a town in the ward of that name, in the county of Durham, 248 miles from London. It stands on the river Tees, which is navigable to it; and consists principally of one well-built, long, and wide street, in which is the church, the town-hall, and grammar-school. It is an ancient borough, governed by a mayor, a recorder, and aldermen, but elects no members to the House of Commons. It formerly contained a castle, which has been demolished, and the stones applied to the erection of more modern buildings. The bridge over the Tees is an elegant object. The inhabitants carry on a considerable trade in making coarse linens, huccabacks, table-cloths, and sail-cloths; and several ships are built on the river. Stockton is well supplied with coals, vegetables, fruit, fish, and other necessaries; and it has a market on Wednesday and another on Saturday. The number of inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 4069, in 1811 to 4229, in 1821 to 5006, and in 1831 to 7763.

STOKESLEY, a town in the north riding of the county of York, and in the wapentake of Langbrough. It is 242 miles from London, and forty-three from York. It stands on the river Leven, and consists of one well-built, long street, with no remarkable building except the manor-house, adjoining to the churchyard, which at an early period was granted to Guy de Baliol, whose family came to England with William the Conqueror. The town depends on the fertility of the land around it, from which a market on Saturday is well-supplied. The parish comprises four small townships. The population amounted in 1801 to 1755, in 1811 to 1759, in 1821 to 2290, and in 1831 to 2376.

STOICS, the name given to a sect of Grecian philosophers, from στοιχεῖον, the porch in Athens, which the founder of the sect chose for his school.

STOLE, a sacerdotal ornament worn by the Romish parish priests above their surplice, as a mark of superiority in their respective churches; and by other priests over the alb, at celebrating of mass, in which case it goes across the stomach; and by deacons over the left shoulder, in the form of a scarf. The stole is a broad swath, or slip of stuff, hanging from the neck to the feet, and is marked with three crosses.

Groom of the Stole, the eldest gentleman of the king's bedchamber, whose office it was to present and put on his majesty's first garment, or shirt, every morning, and to order the things in the chamber.

STOLPE, a town of Prussian Pomerania, in the government of Koslin, the capital of a circle of the same name. It stands on the river Stolpe, which is navigable to it. It contains 650 houses, with 5840 inhabitants, who are chiefly employed in linen and woollen manufactures, in fisheries on the river for salmon, and in distilleries and breweries.

STONE, a town in the hundred of Firehill and county of Stafford, 141 miles from London. It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Trent, is neat and well built; and by means of a canal has an easy communication with most parts of the kingdom. The church is a fine structure, with a square tower and a good set of bells. The inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 2305, in 1811 to 2314, in 1821 to 2855, and in 1831 to 3460.

a town in the ward of that name, in the county of Durham, 248 miles from London. It stands on the river Tees, which is navigable to it; and consists principally of one well-built, long, and wide street, in which is the church, the town-hall, and grammar-school. It is an ancient borough, governed by a mayor, a recorder, and aldermen, but elects no members to the House of Commons. It formerly contained a castle, which has been demolished, and the stones applied to the erection of more modern buildings. The bridge over the Tees is an elegant object. The inhabitants carry on a considerable trade in making coarse linens, huccabacks, table-cloths, and sail-cloths; and several ships are built on the river. Stockton is well supplied with coals, vegetables, fruit, fish, and other necessaries; and it has a market on Wednesday and another on Saturday. The number of inhabitants amounted in 1801 to 4069, in 1811 to 4229, in 1821 to 5006, and in 1831 to 7763.

STOKESLEY, a town in the north riding of the county of York, and in the wapentake of Langbrough. It is 242 miles from London, and forty-three from York. It stands on the river Leven, and consists of one well-built, long street, with no remarkable building except the manor-house, adjoining to the churchyard, which at an early period was granted to Guy de Baliol, whose family came to England with William the Conqueror. The town depends on the fertility of the land around it, from which a market on Saturday is well-supplied. The parish comprises four small townships. The population amounted in 1801 to 1755, in 1811 to 1759, in 1821 to 2290, and in 1831 to 2376.