*NORTHAMPTON, (Northamptonshire) the Co.-T. 54 cm. 66 mm. from London, has 2 bridges over the Nen, which is joined here by another rivulet. It lies as it were in the heart of the Km. and therefore has formerly been the seat of several Pts. It had once 7 Chs. within the walls, and 2 without. It was laid in ashes by the Danes, and again destroyed by a fire, on September 20, 1675; but by contributions from all parts of the Km, was soon rebuilt, and is become as pretty a T. as any in England. It has now 4 Chs. whereof the great one, called Alhallows, that stands in the centre of the T. at vhe meeting of 4 spacious streets, has a stately portico, of 8 lofty Ionick columns, with a statue of K. Cha. II. on the balustrade. The sessions and assize-house is a beautiful building in the Corinthian style, and its regular spacious Mt.-place is one of the finest in Europe. The horse-Mt. is reckoned to exceed all others in the Km. it being deemed the centre of all its Horse-Mts. and Horse-Fairs, both for saddle and harness, and the chief rendezvous of the jockeys, both from York and London. Its principal mf. is shoes, of which great numbers are sent beyond sea; and next to that stockings. It is the richer and more populous, by being a thoroughfare both in the N. and W. roads; but being 80 m. from the sea, can have no commerce by navigation, which gave occasion to two proverbs mentioned by Dr. Fuller, viz. 1. The mayor of Northampton opens oysters with his dagger. 2. He that would eat a butter'd faggot must go to Northampton. The former implies that oysters, when brought hither, must be too stale to be opened near the nose of the mayor; though it is known, that oysters are sometimes received here fresh and good. And the second is applied to this T. by reason of the dearness of fuel here; where, till its r. Nen be made navigable, which is now undertaken, to Peterborough, no coals can come by water; and little wood grows upon land. The walls of this T. were above 2 m. in com. It had a nunnery in the neighbouring meadows, with several other mons. and a very old castle on the W. side of it, the ruins of which are still to be seen. The Barons began their rebellion here against K. Hen. III. who soon took it by assault. Some discontented scholars came hither from Oxford and Cambridge, about the end of that R. and with the K's, leave prosecuted their studies here academically for 3 years; during which there was the face of an U. till it was put a stop to by express prohibition, because it was a damage to both Us. It has sent members to Pt. ever since Edw. I. and had several old charters of incorporation, which were confirmed by K. Ja. I. It is governed by a mayor, 2 bailiff's, 4 ald. 12 magistrates, a recorder (who is the present E. of Northampton) a town-clerk, a C.C. with 48 burgees, and 5 serjeants. The george-inn here, which cost 2000 l. and looks like a palace, being rented at 80 l. a year, was given by John Dryden, Esq; to the endowment of a ch. sc. for 30 boys and 10 girls. Besides the Co.-gaol, here are 2 hoss. and a third is building, after the manner of the infirmaries of London, Bristol, Bath, &c. of which the noble E. abovementioned is president for life. The publick horse-races are on a neighbouring down, called Pye-Leys. In and about the T. are abundance of cherry gardens. Its Mts. are W. F. and S. its Fairs March 25, April 23, August 13, Sept. 8, Nov. 17, and Dec. 8. A battle was fought here in 1460, wherein Hen. VI. was taken prisoner by Nevil E. of Warwick. Within half a mile of the T. is one of the crosses, erected by K. Edw. I. in memory of his Q. Eleanor, whose corpse was rested there, in its way to Westminster. On the N. side of its r. near that cross, many Roman coins have been ploughed up.