*WELLS, (Somerset) 16 m. from Bath, 15 from Bristol, 102 cm. 127 mm. from London, is a little but clean city, at the
bottom of Mendip-Hills, so called from the wells that spring up in all parts of it. Its Ch. at first a mon. was built by
Ina K. of the W. Saxons, and, anno 905, was erected into an episcopal see. The fine chapel in the Bp's palace here, which
was formerly St. John Baptist's-Hos. was built by Bp. Fitz Jocelyn, who made such repairs also to the cathedral, that it
looked like a new one, and is the same stately edifice, that is now of above 500 years standing. John de Villula, the 16th
Bp. of this see, renounced it, and removed it to Bath; but the contest between this Ch. and that of Bath, was afterwards
compromised, and it was determined that the Bps. should thereafter be stiled Bps. of Bath and Wells, and that the canons
of each should, on the vacancy of the see, appoint deputies to elecl the Bp. who was to be installed in both Chs. This was
first made a free Bor. in the R. of Hen. II. and the charter was ratified by K. John, and afterwards by Q. Eliz. and
though at first the chief officer was only stiled master, yet before the R. of Q. Eliz. this Bor. was called a city, and
its chief magistrates mayor; and it it now governed by a mayor, recorder, 7 masters, or ald. and 16 gownsmen, or C.C. The
W. front of the cathedial is much admired by strangers for its excellent imagery and carved stone-work, being one intire
pile of statues; though the taste is a little too Gothic to please the criticks in sculpture. The cloysters adjoining to
it are very spacious and fair. The chapter-house is a rotund, supported by a pillar in the middle. The vicars dwellings in
the close are very pretty; but their hall is turned into a musick-room, where are frequent concerts. A ch. sc. was erected
here in 1714, for 20 boys and 20 girls, and the eldest vicar teaches the bays to sing. The T.-hall stands over Bp.
Babwith's hos. which maintains 30 poor men and women; and here are several other almshs. The Bp's palace is reckoned the
handsomest of that denomination in the Km. It looks on the S. side like a castle, and is fortified with walls and a moat;
and there is a well near it, called St. Andrew's, one of the finest springs in England. This city sent members to Pt. as
early as Bath and Bristol. It has one p. only, called St.Cuthbert's, which is 7 m. long and 4 broad, and contains several
hamlets. The deanry is a fine house, and here are fair houses for the prebendaries. The streets are broad; the houses
about 600, and the souls 4000. The chief mfs. here are knitting of hose, and bone-lace; but most of the poor women and
children are employed in the former. Here is a handsome Mt.-house and T.-house, where the corp. meets, and where the
judges hold their assizes, which are generally in the summer alternately with Taunton and Bridgewater. The little r. Welve
runs at the back of the T. and the adjacent country is pleasant enough; but all the roads to it, except that from
Glastonbury, are very uneven and stony. Besides the Bp. and dean, there bel. to this Ch. 27 prebends, 19 petty canons, a
praecentor, treasurer, chancellor, and 3 arch-deacons, viz. of Bath, Wells, and Taunton, a number which very few
cathedrals in England have besides. Those, with the proctors and other spirituul court-men, bring most custom to this
place; which is not very rich. East-Wells and the liberty, where are frequent horse-races, are not the mayor's
jurisdiction. In this part there is a farm of 160 acres, with right of common for all cattle on Mendip-Hills. The members
of Pt. are chose by the citizens, in number above 500, being admitted freemen of the 7 companies incorporate of the city,
and returned by the mayor. The Mts. here are W. and S. Fairs May 3, June 24, Octob. 11, and Nov. 27.