MALDEN, a town of Essex, 37 miles from Lon-
don, situated on an eminence at the conflux of the
Chalmer 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 Ro-
mans repaired it. It was again ruined by the Danes,
but rebuilt by the Saxons. It has a convenient haven on
an arm of the sea for vessels of 400 tons; and a consi-
derable trade in coals, iron, corn, and deals. A little be-
yond it begins Blackwater bay, famous for the Walfleet
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.
The population in 1811 was 2679.