MALDEN, a town of Essex, 37 miles from London, situated on an eminence at the conflux of the Chelmer and Pant or Blackwater, where they enter the sea. It was the first Roman colony in Britain, and the seat of some of the old British kings. It was besieged, plundered, and burnt by queen Boudicea; but the Romans repaired it. It was again ruined by the Danes, but rebuilt by the Saxons. It is a populous corporation, governed by two bailiffs, six aldermen, 18 headboroughs or capital burghesses, a steward, recorder, and above 400 commonalty and burghesses, who have all a vote for its members of parliament. It has a convenient haven on an arm of the sea for vessels of 400 tons; and drives a good trade in coal, iron, corn, and deals. It formerly had three, now only two, parish-churches. Here is a large library for the use of the minister and the clergy of the neighbouring parishes, who generally reside here on account of the unwholesomeness of the air where their churches are. Here is a grammar-school, a small-church, school, and a workhouse where the poor weave sack-cloth. The custom of Borough English is kept up here. It has a market on Saturdays, and a fair on the 18th of September. A little beyond it begins Blackwater bay, famous for the Wallfleet oysters. The channel called Malden-water is navigable to the town. King Edward the elder (of the Saxon race) resided here whilst he built Witham and Hertford castles. On the west side of the town are the remains of a camp.