*BRISTOL, (Somerset and Gloucestershire) 12 m. from Bath, 30 from Glocester, 94 cm. and 115 mm. from London, is the second city in the British dominions for trade, wealth, and number of inh. Though it lies in the two Cos. yet before it was made a Co. of itself, which was in the R. of Edw. III. it was by the Pt. rolls reckoned in Somersetshire. On the Glocestershire side, which is the largest and most populous, since the building of the bridge over the Avon, that parts the two Cos. stands the castle, which appears to have been built by Robert, E. of Glocester, in the R. of K. Stephen, who besieged it before it was quite finished, but could not take it, and was some years after committed prisoner to it. It was alternately in the hands of the K. and Pt. during the civil wars; but was demolished by Cromwell, and is now built into streets. It was first privileged with a mayor in the R. of Hen. III. besides which, the corp. now consists of a recorder, 12 ald. 2 sheriffs, and 41 C.C. Besides the cathedral and 18 Chs. there are 7 or 8 meeting-houses of protestant dissenters; among whom the quakers are a very considerable body. Its chief Chs. besides the cathedral, is St. Mary Radcliffe, just without the walls in the Co. of Somerset, which Camden reckoned the finest parish Ch. in the Km. Its bridge over the Avon, which is of stone, consisting of four broad arches, has houses built on it; and it has an exchange like that at London, which was opened on the 21st of Sept. 1743. Here is one of the most commodious keys in England for shipping and landing of merchants goods, which lies along by the r. Froome, and is half a m. in length, from the bridge in the Glocestershire side of the city to the place where it falls into the Avon. Its merchants were the first adventurers to the West-Indies; and about 26 years ago it was computed, that it employed 2000 sail of ships in trade to the several parts of the world. By the Severn and Wye they have the whose trade, as it were, of South-Wales to themselves, and the greatest, part of that of North-Wales . Also the shopkepers here, who are generally wholesale men, send goods by landcarriage to Exeter, Bath, Wells, Froome, and all the principal Ts. from Southampton, even to the banks of the Trent. Here are no less than 15 glass- houses, that are supplied with ceals from Kingswocd and Mendiphills, some for glasses, and others for bottles, of which there is a great demand at the hot well in its neighbourhood, and at the Bath for exporting their mineral waters, &c. The hot well, which lies about a m. from the city down the Avon, is very much frequented in July and August. The rocks above the well, called St. Vincents, are the chief place for picking up the Bristol stones. On the N.W. side of the city is Brandonhill, where the laundresses dry their linnen; for which purpose, it is said, it was granted to the city by Q. Eliz, who also gave a charter, whereby every man, that marries the daughter of a citizen of Bristol, becomes free of the city. At Jacob's-well under this hill plays are acted, almost every night in the summer season, by comedians from London. There are some considerable mfs. of woollen stuffs here, particularly cantaloons carried on chiefly by French refugees. On the College-green, a very delightful place which looks over all the city and harbour, stands not only the cathedral, but also the stately high cross, a fine Gothic structure, with the effigies of several Kgs, of England all round it. In this city are 18 hosps. besides ch. scs. a guild-hall, and a very large council-house; and its custom-house stands on the side of that called Queen's-square, which is adorned with rows of trees that lead to a curious equestrian statue of K. Will. III. in the centre. The city with its suburbs is very compact, being almost as broad as long, and no way above a m. yet the houses are computed at about 13000, and the souls at 95000. The number of its gates are about 14, but its walls were razed in the R. of Will. Rufus. According to a survey made in 1736, the circumference on the Glocestershire side was 4 m. and a half, and that on the Somersetshire side 2 m. and a half. It is a general remark to the praise of its citizens, that they are strict in observing the sabbath, that no city keeps its Chs. neater, or takes more care of their funeral monuments, or has fewer vagrants and beggars. Carts are not admitted into this city, for fear of damaging the arches of the vaults, and gutters that are made under ground for carrying off the soil into the rs. so that the constant draught here is by sleds, which renders their pavement exceeding slippery. Here are 2 Fairs, viz, St. James's, which is kept in and about St. James's churchyard on the Glocestershire side; and St. Paul's Fair in Temple-street on the Somersetshire side. Many of the Londoners have shops at both Fairs; during which some of the neighbouring inns make 100 beds apiece for their guests. To conclude, this city has given title of Earl to two noble families, viz. to that of Digby, since extinct; and now to that of Ld. Hervey of Ickworth.