the capital of the province of Nova Scotia in America, situated in W. Long. 64. 30. N. Lat. 44. 45. It was founded in 1749, in order to secure the British settlements there from the attempts of the French and Indians. It was divided into 35 squares, each containing 16 lots of 40 by 60 feet; one established church, and one meeting-house, and a small number of houses out of the regular streets. The town was surrounded by picketings, and guarded by forts on the outside; but since the commencement of the American troubles, it has been very strongly fortified. Along the river Chebucto, to the southward of the town, are buildings and fish-flakes for at least two miles, and to the northward on the river for about one mile. The plan, however, has been greatly improved by the earl of Halifax, who was the original contriver. The proclamation issued for this settlement, offered 50 acres of land to every soldier and sailor who would settle in that part. part of America, without paying any rent, or doing any service for ten years, and no more than one shilling per annum for each 50 acres ever afterwards: to every soldier and sailor who had a wife and children, ten acres more were added for every individual of his family, and for every increase that should afterwards happen in the same proportion: To each subaltern officer 80 acres, and 15 for each of his family; 200 acres to each ensign; 300 to each lieutenant; 400 to each captain; 600 to every officer in rank above a captain, and 30 for each of his family. The government also engaged to transport and maintain the new settlers for one year at its own expense, and to furnish them with such arms, provisions, utensils, implements, &c. as should be necessary to put them in a way to cultivate their lands, to build habitations, and to commence a fishery. The same conditions were likewise offered to all carpenters and other handicraftsmen; and surgeons were offered the same conditions with the ensigns.—This proclamation was published in March, and by the month of May 3700 persons had offered themselves. They accordingly embarked, and established themselves in the bay of Chebucto; calling their city Halifax, from the title of their patron. Before the end of October the same year, 350 comfortable wooden houses were built, and as many more during the winter.—The same year in which the settlers embarked, the government granted them 40,000l. for their expenses. In 1750 they granted 57,582l. 17s. 3½d. for the same purpose; in 1751, 53,927l. 14s. 4½d.; in 1752, 61,492l. 19s. 4½d.; in 1753, 94,615l. 12s. 4½d.; in 1754, 58,447l. 2s.; and in 1755, 49,418l. 7s. 8½d.—The place has at length attained a degree of splendor that bids fair to rival the first cities in the revolted colonies; for which it has been equally indebted to the late war, to the great increase of population from the exiled loyalists, and the fostering care of Great Britain; insomuch, that the number of inhabitants has been more than doubled during the last ten years.

The harbour is perfectly sheltered from all winds at the distance of 12 miles from the sea, and is so spacious, that a thousand sail of ships may ride in it without the least danger. Upon it there are built a great number of commodious wharfs, which have from 12 to 18 feet water at all times of the tide, for the convenience of loading and unloading ships. The streets of the town are regularly laid out, and cross each other at right angles; the whole rising gradually from the water upon the side of a hill, whose top is regularly fortified, but not so as to be able to withstand a regular attack. Many considerable merchants reside at this place, and are possessed of shipping to the amount of several thousand tons, employed in a flourishing trade both with Europe and the West Indies. There is a small but excellent careening yard for ships of the royal navy that are upon this station, or that may have occasion to come in to refit, and take water, fuel, or fresh provisions on board, in their passage to and from the West Indies. It is always kept well provided with naval stores; and ships of the line are hove down and repaired with the greatest ease and safety. Several batteries of heavy cannon command the harbour, particularly those that are placed upon George's Island, which being very steep and high, and situated in mid-channel, a little way below the town, is well calculated to annoy vessels in any direction, as they must of necessity pass very near it before they are capable of doing any mischief. Above the careening yard, which is at the upper end of the town, there is a large basin, or piece of water, communicating with the harbour below, near 20 miles in circumference, and capable of containing the whole navy of England, entirely sheltered from all winds, and having only one narrow entrance, which, as we observed before, leads into the harbour. There are a number of detached settlements lately formed by the loyalists upon the basin; the lands at a small distance from the water being generally thought better than those near to Halifax; but what success may attend their labours, will require some time to determine. An elegant and convenient building has been erected near the town for the convalescence of the navy; but the healthiness of the climate has as yet prevented many persons from becoming patients, scarcely any ships in the world being so free from complaints of every kind, in regard to health, as those that are employed upon this station. There is a very fine light-house, standing upon a small island, just off the entrance of the harbour, which is visible, either by night or day, fix or seven leagues off at sea.

Halifax, earl of. See Saville.

town in the west riding of Yorkshire in England, seated on the river Calder, in W. Long. 2° 0' N Lat. 53° 45'. It has the title of an earldom, and is very eminent for the clothier trade. The parish is said to be the most populous, if not the most extensive, in England: for it is above 30 miles in circumference; and, besides the mother church at Halifax, and 16 meeting-houses, has 12 chapels, two of which are parochial. What is a little singular, all the meeting-houses here, except the quakers, have bells and burying-grounds. The woollens principally manufactured here are kerseys and shalloons. Of the former it is affirmed, that one dealer hath sent by commission 60,000 pounds worth in a year to Holland and Hamburg; and of the latter, it is said, 100,000 pieces are made in this parish yearly. The inhabitants here and in the neighbouring towns are so entirely employed in these manufactures, that agriculture is but little minded. Most of their provisions of all sorts are brought from the north and east ridings, and from Lancashire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, and Warwickshire. The markets are very much crowded for the buying and selling provisions and manufactures. The cloths, at the first erecting of the woollen manufactures in these parts, having been frequently stolen off the tenters in the night, a law was made, by which the magistrates of Halifax were empowered to pass sentence on, and execute all offenders, if they were taken in the fact, or owned it, or if the stolen cloth was found upon them; provided also the crime was committed, and the criminal apprehended, within the liberties of the forest of Hardwick. Those found guilty were executed in the following manner: an axe was drawn by a pully to the top of a wooden engine, and fastened by a pin, which being pulled out, the axe fell down in an instant, and did its work. If they had stole an ox, horse, or any other beast, it was led with them to the scaffold, and there fastened by a chord to the pin, that held up the axe; and when the signal was given... given by the jurors, who were the first burghers within the several towns of the forest, the beast was driven away, and the pin plucked out, upon which the axe fell and did its office. This severe and summary course of justice gave occasion to a litany, which is still much more frequent in the mouths of the beggars and vagrants of these parts, than is the common prayer, viz.

"From Hell, Hull, and Halifax, good Lord deliver us:" though neither the engine, nor manner of proceeding against them, are now in use.