a town of Dorsetshire in England, in W. Long. 2° 20'. N. Lat. 51° 0. It stands on a high hill, and is built in the form of a bow. It enjoys a serene wholesome air, and has a fine prospect. It is a good thoroughfare, is governed by a mayor, and sends two members to parliament. This town is supposed to have been built in the 8th century, and to have been enlarged by king Alfred, and had 12 churches, besides a Benedictine monastery, in the time of the Saxons, but has now only three. St Edward the martyr was buried here. It had three mints before the conquest, Shaftesbury and, in the reign of Henry VIII, was the see of a suffragan bishop. It was incorporated by queen Elizabeth and Charles II, and is governed by a mayor, recorder, twelve aldermen, bailiffs, and a common-council. It contains about 320 houses, many of which are of free-stone. Water is so scarce, that it used to be supplied from Motcomb; but it was obtained more commodiously in 1718, by means of engines, which raised the water above 300 feet perpendicular, and conveyed it to a large cistern in the middle of the town, from the distance of two miles. Yet even this is laid aside, and they have dug several pits, in which they preserve the rain-water; and the poor get their living to this day by fetching it in pails or on horses. It gives the title of earl to the noble family of Cooper.

(earl of). See Cooper.