FAREHAM, a market-town and parish, in the hundred of FAREHAM, Portsdown division of the county of SOUTHAMPTON, 12 miles (E.S.E.) from Southampton, and 73 (S.W.) from London, on the road from Southampton to Portsmouth, containing 3677 inhabitants. This town, situated on the north-west branch of Portsmouth harbour, which is here crossed by a bridge, is mentioned in Domesday-book as having, from its maritime situation, been formerly much exposed to the invasions of the Danes. It is a neat and flourishing town, occupying an elevated site, neither lighted nor regularly paved, but well supplied with water. Several of the inhabitants are connected with the naval establishment at Portsmouth. There is a handsome assembly- room, erected about thirty years ago, in which, during the winter season,- assemblies are held monthly. Ship-building is here carried on, though upon a small scale, being confined to sloops and small vessels; there are also a rope-walk, and a manufactory for fine red bricks and Dutch or porcelain tiles. The town has a considerable trade in corn, coal, timber, &c.; and vessels of three hundred tons burden can sail up to the port. The corn market is one of the largest in the county, and the market day is every alternate Monday: there is a fair for cattle and cheese, &c., on the 29th and 80th of June. The local government is vested in a "bailiff, two constables, aad two ale-tasters: the officers for the town and hundred of Fareham are annually chosen by a jury, at the manorial court leet held by the steward of the Bishop of Winchester j and petty sessions are held here weekly for the division of Portsdown. The living is a vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the incumbent, rated in the king's books at £8. 12: 6., and in the patronageof the Bishop of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Peterand St. Paul, is a handsome edifice, rebuilt about fifteen years ago, with the exception of- the chancel, which is of early English architecture. Independents and Wesleyan. Methodists have each a. place of worship. Here is a National school, at which about eighty boys and fifty girls are educated; it was established in 1813, and about two years ago a suitable school-room was erected. In 1721, William Price gave by will £200, for the erection of a charity school; and an estate in this parish, with another in the parish of Alverstoke, from the produce of which a salary of £35 per annum is paid to a master for teaching thirty poor boys, chosen by the minister and church- Tyardens, who are trustees of the charity, and receive £6 per annum for their trouble; the overplus of the rents, after paying for books and clothing the children, is distributed among poor widows. The funds have been augmented by money arising from the sale of timber, and other sources; and the present income, including rents and dividends on funded property, amounts to £264. 10. 8. per annum.