CHICHESTER, (Sussex) 50 cm. 63 mm. from London, was the royal seat of the South-Saxon Ks. and is the See of a Bp. which was translated hither, in the Conqueror's time, from Selsey. Here are 5 Chs. besides its Cathedral, which has been burnt twice, viz. anno 1114, and again in the R. of Rich. III. 'Tis a neat compact T. with a wall and 4 gates, answering to the 4 cardinal winds, which give name to the streets, that meet in the centre, where the Mts. and Fairs are kept. This is a City and Co. of itself; and the corp. consists of a mayor, recorder, ald. and C.C. without limitation, and 4 justices of the peace, chose out of the ald. Its Mts. which are W. F. and S. are furnished with plenty of provisions; and the Mt.- place is adorned with a most stately cross. Its Fairs are Ash-Wednesday, April 3, Whitsun-Tuesday, St. James's-day, and Michaelmas; which last holds 9 days, and is called Slow Fair. 'Tis encompassed all round, except on the N. side, by the r. Lavant; which, tho' very low in the winter, when other rs. are full, yet is apt to overflow even in the midst of summer, and is navigable at a little distance from the mouth of it, tho' not deep enough for a good haven: in it are bred the finest lobsters in England. The Mt. on S. is noted especially for fish, but much more for corn; so that the toll for wheat, barley, malt and oats there, has some time amounted, at only an half-penny a quarter (measure) to 60 l. a year. Every W. fortnight, here is one of the greatest cattle Mts. in England. The chief mfs. here are malt and needles. The neighbouring farmers have granaries and mills, near the creek where the vessels come up, and send their corn to London, by sea, in meal. Here is some foreign trade, and a collector of the customs, &c. at Dell key, a small harbour, about 4 m. from the sea, where vessels come in and go out, at highwater, with wheat, timber and coals, for London, and other ports on the coast. A canal was dug here in the R. of K. James I. because of the city's distance from the haven. The Bp's. palace, the Cathedral, (which has the pictures of all the monarchs of England since Ciffa, and of all the Bps.) and the prebendaries houses, take up all the space bet. the W. and S. gates. The palace has been lately rebuilt; and, in Oct. 1727, the workmen in the gardens found some valuable ancient coins, and a curious piece of Roman pavement dedicated to Neptune and Minerva; a stone was also dug up here, in 1723, denoting, that a temple was created here in the R. of Claudius Caesar. Here is a ch. sc. for 42 boys, and another for 20 girls. This city gives title of Earl to the D. of Southampton and Cleveland. There are several houses of the nobility near it, which have a delightful prospect of the sea, &c. and, as the city is healthfully situate on a gravel, within 3 m. of hills, there is very good hunting, coursing, fowling, fishing, &c. round about it, with all necessaries for a pleasant life. It was called Ciffa's Cester, i.e. city; because it was rebuilt by Ciffa K. of the S. Saxons, after it had been burnt to the ground by certain Saxons and Norwegians. There was once a castle near the N. gate, which was the ancient seat of the Earls of Arundel, who were thence stiled Earls of Chichester; but, long before the Ref. it was converted to a mon. On the N. side of this city is St. Roch's, commonly called Rook's-Hill, where was formerly a chapel dedicated, as supposed, to that saint, who was patron of the pilgrims. Here are still the marks of an old camp; a m. and half to the W. are marks of another camp at Bow-Hill, or Gonshill; and another on the same side, but nearer to the city, called the Brill: the last is said to have been Vespasian's.