were the high steward, 12 portmen, 24 councilmen, (who appointed a recorder,) head boroughs, a town clerk, town treasurer, coroners, 3 clavigers, marshalsea treasurer, 4 town attornies, a lecturer or preacher, 2 chamberlains, town surveyor, treasurer, guide to the hospital, water bailiff, 4 sergeants at mace, 2 beadles, a town crier, ale conner, flesh wardens, leather sealer and searcher, clerk of the market, and marsh keeper. Most of these offices have now been abolished, or changed by the operation of the act. The mayor takes the place of the two ancient bailiffs. The company of portmen and the "twenty-four," are destroyed, and in their place sit 30 common councilmen and 10 aldermen, elected according to the provisions of the act on the first and ninth of November in each year. A high steward, town clerk, treasurer, and coroner are retained. The measure not recognizing the legality of Corporations holding possession of church patronage, the town council have abolished the office of lecturer, and sold their interest in the rectory of Gedding, a part of their possessions. last lecturer was the Rev. W. Howorth. The A local governing body exists called the Lighting and Paving Commissioners, the name of which will afford an insight into the nature of their duties. A Dock Commission governs the affairs of the dock. A Court of Request takes cognizance of small debts. As in many other ancient towns, the poor of Ipswich are the recipients of numerous charities, and as it is necessary, for the protection of the gifts themselves, that the particulars should be constantly brought before the public, as well as to do honour to those by whose bounty the indigent and unfortunate 62 are removed from the recurrence of chances which afflicted them in the stir and bustle of the world, a synopsis of the gifts and legacies bestowed on the town is subjoined. Ipswich is connected with the metropolis, from which it is distant 69 miles, by a continuous railway, though vested in two companies, namely the Eastern Counties Company, which carry their line from London to Colchester, and the Eastern Union Company, who commenced their undertaking from that point to the town of Ipswich. The Eastern Union company began the formation of their line in 1845, and opened the road to the public in 1846. The population of Ipswich at the last census stood as follows: Total .... 210 200 255 346 422 10402 13670 17186 20454 24423 Ipswich returns two members to Parliament. The town has been represented since 1307. OF THE CASTLE OF IPSWICH, ANCIENT WALLS, LTHOUGH the historical accounts which have reached the present time relative to the castle of Ipswich, advance no earlier than the period of the Conquest, yet it is not improbable that a primitive building for the purposes of defence existed near the town in the time of the Saxons. The wars of this people with the Danes were productive of the erection in East Anglia of several strong places of defence, and near most towns sustaining a visitation of war-like character, the Saxon kings and chieftains found opportunity of erecting a strong-hold for the protection of these places, and for the future discomfiture of invaders. The efforts of Edward, the son of the Great Alfred, to counteract the progress of Danish invasion, were productive of the raising of several fortified positions in the neighbourhood. This brave chieftain, who fought the Danes at Maldon, in Essex, in the year A.D. 921,* erected a castle or place of strength He also performed the same service near that town. * See page 44. |