the capital of the county of Lancashire in England, is pleasantly situated on the south side of the river Lune, over which there is a handsome stone-bridge. It is an ancient town, and is supposed to have been the Longovicum of the Romans. King John confirmed to the burgesses all the liberties he had granted to those of Bristol; and Edward III. granted that pleas and sessions should be held here, and nowhere else in the county. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, 7 aldermen, 2 bailiffs, 12 capital burgesses, 12 common burgesses, a town-clerk, and 2 serjeants-at-mace. The affizes are held in the castle, where is also the county gaol. It trades to America with hardware and woollen manufactures in vessels of 70 tons. There is a market on Wednesday by grant, and another on Saturday by prescription, besides one every other Wednesday throughout the year for cattle; and three fairs, in May, July, and October. The cattle is not large, but neat and strong. Not very long ago, in digging a cellar, there were found several Roman utensils and vessels for sacrifices, as also the coins of Roman emperors; so that it is supposed there was here a Roman fortress. On the top of the castle is a square tower, called John of Gaunt's chair, whence there is a charming prospect of the adjacent country, and especially towards the sea, where is an extensive view even to the Isle of Man. There is but one church, a fine Gothic building. It is placed on the same elevation, and from some points of view forms one group, with the castle, which gives the mind a most magnificent idea of this important place. The late considerable additional new streets and a new chapel, with other improvements, give an air of elegance and prosperity to the town; and the new bridge of five equal elliptical arches, in all 549 feet in length, adds not a little to the embellishments and conveniency of the place. Adjoining to the castle, the new gaol is erected on an improved plan. On the side of the hill below it, hangs a piece of a Roman wall, called Wery-wall. Here is a custom-house. 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, extend above 500 miles in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, York, Westmoreland, Chester, Stafford, Warwick, Leicester, Oxford, Worcester, &c. For its peculiar government, see Duchy Court.