*DOVER, (Kent) 55 cm. 71 mm. from London, 285 from the Land's-End, Cornwall, and 30 from Calais in France, is one of the Cinque-Ports, whose situation is perfectly romantic, in a valley under a semicircle of hills, and is the only one about the coast where water is admitted inwards of the cliffs, which are here very high, and abound with samphire. It had once 7 Ch. now but 2, and had several religious-houses. It was also walled, and had 10 gates; and the passage from hence to France being nearer than from any port in England, there was a law formerly, that none should go to it but from hence. Our packet-boats go twice a week from hence to France and Flanders. 'Tis a populous place, and noted for its tideharbour. It was incorporated in the R. of Edw. the Confes. by the stile of mayor and commonalty, and the townsmen were called burgesses, from whom the mayor chose assistants for his year, who being sworn to faithful service, were called jurats; which name and office are now common to all the Cinque-Ports. The courts of chancery, admiralty, &c. relating to them all, are kept in St. James's Ch. and here are a custom-house and victualling-office. One of the streets is called Snare-Gate, from the dreadful rocks of chalk that hang over it. On a neighbouring steep rock, or chalky hill, stands the castle, which is its chief glory, and was so fortified in the Saxons time, that it was reckon'd the lock and key of England; but 'tis too high to hurt any ship at sea, and could not stand a formal siege on the land side half a day, tho' the area of its fortification is 30 acres. 'Tis said to have been begun by Julius Caesar, and finished by Claudius. The well here, which is 60 fathom deep, and called Mr. Watson's Cellar, is said to be the work of Julius. 'Tis round, and lined to the bottom with free-stone, and the water is drawn out of it by a wheel, in which men walk. In Q. Anne's wars there were no less than 1500 prisoners in this castle at one time. Here is a brass gun of 22 feet, the longest in the world, and of the most curious workmanship, which was presented by the States of Utrecht to Q. Eliz. and is called her Pocket-pistol; it requires 15 pounds of powder, and will carry a ball, they say, 7 m. At the W. end of an old Ch. here, said to have been built by Lucius the first Christian K. in Britain, there is a Roman Pharos, or watch-tower; and upon another rock over-against the castle, are the remains of another watch-tower, called Bredemstone, and by the vulgar the Devil's Drop, from the strength of the mortar. Here the constable of the castle is sworn. Soon after the Conquest, great part of this T. was destroyed by fire, as it was also in the R. of Edw. I. by the French, who landed in the night. Tho' the harbour, which before was choaked up, was made navigable in the R. of Q. Eliz. for a ship of some hundred tons, and tho' the Pt. in K. William's R. gave 10,000 l. to improve it, yet 'tis only fit for small ships, and that at highwater. The ships which carry freight from Virginia and New-York to Holland, generally unlade their goods here, to enter them with the customhouse officers, and pay the duties; after which they reload them, draw back the duty by debenture, and then proceed to Holland. Dover, when in the height of its prosperity, had 21 wards, of which each furnished a ship of war, and maintained it 40 days at its own expence, in consideration whereof, each ward had a licenced packet-boat. According to the Tower records, the fare was thus settled, in the R. of Rich. II. viz. for a single person in summer, 6 d. in winter, 1 s. for a horse in summer, 1 s. 6 d. in winter, 2 s. Several families have had the title of Earl from this T. which now gives that of Duke to the Duke of Queensberry. The Mt. here is W. and S. Fairs Aug. 24, Sept. 21, Nov. 11, for 9 day. The Roman Watling-Street coming straight from Canterbury, over Barham-Down, enters this place at Biggin-Gate. There are some remains of the T. walls, and also of a priory here, which is now a farmhouse; and that which was the Kts. Templars house over-against it, is made a store-house. The piers which form the haven are costly great works, and above is a fort with 4 bastions. The broad beach, which lies at the mouth of it, and was the harbour in Caesar's time, is very delightful, as the sight of the bottom from the adjacent cliffs is dreadful.