MANCHESTER, a town of Lancashire in England, situated in W. Long. 2. 42. N. Lat. 53. 27.—Mr Whitaker conjectures, that the station was first occupied by the Britons about 500 B. C. but that it first received any thing like the form of a town 450 years after, or 50 B. C. when the Britons of Cheshire made an incursion into the territories of their southern neighbours, and of consequence alarmed the Sestuntii, or inhabitants of Lancashire, so much, that they began to build fortresses in order to defend their country. Its British name was Manceion; which was changed by the Romans, who conquered it under Agricola, A. D. 79, into Manconium; from whence comes the present name of Manchester.—It is 182 miles from London; and stands near the conflux of the Irk and the Irwell, three miles from the Mersey. It is large, populous, and adorned with many fine buildings and streets. It has a spacious market-place, a college; and an exchange. The fustian manufactory, called Manchester-cottons, for which it has been famous for near 200 years, has been much improved of late by some inventions of dyeing and printing, which, with the great variety of other manufactures, called Manchester goods (of which they export vast quantities abroad, especially to the West Indies), such as ticking, tapes, silleting, and linen-cloth, enrich the town, and employ men, women, and children. It has two churches, viz. St Mary's and St Anne's. The latter was begun by contribution of the inhabitants, in the reign of Queen Anne, and finished in 1723. The collegiate church, which was built in 1422, is a fine large edifice, with a beautiful choir, and a clock that shows the age of the moon. The three most eminent foundations here are, its college, hospital, and public school. The college was founded in 1421. The king, by act of parliament in 1729, is empowered to be visitor of this college. The hospital was founded by Humphry Cheetham, Esq; and incorporated by Charles II. for the maintenance of 45 poor boys of this town and the neighbouring parishes; but the governors have enlarged the number to 60, to be taken in between six and ten years of age, and maintained, lodged, and clothed, till the age of 14, when they are to be bound apprentices at the charge of the said hospital. The founder also erected a library in it, and settled 1161. a-year on it for ever, to buy books, and to support a librarian. There is a large school for the hospital boys, where they are taught to read, write, &c. The public school was founded anno 1513. Here are three masters, with handsome salaries; and the foundation boys have certain exhibitions for their maintenance at the university. Besides these, there are three charity-schools. It stands on a stony hill, where are noble quarries. Kersal-moor is noted for horse-
horse-races. This place, in fine, is deservedly reckoned the greatest village or market-town in England: for though its chief magistrate is only a constable or headborough, yet it is more populous than York, Norwich, or most cities in England, and as big as two or three of the lesser ones put together; for of the people, including those in the suburbs, there were reckoned not less than 20,000 communicants above 100 years ago, and now the inhabitants are not less than 50,000. Here is a firm old stone-bridge over the Irwell, which is built exceedingly high; because, as the river comes from the mountainous parts of the country, it rises sometimes four or five yards in one night, but falls next day as suddenly. There are for three miles above the town no less than 60 mills upon it. By the late inland navigation, it has communication with the rivers Mersey, Dee, Ribble, Ouse, Trent, Darwent, Severn, Humber, Thames, Avon, &c. which navigation, including its windings, extends above 500 miles, in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, York, Westmoreland, Chester, Stafford, Warwick, Leicester, Oxford, Worcester, &c. The weavers here have looms that work 24 laces at a time, an invention for which they are obliged to the Dutch. The market here is on Saturday; and the fairs are on Whit-Monday, September 21, and November 6.—It is a manor with courts leet and baron. What is now called Knock-Castle, was the seat of the Roman Castrum; and the foundation of the castle wall and ditch still remain in Castle-Field, as it is sometimes called.—The market-place, surrounded with old dirty buildings, is called the Old Town; and rents ran very high.—Manchester sends no members to parliament, but has the title of a duchy.