a town of Lancashire in England, situated in W. Long. 2. 42. N. Lat. 53. 27. Mr Whitaker conjectures, that the station was first occupied by the Britons about 500 years B.C. but that it did not receive any thing like the form of a town till 450 years after, or 50 years B.C. when the Britons of Cheshire made an irruption into the territories of their southern neighbours, and of consequence alarmed the Setuntii, or inhabitants of Lancashire, so much, that they began to build fortresses, in order to defend their country. Its British name was Mancenton, that is, "a place of tents;" it was changed, however, into Mancunium by the Romans, who conquered it under Agricola in the memorable year of the Christian era 79. It appears also to have been called Mandue-fuedum, Manduefuedum, Monucium, and Mancefure; from which last it seems most evident that the present name has been derived. It is distant from London 182 miles, and from Edinburgh 214; standing near the conflux of the Irk and the Irwell, about three miles from the Mersey.

Manchester was accounted a large and populous town even 50 years ago; but since that time it is supposed to have increased in more than triple proportion, both in respect to buildings and inhabitants. The houses amount to a number not far short of 12,000; and perhaps it may not be an overrate to reckon seven persons to each, when it is considered, that, of the houses occupied by working people of various descriptions, many have two, three, and sometimes more, families in each. For though many hundred houses have been built in the course of a few late years, yet are they constantly engaged as soon as possible; the avidity for building increasing with every new accession of inhabitants, and rents rising to a degree scarcely known in other places. The progress of this sinequaiva may be partly estimated by the price of building, land, and materials: a guinea per square yard, chief rent, having been refused for some central plots; and bricks selling at 24s. per 1000, which about four years since were not more than half the price. Such, however, has been the happy concurrence of ingenuity and industry, and such the astonishing improvements daily making in its numerous manufactures, together with the encouragement these afford to skilful artists in various branches, that streets must extend in proportion: yet population appears to have increased more rapidly than buildings; hence competitions naturally arise, and hence a temporary advance of rents. The manufactories of this town and neighbourhood, from humble domestic beginnings about two centuries ago, have now, after progressive improvements, acquired such celebrity, both in the scale of ornament and utility, as to spread in ten thousand forms and colours, not only in these kingdoms, but over all Europe, and even into the diliant continents; being at once most precious mines of well-earned private wealth, and important contributors to the necessary public treasure of the state. Its post-office alone may afford an evidence of its extensive commerce. The population of the town may be further calculated from the great number of cotton factories within the boundaries of the town, wherein it is thought that 20,000 men, women, and children, are employed in the mere branches of preparing warp and weft. If to these be added the many hands applied to weaving, &c. &c. &c. beside all the more general mechanics, as well as householders, domestic servants, &c. Manchester may be ranked as the most populous market-town in Great Britain. The marriages in Manchester and Salford, from January 1791 to January 1792, were 1302, the christenings 2960, and the burials 2286. Hence, should it be computed that one in every 30 persons died, the number of inhabitants would amount to 68,380; but in 1801 the population of Manchester, including Salford, exceeded 84,000. The streets are spacious and airy, great part of the old buildings being removed, and the new streets allowed a convenient breadth. The town is lighted every night by 2000 lamps, and guarded by nearly 200 watchmen.

The college was founded in 1422 by Thomas Weft, Lord Delaware; and consisted of a warden, eight fellows, four clerks, and fix choristers. About the same time the present collegiate church was built (timber only having been used for the former church). This church is a fine structure of what is termed the Gothic system, and is much enriched with sculpture. The collegiate body consists of a warden, four fellows, two chaplains, two clerks (one of whom by a very late regulation, is to be at least bachelor of arts and in priest's orders), four choristers, and four singing men.

