the capital of the county of Lancashire in England, is pleasantly situated on the south side of the river Lune, over which there is a handsome stone bridge. It is an ancient town, and is supposed to have been the Longovicium of the Romans. King John confirmed to the burgesses all the liberties he had granted to those of Bristol; and Edward III. granted that pleas and sessions should be held there, and nowhere else in the county. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, 7 aldermen, 2 bailiffs, 12 capital burgesses, 12 common burgesses, a town clerk, and 2 sergeants at mace. The assizes are held in the castle, where is also the county gaol. It carries on a very considerable trade with Jamaica and the other islands in the West Indies, as also with Portugal, Hamburgh, &c. There is a market on Wednesday by grant, and another on Saturday by prescription, besides one every other Wednesday throughout the year for cattle; and three fairs, in May, July, and October. The castle is not large, but neat and strong. Not very long ago, in digging a cellar, there were found several Roman utensils and vessels for sacrifices, as also the coins of Roman emperors; so that it is supposed there was here a Roman fortress. On the top of the castle is a square tower, called John of Gaunt's chair, whence there is a charming prospect of the adjacent country, and especially towards the sea, where is an extensive view even to the Isle of Man. There is but one church, a fine Gothic building. It is placed on the same elevation, and from some points of view forms one group with the castle, which gives the mind a most magnificent idea of this important place. The late considerable additional new streets and a new chapel, with other improvements, give an air of elegance and prosperity to the town, and the new bridge of 5 equal elliptic arches, in all 549 feet in length, adds not a little to the embellishment and conveniency of the place. Adjoining to the castle, the new gaol is erected on an improved plan. On the side of the hill below it, hangs a piece of a Roman wall, called Wery-Wall. By means of inland navigation, Lancaster has communication with the rivers Mersey, Dee, Ribble, Ouse, Trent, Darwent, Severn, Humber, Thames, Avon, &c. although such extensive communication was once considered impracticable. Population 9247. For its peculiar government, see Duchy-Court.

LANCET, Lancea, a spear; an offensive weapon worn by the ancient cavaliers, in form of a half pike. The lance consisted of three parts, the shaft or handle, the wings, and the dart. Pliny attributes the invention of lances to the Ætolians. But Varro and Aulus Gellius say, the word lance is Spanish; whence others conclude the use of this weapon was borrowed by the people of Italy from the Spaniards. Diodorus Siculus derives it from the Gaulish, and Festus from the Greek λάγκα, which signifies the same.