are of two sorts, round bodied, fluted or inflated, or flat bodied, ridged on the backs, and pitted on the sides. The former are most numerous and beautiful The spiral convolutions are from one to six or seven inches in diameter. The bivalves, trochise, and petrified wood, are also found in great abundance. The wood before it acquires hardness by drying, will burn freely with a bright flame. Dr. Woodward dug up a petrified human arm. In the year 1743, a complete human skeleton was found; in 1758, that of a crocodile; in 1762, that of a horn, and about the same time a live toad. About the year 1750, a complete ossification of part of a human skeleton, consisting of three ribs, with the flesh between and within them, was taken up by a gentleman bathing in the sea on the north side of the pier.

The foot of these cliffs or scars is washed by the waves at high water, and the sea retires at low water, leaving a dry shore of considerable breadth.

The shore here is a hard, smooth, flat rock, called by the inhabitants the scar; and this is, in a manner, overspread with loose, ragged stones, scattered about in great disorder and confusion.

As fishing was the original employment of the inhabitants of this place, so there is abundance of fish caught, and exclusive of what is cured, the panniermen dispose of great quantities of fresh fish through all the places round about, to near 100 miles distance.

The coasting-trade of Whitby, in time of peace, is very large; the exports are butter, fish, hams, tallow, alum, &c. About 6000 barrels of this butter come yearly to London, and 500 barrels of fish

to