commonly called West Chester, to distinguish it from many other Chesters in the kingdom; the capital of Cheshire in England. It is a very ancient city, supposed to have been founded by the Romans; and plainly appears to have been a Roman station by the many antiquities which have been and are still discovered in and about the town. It was among the last places the Romans quitted; and here the Britons maintained their liberty long after the Saxons had got possession of the rest of their country. At present Chester-le-Street, the Cuneaccestre of the Saxons; a small thoroughfare town between Newcastle and Durham, with a good church and fine spire. In the Saxon times this place was greatly respected on account of the relics of St. Cuthbert, deposited here by Bishop Eardulf, for fear of the Danes, who at that time (about 884) ravaged the country. His shrine became afterwards an object of great devotion. King Athelstan, on his expedition to Scotland, paid it a visit, to obtain, by interception of the saint, success on his arms; bestowed a multitude of gifts on the church; and directed, in case he died in his enterprise, that his body should be interred there. At the same time that this place was honoured with the remains of St. Cuthbert, the bishopric of Lindesfarne was removed here, and endowed with all the lands between the Tyne and the Wear, the present county of Durham. It was styled St. Cuthbert's patrimony. The inhabitants had great privileges, and always thought themselves exempt from all military duty, except that of defending the body of their saint. Chester-le-Street may be considered as the parent of the see of Durham; for when Chester-le-Street was removed there, the see in 995 followed them. Tanner says, that probably a chapter of monks, or rather secular canons, attended the body at this place from its first arrival; but Bishop Beke, in 1286 in honour of the saint, made the church collegiate, and established here a dean and suitable ecclesiastics; and, among other privileges, gave the dean a right of fishing on the Wear, and the tythe of fish.

New-Chester, a town of Pennsylvania in America, and capital of a county of that name. It is seated on the Delaware; and has a fine capacious harbour, admitting vessels of any burden. W. Long. 74° 7' N. Lat. 40° 15'.