a town of Westmoreland, seated in a valley, among hills, on the west side of the river Caa or Ken, over which there are two stone bridges, and one of wood which leads to the cattle now in ruins. It is a large handsome place; and has two long streets, which cross each other. The inhabitants have driven a trade with the cotton and woollen manufactory throughout England ever since the reign of Edw. III. and particular laws were enacted for regulating Kendal cloths as early as Richard II. and Henry IV. It is of note also for the manufactory of cottons, druggets, serges, hats, worsted and yarn stockings, &c. Queen Elizabeth incorporated it with aldermen and burgesses; and king James I. with a mayor, recorder, town-clerk, 12 aldermen, 24 burgesses or common councilmen, and 2 attorneys. There are 7 companies here, who have each their hall, viz. mercers, shearmen, cordwainers, glovers, tanners, tailors, and pewterers. Here is an elegant town-hall lately repaired; and they enjoy a court of conscience granted by George III. for debts under £20. It has a large beautiful church, which stands on the other side of the brook called Blindbeck, out of the liberty of the town: a large neat and handsome building 180 feet long and 99 broad, with 5 aisles each parted by a row of 8 pillars, and a strong square steeple. Near is Abbot's-hall, the residence of the abbot when this church belonged to an abbey dissolved by Henry VIII. In 1755, a new chapel was erected in the middle of the town, besides which there are 12 chapels of ease belonging belonging to it. The dissenters and quakers have meeting-houses. Here is a free grammar-school well endowed; and also a charity-school for 10 boys and 16 girls, who are all clothed as well as taught. Eastward of the town, on the opposite side of the river on a hill, from whence is a fine prospect, stand the ruins of a castle, wherein was born Catherine Parr (the fifth wife of Henry VIII.) By the late inland navigation, it has communication with the rivers Mercy, 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, Lancaster, Chester, Stafford, Warwick, Leicestershire, Oxford, Worcestershire, &c. Here are kept the flocks of the peace for this part of the county called the barony of Kendal; and there is a very great market on Saturday, with all kinds of provisions and woollen-yarn, which the girls bring hither in large bundles. It has fairs on May 6, and November 8; and between them a great beast-market every fortnight. The river here, which runs half through the town in a stony channel, abounds with trout and salmon; and on the banks of it live the dyers and tanners.