*WARHAM, (Dorset) near Corfe-Castle, 90 cm. 108 mm. from London, is in the most healthy part of the Co. though surrounded on all sides but the W. with the Piddle and Frome rs. and the sea, or at least that bay on the shore of which stands Pool. The inh. say it rose out of the ruins of Stowborough, on the other side of the r. Frome. It wab a Roman T. and reckoned the, oldest in the Co. if not the largest, it having 8 Chs. now reduced to 3, viz. St. Martins, Trinity-Ch. and St. Mary's-Ch. formerly a priory, whose tower is the chief ornament of the T. It had heretofore a mint, with walls and a castle, by the waterside, built by William the Conqueror; and before the retreat of the sea from it, was a noted harbour. The royalty of this T. was granted by K. James I. to Tho. Emerson; but after several sales, it was above 40 years ago purchased of the Pluknets family, by the late general Erle, who settled it in trust for ever on the corp. for binding out poor children apprentices. The corp. by a charter of Q. Anne, consists of a mayor, recorder, and town-clerk, 6 capital- burgesses, and 12 C. C. their assistants. The mayor is, by ancient prescription, coroner of the Isles of Purbeck and Branksey, as well as of his own T. and has been the supreme magistrate here ever since Hen. VI. By Q. Anne's charter the mayor, recorder, and preceding mayor, are constituted justices of the peace, (the two first of the quorum) and impowered to hold their own sessions. Camden closes his account of Wareham thus; " It has " suffered so much by wars, from " the time of Henry II. and by fire, " together with the loss of its haven, " robbed from it by the sea, that 'tis " almost quite run to ruin, and the " soil that was in the very heart of the " T. produces great quantities of garlick." To this we shall only add, that its chief trade is in tobacco-pipe clay, dug out of Hunger-Hill; that it consists chiefly of two streets, and about 200 houses; and that it has a well frequented Mt. on S. the toll of which bel. to the corp. and Fairs April 6, June 24, and Aug. 31. Members were returned to Pt. for this Bor. the 30th, 33d, and 35th of Edward I. and the 5th and 7th of of Edward II. but no more till the 2d of Edward III. and from thence to the R. of Edward IV. after which the rolls are wanting to Q. Mary's R. from which they are continued, with some small defects, to this time. The mayor returns the members, who are chosen by the inh. paying scot and lot, about 150. This T. was remarkable for the interment if Briatricus, the last of the West-Saxon Ks. during the heptarchy, and for that of St. Edward the Martyr, who was translated from hence to Shaftsbury.