the capital city of the county of Cumberland, seated on the south of the river Eden, and between the Petterel on the east, and the Cauda on the west. It is surrounded by a strong stone wall, and has a pretty large castle in the western part of it, as also a citadel in the eastern part, built by Henry VIII. It flourished in the time of the Romans, as appears from the antiquities that are to be met with here, and the Roman coins that have been dug up. At the departure of the Romans this city was ruined by the Scots and Picts; and was not rebuilt till the year 680, by Egfrid, who encompassed it with a wall, and repaired the church. In the 8th and 9th centuries, the whole country was again ruined, and the city laid desolate by the incursions of the Norwegians and Danes. In this condition it remained till the time of William Rufus; who repaired the walls and the castle, and caused the houses to be rebuilt. It was fortified by Henry I. as a barrier against Scotland; he also placed a garrison in it, and made it an episcopal see. It was twice taken by the Scots, and afterwards burnt accidentally in the reign of Richard II. The cathedral, the suburbs, and 1500 houses, were destroyed at that time. It is at present in a good condition; and has three gates, the English on the south, the Scotch on the north, and the Irish on the west. It has two parishes, and as many churches, St Cuthbert's and St Mary's, the last of which is the cathedral, and is separated from the town by a wall of its own. The eastern part, which is the newest, is a curious piece of workmanship. The choir with the aisles is 71 feet broad; and has a stately east window 43 feet high and 30 broad, adorned with curious pillars. The roof is elegantly vaulted with wood; and is embellished with the arms of England and France quartered; as also with Percy's, Lucy's, Warren's, Mowbray's, and many others. In the choir are the monuments of three bishops who are buried there. This see was erected in 1133 by King Henry I. and made suffragan to the archbishop of York. The cathedral church here had been founded a short time before by Walter, deputy in these parts for King William Rufus, and by him dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He likewise built a monastery, and filled it with canons regular of St Augustine. This foundation continued till the dissolution of monasteries, when its lands were added to the see, and the maintenance of a dean, &c., placed here in their room. The church was almost ruined by the usurper Cromwell and his soldiers; and has never since recovered its former beauty, although repaired after the Restoration. This diocese contains the greatest part of the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, in which are only 93 parishes; but these (as all the northern are) exceeding large; and of them 18 are impropriations. Here is one archdeacon, viz. of Carlisle. The see is valued in the king's books at £32l. 4s. 11½d. but is computed to be worth annually 280l. The clergy's tenth amounts only to 16l. 1s. 7½d. To this cathedral belong a bishop, a dean, a chancellor, an archdeacon, four prebendaries, eight minor canons, &c., and other inferior officers and servants.

The Picts wall, which was built across the country from Newcastle, terminates near this place. Carlisle was a fortified place, and still has its governor and lieutenant-governor, but no garrison. It was taken by the rebels, Nov. 15, 1745; and was retaken by the duke of Cumberland on the 10th of December following, and deprived of its gates. It is governed by a mayor, twelve aldermen, two bailiffs, &c., and has a considerable market on Saturdays. The manufactures of Carlisle are chiefly of printed linens, for which near 3000l. per annum is paid in duties. It is also noted for a great manufacture of whips, in which a great number of children are employed.—Salmons appear in the Eden in numbers, so early as the months of December and January; and the London and even Newcastle markets are supplied with early fish from this river; but it is remarkable, that they do not visit the Esk in any quantity till April; notwithstanding the mouths of the two rivers are at a small distance from each other.—Carlisle sends two members to parliament, and gives title of earl to a branch of the Howard family.