Besides the collegiate church, there are also the following. St Anne's, a handsome church, begun in 1709 and finished in 1723: it is in the gift of the bishop of Chester. St Mary's, built by the clergy of the collegiate church, and consecrated upwards of 30 years ago, is a neat and indeed an elegant edifice; as is St John's, which was built about 20 years since by the late Edward Byrom, Esq. The next presentation thereof is, by act of parliament, vested in his heirs, afterwards devolving to the warden and fellows of the collegiate church. St Paul's church was erected upwards of 12 years ago, and is a handsome spacious building, chiefly brick; to which has been added, within the last two years, a lofty and substantial stone tower. St James's church has been finished within the last ten years: it is a large well-lighted building of brick and stone, with a small stone steeple. St Michael's is also of brick and stone, with a square tower. It was built by the late Rev. Humphrey Owen (one of the chaplains of the collegiate church, and rector of St Mary's), in whose heirs the presentation is vested for a term of 60 years, and thenceforward in the warden and fellows of the college. To these may be added, St Thomas's, Ardwick Green, and Trinity church, Salford: for though the Irwell intervenes between Manchester and Salford, and each is governed by its respective constables; yet, being connected by three bridges, by mutual friendship, and by the common pursuit of universally useful manufactures and commerce, the two places are generally considered under the name of Manchester, as the borough of Southwark is not improperly deemed a part of the metropolis. In Salford there is likewise a Methodist chapel nearly finished. A new church is also about to be built and dedicated to St Stephen.—In Manchester a new church is lately finished, and called St George's; but divine service has not yet been performed therein. St Peter's church, at the end of Mosley-street, was begun about three years since: when finished, it will be a strong and elegant stone structure with a high spire; at present the body only is completed, and lighted, in a manner not very common, by fix semicircular windows. The foundation of another church, to be called St Clement's, has also been laid, within the present year 1792, in Stephenson's square lately planned; and also one called the New Jerusalem Church, nearly finished. Besides the 14 churches above enumerated, there are, a Catholic chapel, a large Methodist chapel, a chapel for the people called Quakers, and 5 chapels for dissenters of other denominations.

Cheetham's Hospital, commonly called the College, because it was originally the place of residence of the warden and fellows, is deserving of particular notice. Humphrey Cheetham of Clayton near Manchester, Esq. having been remarkably successful in trade in the middle of the last century, bought the college, and liberally endowed it for the maintenance and education of 40 poor boys, admissible between the age of 6 and 10 years. By an improvement of the funds of the charity, the number of boys was increased to 60; and continued such till the Easter meeting of the leofees in 1783, when another augmentation took place, and the number has since been constantly 80. The townships, pointed out by the founder for objects of his charity, are the following, together with the respective numbers admitted from each: Manchester, original number 14, now 28; Salford 6, now 12; Droylden 3, now 6; Crumpfall 2, now 4; Bolton-le-moors 10, now 20; Turton 5, now 10. So that 89 persons are now annually provided for by this liberal benefactor; including for the hospital a governor, one man and five women servants, a school-master; and, on the library establishment, a librarian. (See an authentic letter in the Gent. Mag. for June 1792, p. 521.) The boys of this hospital are comfortably provided for till the age of 14, when they are further clothed, and with a premium placed apprentices to useful trades; and, in order to incite early habits of industry, to make them good servants, and at length good masters, it has been suggested to Manchester furnish some kind of easy employment for a small part of their time not engaged at school. The Library, which occupies an extensive gallery of the same building, owes its foundation and increasing importance to the fame benevolent source. The annual value of the fund originally bequeathed for the purchase of books and for a librarian's salary was 116l.; but by recent improvements of the estate, the income is more than thrice that sum. The books at this time amount to 10,000 volumes, of which a catalogue handsomely printed in 2 volumes 8vo has been published by the present librarian, the Rev. John Radcliffe, A. M. At stated hours on all days, except Sundays and other holidays, the studious may have free access to read, in the library, any book it contains; and in order to render it comfortable during the cold season of the year, several stoves are kept heated at the reading hours. This college and a large inclosed area are situated upon a high perpendicular rock, bounded by the Irk close to its confluence with the Irwell; and is thought by Mr Whitaker to be included, as well as the collegiate church, within the boundaries of the ancient Roman praetorium; the whole of which site towards the Irwell, as on the side of the Irk, is considerably elevated above the water and the opposite land of Salford. The free-school, higher up on the same side of the Irk, almost joining to the college, is supported by the rents of three mills; one of which is for grinding malt, another for corn, and the third is employed as a snuff mill. These rents are now increased to 700l. per annum, from which salaries are paid to three masters and two assistants. The scholars educated here have certain exhibitions allowed at the university; and such of them as are entered at Brazenose college Oxford have a chance of obtaining some valuable exhibitions arising from lands in Manchester bequeathed by Mr Hulme. The deserved reputation of this school is a powerful recommendation of its scholars entering at the universities. The Academy is a large and commodious building, raised by the subscriptions of several respectable dissenters, and placed under the care of able tutors. Here youth above 14 years of age are admitted and instructed in the various branches of liberal knowledge, preparatory to trade or the professions. The Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester was instituted in the beginning of the year 1781, and is well known by its Memoirs, of which several volumes 8vo, containing several excellent papers on various literary and scientific subjects, have been published; these have been translated into the German language. A society was established here in November 1789, under the name of the Lancashire Humane Society, for the encouragement of all who may attempt the recovery of persons apparently drowned. The Infirmary, Dispensary, Lunatic Asylum, and public Baths, are all situated on one large airy plot of land, in the most elevated and agreeable part of the town; a pleasant grass plot and gravel-walk extending the whole length of the buildings; a canal intervening between them and the public street, next to which it is guarded by iron palisades. The Lying-in hospital is situated in Salford, at the end of the old bridge. A new Work-house is nearly completed; and for such a purpose a happier spot could not be found in any town than that whereon it is erected, being on an equal eminence with the college on the opposite side of the Irk, and promising the greatest possible comforts to such as may be necessitated to become its inhabitants. The Exchange was a strong good building; but since the late act of parliament ordained for farther improvements of the town, it has been fold and taken down, and its site formed into a convenient area, to the great advantage of the surrounding houses. The Theatre is a neat building, wherein the boxes are placed in a femicircle opposite to the stage. The Gentlemen's Concert-room is an elegant building, capacious enough to accommodate 1200 persons. The concerts are supported by annual subscriptions: but strangers and military gentlemen have free admission to the private concerts; as also to the public concerts, with a subscriber's ticket. The new Assembly-rooms are large and commodious. A Circus is almost finished. Here are two Market-places, the old and the new; which are well supplied with every thing in season, though at high rates. There are several charity-schools belonging to different churches and chapels, where children are furnished with clothes and taught to read. The Sunday-schools are numerous, and afford instruction to upwards of 5000 children.

