the capital of the county of Suffolk, in England, seated in E. Long. 1. 6. N. Lat. 52. 12. The name comes from the Saxon Cypewicke, that is, a town situated upon the Gyppen, now called Orwell. It had once 21 churches, but now has only 12. It was plundered by the Danes in 991, and afterwards besieged by King Stephen. It had charters and a mint in the reign of King John, but its last charter was from Charles II. The remains of a wall and fix or seven religious houses are still to be seen. Though it is not in so flourishing a state as formerly when the harbour was more commodious, yet it is still a large well built town. Besides the churches already mentioned, it has several meeting-houses, two chapels, a town-hall, council-chamber, a large market place with a cross in the middle of it, a hire-hall for the county fairs, a library, several hospitals, a free-school, a handsome stone-bridge over the river, flatly shambles in the market-place built by Cardinal Wolsey, who was a native of the town and a butcher's son, and who also began to build a college here on the ruins of a small college of black canons, which still bears his name, though it was never finished. Here are also several almshouses, three charity-schools, and a convenient key and customhouse. By virtue of Charles II.'s charter, the town is governed by two bailiffs, a recorder, 12 portmen, of whom the bailiffs are two, a town-clerk, two coroners, and 24 common-council. The bailiffs and 4 of the portmen are justices of the peace. The town enjoys many privileges, as passing fines and recoveries, trying criminals, and even crown and capital causes among themselves, settling the affize of bread, wine, and beer. No freeman is obliged to serve on juries out of the town, or bear any office for the king, except that of the sheriff, or to pay tolls or duties in any other part of the kingdom. They have an admiralty jurisdiction beyond Harwich on the Essex coast, and on both sides the Suffolk coast, by which they are entitled to all goods cast on shore. The bailiffs even hold an admiralty-court beyond Landguard-fort. By a trial in King Edward III.'s time, it appears that the town had a right to the custom-duties for all goods coming into Harwich-haven. The population in 1801 exceeded 11,000, of whom nearly 2000 are employed in manufactures, which are chiefly woollen and linen cloth. It has still a considerable foreign-trade. The tide rises 12 feet, and ships come within a small distance of the town. They export a great deal of corn to London, and in former times to Holland. Formerly, they had a great trade in ship-building; but that having declined, they now send great quantities of timber to the king's yard at Chatham. It has several great fairs for cattle, cheese, and butter; and is admirably situated for the trade to Greenland, because the same wind that carries them out of the river will carry them to Greenland. It is worth remarking, that it is one of the best places in England for persons in narrow circumstances, house rent being easy, provisions cheap and plentiful, the passage by land or water to London, &c., convenient, and the company of the place good. It gives title of viscount, as well as Thetford, to the duke of Grafton; and sends two members to parliament.