a town on the Mainland of Shetland, and the seat of the courts of that shiretry. It is situated on the spacious harbour called Lerwick or Bressay Sound, and derives its only importance from the courts of law, and the vessels employed in the whale-fishery, which make a rendezvous of the bay. It was computed to contain in 1821 about 1700 inhabitants. The parish extends about six miles along the sea coast, and is in no place more than a mile in breadth. On the north and east it is bounded by the sea, which separates it from Bressay island. The surface of the parish is rocky and mountainous, but there are a number of fine arable fields on the sea coast, the soil of which is light and sandy, but fertile and productive. Near the north end of the town there is a small fortification called Fort Charlotte, which commands the north entry to Bressay Sound, and is garrisoned by a detachment of invalids. It was completely repaired by order of government in the year 1781. There are several large cannon for commanding the harbour and protecting the town. There is a straw-plaiting manufactory at Lerwick, furnishing upwards of 50 girls with employment, who have one penny per yard for their work: 25 yards of which can be made by some of them in the course of a day. It is carried on by a company in London. There are two chalybeate springs in the vicinity of the town, but neither of them is highly impregnated, although the one is stronger than the other. W. Long. 1. 30. N. Lat. 60. 20.