Over the Irwell are three bridges, uniting the town with Salford: the old bridge is very high at the Manchester end, whence it flops into Salford. The middle bridge, four feet wide, raised upon timber and flagged, is only for the accommodation of foot-passengers, who from the Manchester side must descend to it by nearly forty steps. The lower bridge is a handsome stone building of two arches; this bridge affords a level road for two or three carriages abreast. It was undertaken and finished by the private subscription of a few gentlemen; and a small toll is taken for all passing, which toll is now annually let by auction, and pays the proprietors remarkably well.—From Manchester there are likewise the same number of bridges over the Irk; only one, however, is adapted for the passage of carriages. The Irwell, having at a great expense been rendered navigable for vessels of 20 or 30 tons burden, there is a constant communication between Liverpool, Manchester, and the intermediate places on the Irwell and Mersey, to the great advantage of the proprietors of the country at large. This navigation, and more especially the duke of Bridgewater's canal, opening a passage from Manchester to the Mersey at 30 miles distance, have, together, greatly contributed to the present highly flourishing state of the town. Advantages still greater, because more widely diffusive, may result from the intended union of the Humber and the Mersey by means of canals. Indeed, every mile of canal would benefit many miles of land; and such would be the reciprocity of interest, that it would undoubtedly extend and be felt far beyond the visible measurement of the navigation."

The News Room and Library in Manchester is an elegant building, and an ornament to the town; and as it comprehends in it a news room, circulating library, and reading room, must be productive of general utility. The proposal of this institution met with much opposition at first; but it was finally carried by the unwearied exertions of a Mr Robinson, a man whose Manchester character was universally loved and admired.

We must not omit to notice the new penitentiary house, called the New Bailey, for separate confinement of various criminals. Over the entrance is a large session room, with adjoining rooms for the magistrates, council, jurors, &c. Beyond this, in the centre of a very large area inclosed by very high walls, stands the Prifon, an extensive building, forming a cross three stories high; and the four wards of each story may in an instant be seen by any person in its centre. This prifon is kept surpringly neat and healthy; and such as can work at any trade, and are not confined for crimes of the greatest magnitude, are employed in a variety of branches; so that one may be seen beating and cleaning cotton, another carding it, another roving, and a fourth spinning. In the next place may be observed a man or a woman busy at the loom; and in another, one or more engaged in cutting and raising the velvet pile. Hence industry is not suffered to flumer in the solitary cell, nor to quit it under the acquired impressions of that torpor which formerly accompanied the emancipated prisoner from his dungeon; rendering him, perhaps, totally unfit for the duties of honest society, though well qualified, in all probability, to hord with gamblers, and be then, if not before, initiated into their pernicious mysteries.—At Kerfal-moor, three miles distant, horse-races are annually permitted. The banks of the rivers and various brooks about the town afford excellent situations for the numerous dye-houses employed for a multitude of fabrics. Among other things the manufacture and finishing of hats is carried on to an extent of great importance.—The general market is here on Saturdays. Tuesday's market is chiefly for transacting business between the traders and manufacturers of the town and circumjacent country. The fairs are on Whit-Monday, October 1st, and November 17th.

Manchester is a manor with courts leet and baron. It sends no members to parliament, but gives title to a duke. The annual fall of rain is here about 42 inches; though from January 1791 to January 1792 it was 44 inches. The sun's greatest heat in 1791 was 76°, July 17.