*LIME, (Dorset) 23 m. from Dorchester, 28 from Exeter, 120.cm. 144 mm. from London, is also called Lime-Regis, or King's-
Lyme. It formerly bel. to Sherborn-Abbey, but was annexed to the crown in the Reign of King Edward I. who granted it the
same privileges as Melcomb-Regis, and indeed as London itself, with a court of hustings, and freedom from all toll,
lastage, &c. which were confirmed by Edward II. and III. by K. James I. K. Cha. I. K. Will. and Q. Mary. The corp.
consists of a mayor, (who is justice of peace, during his mayoralty, and the year after, and in the third year both
justice and coroner) a recorder, 18 capital burgesses, and a T.-clerk. It has a harbour in the Channel, and a rivulet
glides by it, from which it has its name. As it lies on the declivity of a hill, the houses make a good shew one above
another, and some of them are built of free-stone, and covered with blue slate. It had formerly a very flourishing trade
to France, Spain, the Streights, Newfoundland, and the West-Indies, during which, the customs amounted some years to
16,000 l. but it stands on such a high steep rock, that the merchants are obliged to load and unload their goods at a
place a quarter of a m. off, called the Cobb, which costs a great deal to maintain, but forms such a harbour as, perhaps,
is not to be equalled in the world, the ships being sheltered by a high thick stone wall raised in the main sea, a good
way from the shore, broad enough for carriages and warehouses, and the custom-house officers have one upon it. The cellars
of the low part of the T. near the sea, are often overflowed by the spring-tides 10 or 12 feet. There are guns planted for
defence both of the Cobb and the T. the shore here being very proper for batteries. The merchants have begun lately to
trade in the pilchard fishery. The custom-house stands on pillars, with the corn Mt. under it. After the defeat of the D.
of Monmouth, who landed here June ll, 1685, with only 100 men, brought over in a man of war of 30 guns only; and two other
small vessels, with arms indeed for 4000 men, many of his party were executed here, and their limbs hung up in the T. The
Mt. here is F. the Fairs Feb. 2. and 24, May 2, and Sept. 21. Its list of members of Pt. commences the 23d of Edw. I. We
read, that, in 774, the Saxon K. Kinwulf gave land hereabouts to the Ch. of Sherborn, for the boiling of salt there to
supply its necessities.