*NEWCASTLE, (Northamptonshire) 222 cm. 276 mm. from London, stands at the end of the Picts wall, on the N. side of the Tine, over
which it has a stately bridge into the Bpk. of Durham, in which its suburb, called Gateside, is situate; for the liberties
of Newcastle extend no farther than the great iron-gate upon the bridge, which has the arms of the Bp. of Durham carved on
the E. side, and those of Newcastle on the W. side. In the Saxons time it was called Moncaster, from the monks here, who
all fled, when it was depopulated by the Danes; and afterwards Newcastle, from a castle built here by Will. the Conq's.
son, Robert, to defend the country against the Scots, whose Ks. had this T. before the Norman conquest, and sometimes
resided here. Several mons. and hoss. were built here, soon after the castle and it was mightily enlarged, and enriched by
a good trade to the coasts of Germany; and by the sale of its coal to other parts of England; for which, and for other
merchandise, it is become the great emporiom of the N. of England, it being the fairest and lagest T. in these parts, next
to Yorkshire, In the R. of Edw. I. it was burnt by the Scots; but a very rich burgher, who was carried off prisoner,
ransomed himself soon for a good sum of money, and began the first fortifications of the place; which the townsmen
finished, and encompassed with stout walls, wherein are 7 gates, and many turrets with divers casements bomb-proof. It is
a Bor. at least as ancient as K. Rich. II. who granted that a sword should be carried before the mayor: and K. Hen. VI.
made it a T. and Co. incorporate of itself, independent of Northumberland, Hen. VII. built a mon. here for the
Franciscans. The T. is governed by a mayor, 19 ald. a recorder, sheriff, T.-clerk, a clerk of the chambers, 2 coroners, 8
chamberlains, a sword-bearer, a water-bailiff, and 7 serjeants at mace. Its situation, especially the most busy part of it
towards the r. is very uneven, it being built on the declivity of a steep hill, and the houses very close. The castle,
though old and ruinous, overlooks the whole T. Here is a magnificent exchange and a custom-house; and the fined kay in
England, except that at Yarmouth, it being far more spacious and longer, than those at London or Bristol, tho' not equal
to either for business. Here is a handsome mansion-house for the mayor, who is allowed 600 l. a year for his table,
besides a coach and barge. Its bridge is built upon on both sides, a small part excepted, and has a large gatehouse on it,
with an iron-gate to shut it up. It has 7 arches, which are the larger, to make the more room for the wherries and keels,
or coal-lighters; by which the coals are taken from the wharfs, and carried on board the vessels at Shields for London. It
is computed, that above 6000 keel-men are employed in those boats. They have formed themselves into a friendly society,
and by their own contributions built a noble hos. for such of their fraternity, as are poor, disabled, or past their
labour; and it is supported by the contribution of those that are in health. The T. is extreamly populous; and
notwithstanding the multitude of those employed in and about the coal-pits, with which the T. is in a manner surrounded,
has abundance of poor; but it has also many wealthy inh. and it is said, they pay above 4000 l. a year to their relief. It
is observed, that this T. has the greatest publick revenue in its own right, as a corp. of any T. in England, it being
computed at no less than 8000 l. a year. Here are 6 Chs. or chapels, besides that of St. Nicholas, the mother Ch. a
curious fabrick built cathedral-wise by David K. of Scots, with a fine steeple of rare architecture. Here are also several
meeting-houses, and ch. scs. for 300 children, a fine hall for the surgeons, and a large prison, called Newgate. Here is a
hos. for decayed freemen, and their widows; and another for 3 clergymen's widows, and 3 merchant's widows. Dr. Thomlin, a
prebendary of St. Paul's, and rector of Whicham in the Bpk. of Durham, lately gave a library of above 6000 valuable books
to the corp. and settled a rent-charge of 5 /, a year for ever, for buying new ones; and Walter Blacket, Esq; one of its
representatives in Pt. has built a repository for them, and settled 25 l. a year for ever on a librarian. The upper or N.
part of the T. inhabited by the politer sort of people, is much pleasanter than that part next the r. and has three level,
well-built, and spacious streets. The r. all the way up from Shields to Newcastle, is broad, the channel safe, and the
tide flows with a strong current to the T. and far beyond it. This place formerly gave title of E. to the D. of Lenox and
Richmond; and afterwards of D. to a branch of the family of Cavendish, as it does now those of D. and Marquiss to Thomas
Holles Pelham, one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, who was so created by K. Geo. I. in 1715. In the
beginning of the late civil wars, this T. was taken and plundered by the Scots, who here sold their K. Cha. I. for 200,000
l. in hand, and security for as much more. This is a famous place for grindstones, for which there is such a demand, that
scarce a ship stirs without them; from whence came the proverb, That a Scotsman and a Newcastle grind-stone trawl all the
world over. Ships fit for the coal-trade, are built here to perfection, with great strength; besides many glass-houses,
here is a considerable mf. of hard-ware and wrought iron, after the manner of that of Sheffield. Its Mts. are on Tu. and
S. Its Fairs March 25, Ascension-day, June 11 and Oct. 18, each for 10 days. By an act of Q. Mary, the price of the
carriage of goods hither from London by waggons, was settled at a d. per pound, London alone is said to consume, at least
600,000 chaldrons of its coals every year; but as for the fish vended in that city, by the name of Newcastle salmon, it is
more properly Berwick salmon, the fresh salmon being taken near 50 m. farther, as far as the Tweed, and is brought on the
backs of horses to Shields, where it is cured, pickled, and put on board for London. It is worth remembring, that at the
assizes here in 1743 two old men were subpoena'd hither, as witnesses from a neighbouring village, viz. one 135 years of
age, and his son 95, both hearty, and having their sight and hearing; and that in 1744 one Adam. Turnbull died in this T.
aetat. 112, who had had 4 wives, the last when he was near 100 years old.