capital of Gloucestershire in England, 101 miles from London. It is an ancient city; and by Antoninus is called Clevum, or Glevum, which Camden thinks was formed from the British Caer-Glew, signifying "a fair city." It was one of the 28 cities built by the Britons before the arrival of the Romans, who made it one of their colonies, and in the eighth century it was esteemed one of the noblest cities in the kingdom. It has suffered considerably by fire at different periods. It stands upon a hill; and from the middle of the city, where the four principal streets meet, there is a descent every way, which makes it not only clean and healthy, but adds to the beauty of the place. Forging of iron seems to have been its manufacture so early as the time of William the Conqueror. King Henry VIII. made it the see of a bishop, with a dean and six prebends. Its castle which was erected in the time of William the Conqueror, is very much decayed; part of it is leased out by the crown; and the rest serves for a prison, one of the best in England. In its cathedral, which is an ancient but magnificent fabric, and has a tower reckoned one Glocester, one of the most curious pieces of architecture in England, are the tombs of Robert duke of Normandy, son to William the Conqueror, and of Edward II, and there is a whispering place like to that of St Paul's at London. In the chapter house lies Strongbow who conquered Ireland. There are 12 chapels in it, with the arms and monuments of many great persons. King John made it a borough to be governed by two bailiffs. Henry III, who was crowned here, made it a corporation. By its present charter from Charles I, it is governed by a steward, who is generally a nobleman; a mayor; a recorder; 12 aldermen, out of whom the mayor is chosen; a town clerk; two sheriffs, chosen yearly out of 26 common councilmen; a sword-bearer; and four sergeants-at-mace. Here are 12 incorporated trading companies, whose matters attend the mayor on all public occasions, &c. Besides the cathedral, there are five parish churches in this city; which is likewise well provided with hospitals, particularly an infirmary upon the plan of those at London, Winchester, Bath, &c. Here is a good stone bridge over the river Severn, with a quay, wharf, and customhouse; but most of its bulwarks is engrossed by Bristol. King Edward I held a parliament here in 1272, wherein some good laws were made, now called the Statutes of Glocester; and he erected a gate on the fourth side of the abbey, still called by his name, though almost demolished in the civil wars. King Richard II also held a parliament here; and King Richard III, in consideration of his having (before his accession to the crown) borne the title of Duke of Glocester, added the two adjacent hundreds of Dudston and King's Barton to it, gave it his sword and cap of maintenance, and made it a county of itself by the name of the county of the city of Glocester. But after the Restoration the hundreds were taken away by act of parliament, and the walls pulled down; because the city shut the gates against Charles I when he besieged it in 1643; by which, though the siege was raised by the earl of Essex, it had suffered 20,000 damage, having 241 houses destroyed, which reduced it so much that it has scarce recovered its former size and grandeur. Before that time it had 11 parish churches, but six of them were then demolished. Here are abundance of crofies, and statues of the English kings, some of whom kept their Christmas here; several market houses supported with pillars; and large remains of monasteries, which were once so numerous, that it gave occasion to the monkish proverb, As sure as God is in Glocester. Here is a barley market; and a hall for the assizes, called the Booth Hall. Its chief manufacture is pins. Under the bridge is a water engine to supply the town, and it is served with it also from Robin Hood's well, to which is a fine walk from the city. Camden says, that the famous Roman way, called Ermin Street, which begins at St David's in Pembroke-shire, and reaches to Southampton, passes through this city. Sudmead in the neighbourhood is noted for horse races. Here is a charity school for above 80 children, of whom above 70 are also clothed; and a well endowed blue coat school. The city sends two members to parliament.

Glocester is also the name of two counties and of several towns in America; such as the county of Glocester in New Jersey, bounded on the north by Burlington, on the south by Salem and Cumberland, on the east by the Atlantic ocean, and on the west by the river Delaware. It contains 13,172 inhabitants, besides 191 slaves. Glocester in Virginia is a well cultivated and fruitful county, about 55 miles long and 30 broad, with a population of 13,408 souls, among whom are included 7,663 slaves.