an ancient town of the county of Cumberland in England, seated under a hill called Penrith-Fell, near the rivers Eamont and Lowther. It is a great thoroughfare for travellers; but has little other trade, except tanning, and a small manufacture of checks. Formerly it had a castle, but it is now in ruins. In the churchyard is a monument of great antiquity, consisting of two stone pillars 11 feet 6 inches high, and 5 in circumference in the lower part, which is rounded; the upper is square, and tapers to a point; in the square part is some fretwork, and the relievo of a crofs; and on the interior side of one is the faint representation of some animal. Both these stones are mortified at their lower part into a round one: they are about 15 feet asunder, and the space between them is inclosed on each side with two very large but thin semicircular stones; so that there is left between pillar and pillar a walk of two feet in breadth. Two of these lesser stones are plain, the others have certain figures, at present scarcely intelligible. Not far from these pillars is another called the giant's thumb, five feet eight inches high, with an expanded head, perforated on both sides; from the middle the stone rises again into a lesser head, rounded at top; but no part has a tendency to the figure of a crofs, being in no part mutilated. The pillars are said to have been set up in memory of Sir Owen Caefarius, a famous warrior. Penrose, prior buried here, who killed so many wild bears, which much infested this county, that the figures of bears, cut out in stone, on each side of his grave, were set there in remembrance of the execution he made among those beasts; and it is likewise said his body extended from one pillar to the other. In the market-place there is a town-house of wood, beautified with bears climbing up a ragged staff. There is a memorandum on the north side of the vestry without, that, in 1598, 2266 persons died here of the plague. There is a charity school in this place for 20 boys, and another for 30 girls, maintained by £51 a-year, by the sacrament-money and parish-stock. In 1715 the Scotch Highlanders entered this town, and quartered in it for a night, in their way to Preston, without doing much harm; but in the last rebellion, in 1745, they were, it is said, very rapacious and cruel. Its handsome spacious church has been lately rebuilt, and the roof supported by pillars, whose shafts are of one entire reddish stone, dug out of a neighbouring quarry. On the east part of the parish, upon the north bank of the river Eamont, there are two caves or grottoes, dug out of the solid rock, and sufficient to contain 100 men. The passage to them is very narrow and dangerous; and it is possible that its perilous access may have given it the name of Isis Parlir; though the vulgar tell strange stories of one Isis, a giant, who lived there in former times, and, like Cacus of old, used to seize men and cattle, and draw them into his den to devour them. But it is highly probable, that these subterraneous chambers were made for a secure retreat in time of sudden danger; and the iron gates, which were taken away not long ago, seem to confirm that supposition. The population in 1801 was nearly 4000.

W. Long. 4° 43'. N. Lat. 54° 35'.

Penrose, Thomas, was the son of the reverend Mr Penrose, rector of Newbury, Berks, a man of high character and abilities, descended from an ancient Cornish family, beloved and respected by all who knew him. Mr Penrose, jun. being intended for the church, pursued his studies with success, at Christ-church, Oxon, until the summer of 1762, when his eager turn to the naval and military line overpowering his attachment to his real interest, he left his college, and embarked in the unfortunate expedition against Nova Colonia, in South America, under the command of Captain Macnamara. The issue was fatal. The Clive (the largest vessel) was burnt; and though the Ambuscade escaped (on board of which Mr Penrose, acting as lieutenant of marines, was wounded), yet the hardships which he afterwards suffered in a prize sloop, in which he was stationed, utterly ruined his constitution. Returning to England with ample testimonials of his gallantry and good behaviour, he finished, at Hertford College, Oxon, his course of studies; and having taken orders, accepted the curacy of Newbury, the income of which, by the voluntary subscription of the inhabitants, was considerably augmented. After he had continued in that station about nine years, it seemed as if the clouds of disappointment, which had hitherto overshadowed his prospects, and tinged his poetical effays with gloom, were clearing away; for he was then presented by a friend, who knew his worth and honoured his abilities, to a living worth near £500 per annum. It came, however, too late; for the state of Mr Penrose's health was now such as left little hope, except in the affiance of the waters of Bristol. Thither he went; and there he died in 1779, aged 36 years. In 1768 he married Miss Mary Slocock of Newbury, by whom he had one child, Thomas, who was educated at Winton College.

Mr Penrose was respected for his extensive erudition, admired for his eloquence, and equally beloved and esteemed for his social qualities. By the poor, towards whom he was liberal to his utmost ability, he was venerated to the highest degree. In oratory and composition his talents were great. His pencil was ready as his pen, and on subjects of humour had uncommon merit. To his poetical abilities the public, by their reception of his Flights of Fancy, &c. have given a favourable testimony.