*DORCHESTER, (Dorset) the shire-T. 6 m. from the sea, 97 cm. 123 mm. from London, was the most considerable station of the
Romans in these parts. It had 2 mints in the time of the Saxons, and a castle which was demolished by the Danes; but after
the Norman conquest a new one was erected, of which the greatest of the Barons used to be governors. 'Tis bounded on the
N. side by the Frome r. beyond which are fine meadows, and warm sandy lands; and on the S. W. are pleasant chalky Downs.
Here are 3 Chs. a town-hall, shirehall, and the county-gaol, with its chapel. 'Tis a common saying here, " that St.
Peter's Ch. was founded by " one Geoffrey Van, with his wife " Anne, and his maid Nan." But, from a large seal, with all
the marks of antiquity, dug up here in a garden, about 70 years ago, with this inscription, Sigillum Galfridi de Ann, it
is supposed, that the founder's true name was Ann. There are few Ts. in England better paved, and built; and the view of
it is every way delightful. Here was a dreadful fire, Aug. 6, 1613, which consumed 2 of the Chs. since rebuilt, and about
300 houses, to the damage of 200,000 l. yet not a soul perished in it. The streets are wide and clean, the inns large, the
Mts. and Fairs well frequented; and the toll of both is vested in the corp. who hold the manor of the Bor. at a feefarm
rent from the crown. K. Ja. I. empowered them to chuse a recorder; and by a charter of K. Cha. I. they have a mayor, 2
bailiffs, 6 ald. and 6 capital burgesses; besides whom, there is a governor yearly chose by 24 C.C. whose office is
chiefly to look after the trade of the T. Here are a fr. sc. and 3 almshouses. The Roman Ikening-Street, which enters this
place, by the N. of Winterburn, at West-Gate, is plainly traced here; and the foundations of the Roman wall appear quite
round the T, and tho' on the E. side a street is built on it, and the ditch filled up, yet 'tis still called the Walls.
The Romans had an amphitheatre near it, which is now called Mawmbury, and the terrace upon it is a noted place of
rendezvous, here being a fine prospect of the T. and country. It was one of the winter stations of the Roman legions; and
many Roman coins have been dug up here, particularly K. Dor's money, called here Dornmoney. The assizes and
quartersessions, and the elections of the Kts. of the shire are held here. There was a friary here formerly, and in its
deanery are 45 ps. This T. is noted for excellent beer and cakes, and it used to send great quantities of malt to Bristol.
It has almost lost the mf. of broad-cloth, for which it was once so famous, and its serge trade is not very considerable;
but great profit is made here by their sheep, of which 'tis said that no less than 600,000 are fed within 6 m. round the
T. Their downs abound with thyme and other aromatic herbage, so nourishing, that their ewes generally bring 2 lambs; for
which reason, they are bought up by all the farmers of the E. part of England, who carry them to Bedfordshire, Bucks,
Oxfordshire, and to Kent and Surry; and even Banstead-Downs, so famous for good mutton, are supplied from hence. This T.
ever since K. Cha. I. has given title of Marquis to the Dukes of Kingston; though once it gave that of Countess, for her
life only, to Mrs. Catherine Sedley, so created by K. James II. whose mistress she was. This T. has sent members to Pt.
ever since the original demand of burgesses, in the R. of Edw. I. The Mts. are on W. and F. Fairs Feb. 2, May. 2, Trinity-
M. June 24, July 5, the three last for sheep.