SEAFORD, a cinqueport and borough and parish (formerly a market-town), locally in the hundred of Flexborough, rape of Pevensey, county of SUSSEX, 42 miles (E. by S.) from Chichester, and 59-? (S. S. E.) from London, containing 1047 inhabitants. This was formerly a considerable town, and had four churches and chapels, until burnt by the enemy; but it has greatly declined, being only resorted to for sea-bathing: it is defended by a small fort. Prawns of a large size and good flavour are caught here. The river Ouse, the acstuary of which formerly constituted its harbour, now empties itself into the sea at Newhaven, about three miles westward. The market, which was on Saturday, is disused . fairs are held on March 15th and July 25th. Seaford was originally a member of the port of Hastings, but was made a port of itself by charter of Henry VIII., who incorporated the inhabitants, under the style of " the bailiffs, jurats, and commonalty of the town, parish, and borough of Seaford;" the bailiff, and other officers, are chosen annually on the 29th of September; the jurats are twelve in number. The borough first sent barons to parliament in the 26th of Edward I., and continued to the 21st of Richard II., from which time a suspension took place until the reign of Edward IV., when the privilege was restored; the right of election was formerly exercised by the freemen only, in number about five; but, by a decision of the House of Commons in 1792, it is vested in the inhabitant housekeepers paying scot and lot: the bailiff is the returning officer. The living is a discharged vicarage, with that of Sutton annexed, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £ 11. 15., and in the alternate patronage of the Prebendaries of Seaford and Sutton in the Cathedral Church of Chichester. The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, is in the decorated style of English architecture. A National school, in which about one hundred boys and fifty girls are instructed, is supported by the representatives of the borough. Seaford gives title of baron to the family of Ellis, conferred on the present lord by patent, dated July 15th, 1826.