a town of Kent, adjoining to Ro- chester, and seated on the river Medway. It is the principal principal station of the royal navy; and the yards and magazines are furnished with all kinds of naval stores, as well as materials for building and rigging the largest men of war. The entrance into the river Medway is defended by Sheerness and other forts; notwithstanding which, the Dutch fleet burnt several ships of war here in the reign of Charles II., after the peace of Breda had been agreed upon. In the year 1757, by direction of the duke of Cumberland, several additional fortifications were begun at Chatham; so that now the ships are in no danger of an insult either by land or water. It has a church, a chapel of ease, and a new chapel for the docks, built in 1811. The dockyard, including the ordnance wharfs, is a mile in length. Handsome barracks, capable of accommodating 1200 men, were built in 1804. The town contained 12,652 inhabitants in 1811. The principal employment of the labouring hands is ship-building. This town gave title of earl to that great statesman William Pitt, in the reigns of George II. and III. E. Long. o. 40. N. Lat. 51. 20.