a very large town of Warwickshire in England, situated in W. Long. 1° 35'. N. Lat. 52° 30'. It is no corporation, being only governed BIR [242] BIR

verned by two constables and two bailiffs; and it is therefore free for any person to come and settle there; which has contributed greatly not only to the increase of the buildings, but also of the trade, which is the most flourishing of any in England for all sorts of iron work, besides many other curious manufactures. The town stands on the side of a hill, nearly in the form of a half-moon. The lower part is filled with the workshops and warehouses of the manufacturers, and consists chiefly of old buildings. The upper part of the town contains a number of new and regular streets, and a handsome square elegantly built. It has several churches; particularly one in the lower part of the town, which is an ancient building with a very tall spire; and another, which is a very grand modern structure, having a square stone tower with a cupola and turret above it. The houses in this town amount to between 7000 and 8000, and their number is continually increasing.