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itself, and is governed by a mayor, recorder, aldermen, common-council, and lesser officers. The Guildhall is elegant and magnificent, and was built in 1720. Here are held the assizes and sessions for the county of Worcester and the city. In the great council-chamber is an excellent whole length portrait of his present majesty, in a richly ornamented frame, placed on a pediment of white marble, sculptured with oak-leaves and acorns, within which is inscribed in gold letters" HIS MAJESTY GEORGE III. MOST GRACIOUSLY CONDESCENDED TO HONOR WITH HIS PRESENCE THE CORPORATION OF WORCESTER, IN THIS HALL, AUGUST 8, 1788." This room is ornamented with twelve chandeliers.

There are nine parish churches within the liberties of the city, and two without. St. Helen's is a rectory in the gift of the bishop: this fabric is ancient and venerable, and contains eight bells, inscribed to the honour of queen Anne, her battles, and generals.

St. Andrew's church has a spire, which is esteemed a great curiosity in architecture, and supposed to be the highest belonging to any parish church in England, being, with the tower, 245 feet 6 inches in

height from the ground, and from its very singular appearance is frequently called the needle. The other churches contain nothingvery remarkable.-Here are also several meeting-houses for dissenters of different persuasions.

The city has many charities for the relief of the indigent, aged, and diseased, of which the Infirmary and House of Industry claim pre-eminence. Here are also two places of confinement for delinquents; the City Gaol, formerly part of the Grey Friars monastery, the ancient chapel of which is still standing; and the County Gaol, which has been greatly improved and enlarged.

The Bridge, an elegant structure of stone over the Severn, was built under the direction of Mr. Gwynne, and consists of five semi-circular arches. The first stone was laid by the earl of Coventry on the 25th day of July, 1771, and the whole completed in 1780. To make the approaches to the city correspond with the elegance of the bridge, the avenues on either side have been laid open to a very commodious extent, and a handsome street, which derives its name from its vicinity to the bridge, has been built, thereby connecting the Broad Street and others with this

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important access to the city. Among the sculptured ornaments on the outside are, the head of Sabrina, over the centre arch, northward; and the city arms southward. At the west end are two very ornamental toll-houses. The tolls and custom of the river, and repairs of the bridge and quays, were very anciently put under the care of the water-bailiff, an officer annually appointed. No person can be arrested, or holden to bail, on the river within the liberties of the city, without the officer taking the water-bailiff to protect him in his duty.

The view of the city of Woreester from the banks of the Severn is peculiarly pleasing. In the foreground the bridge presents itself, with the craft sailing along the river in rotary motion: the top of the china manufactory on the eastern shore, terminated by St. Andrew's spire and the lofty turrets of the cathedral, form at once an assemblage of objects venerable and picturesque.

The Theatre, on which Mrs. Siddons first displayed her abilities; and the Public Subscription Library, Balls, Assemblies, &c. are sources of amusement for the fashionable classes of Worcester,

Having given an epitome of the history of Wor

cester, we subjoin that it is at present one of the most pleasant, elegant, and flourishing cities in the united kingdom. The Royal China Manufactory is a constant source of employment to numerous hands; and here are also very considerable Manufactories of Carpets, Distilleries, &c. The Hop-Market during the season is very plentiful and profitable. Here are also hackney-coaches and chairs, as well as various conveyances down the river Severn, on the banks of which the city is situated, which answers every purpose of commercial intercourse with the other parts of the country.

Edgar's Tower, as we have before observed, is the only remain of the ancient castle, and is supposed to have been built originally by king Ethelred II. surnamed the Unready, in 1005; but has been considerably altered since that period. It is called Edgar's Tower on account of the statues of that monarch and his two queens Elfleda and Elfrida, being placed on

the eastern front.

On the opposite side there is a remarkable bust, very well finished, representing a monk, in a bending posture, supporting himself with his left hand, and holding his right towards his breast. Here is also a

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