capital of the county of that name, in nearly the centre of England. It is finely situated on a gradual ascent from the left bank of the river Severn, over which is an elegant stone bridge. The river is navigable for barges far above the town; and after the winter rains, timber is floated down from Montgomeryshire in Wales. The trade by the river is very considerable, as by that channel the foreign and colonial productions required by the inhabitants are supplied from Liverpool or from Bristol. One branch of trade, that of culinary salt from the brine springs of Droitwich, about six miles higher up the river, and connected with it by a short canal, is very extensive, as it supplies some of the western counties of England, and some parts of South Wales, with that indispensable article.

In past time this city had some trade in making woollen cloths and carpets; but that business has departed, and now the chief manufacturing employment is the making of leather gloves. There is also a manufactory of porcelain, more remarkable for the beauty of the work than for its being in any extensive demand. The city was anciently surrounded with walls, in which were six gates, some traces of which are still to be seen. Worcester suffered much during the wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster; but the most remarkable event of a historical nature was the great battle fought here in 1650, by the English army under Cromwell, and the Scottish army under the command of King Charles II. The loss of the king's troops is stated to have been 2000 men killed and 8000 taken prisoners. Most of the latter were sold as slaves to the colonies in America and the West Indies. The destruction of the walls and gates was ordered by Cromwell after his decisive victory. It is, generally speaking, a well-built city, and the chief street, the Foregate, is remarkably fine. The guildhall, in that street, is a handsome structure, finished in 1723. Its front, which is of brick, is ornamented with stone quoins, with mouldings and tablets to the windows, of the same materials. The principal entrance, after ascending some semicircular steps, is ornamented with columns of the composite order, highly enriched, and crowned with an indented cornice and open pediment, in which are the city arms. On each side of this principal entrance are the statues of the two kings Charles, in niches; and over it a statue of Queen Anne. The county-jail and the county-hall are fine buildings. The market-house is another fine edifice. It is highly ornamented, and conveniently arranged for the purpose it is intended to serve. The cathedral, whose effect is lessened by the close approach of some of the surrounding dwellings, is a noble specimen of Gothic simplicity. It was first erected by Ethelred, king of Mercia, in 680, when it was a convent of secular priests. Soon after the Norman conquest, it was laid in ashes by the Welsh, and was afterwards rebuilt with greater magnificence, though not entirely completed until the year 1374. The building is 394 feet in length, 78 in breadth, and the tower is 162 feet high. On the south side is a chapel of curious workmanship. Both the church and the cloisters are arched with stone of a reddish colour; and in the tower are eight good bells, the largest of which weighs 6600 pounds. The elegant window in the west front was constructed on occasion of the visit of George III. to this city in 1788, when, at the music meeting, the throne was placed near to it. Another window was built at the east end in 1792, containing some excellent painting in glass. The pulpit is octagonal, and of stone, curiously carved in the Gothic manner, with the symbols of the four evangelists, and a representation of the New Jerusalem, as described in the book of Revelation. The altar-piece is of plain oak, having in the centre a painting of the descent from the cross. The chief monument is that of King John, standing in the midst of the choir; but the body was interred under a small stone in the eastern part of the church. On each side of the figure of the king are those of the bishops Wulstan and Oswald. On the south side of the altar is Prince Arthur's sepulchral chapel, a most curious piece of antique workmanship, which was repaired and beautified in 1791. It consists of five orders of images, viz. virgins, bishops, kings, confessors, and angels, ornamented with the various badges of royalty; and under an arched roof is the tomb, of fine marble. There are also several other handsome monuments, one of Bishop Hough, by Roubillac. The cloisters, where the monks formerly resided, and which are now inhabited by the dignitaries of the cathedral, are 125 feet by 120, and sixteen feet in breadth. The vaulted roof is adorned with a variety of sculptures. The bishop's palace stands near the cathedral, in a most commanding situation, overlooking the river Severn, which flows at the bottom of the garden.

There are nine parish churches within and two without the walls. The most remarkable of them are, St Michael's, a very ancient specimen of ecclesiastical architecture; St Andrew's, with a lofty and well-proportioned tower, built in the eleventh century; All-Saints, which was rebuilt in 1742, an edifice of the modern style; St Martin's, a handsome edifice, finished in 1772, after four years' labour; and St Nicholas, of which the interior is neat and commodious. Its style of architecture, executed in stone, is very pleasing, the front being of the Doric order, with six pilasters, the

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1 See Nash's Survey of Worcestershire; Pitt's Agricultural Survey; Brewer's Worcestershire. The country around Worcester is highly fertile, and the supply of every kind of provisions is abundant in the market, which are held every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The river Severn affords an abundant supply of salmon and lampreys, and other fresh-water fish. Among other articles of cultivation, hops are the most extensive; and this city is the largest depot for that article after Maidstone and Canterbury. Coals are supplied by the Severn at cheap rate; and, under all circumstances, few places are better adapted for the residence of families who wish to unite economy with comfort.

The city gives the title of marquis to the eldest son of the duke of Beaufort. It returns two members to the House of Commons; and by the late law it is divided into wards, and is governed by a mayor, twelve aldermen, thirty-five councillors, with justices of the peace appointed by the crown. The population amounted in 1821 to 7,849, and in 1831 to 18,610. Worcester is 111 miles from London, fifty-five from Oxford, and twenty-two from Birmingham, with excellent roads in every direction around it.

Worcester, Edward Somerset, Marquis of, was a distinguished political character in the time of Charles I., whom he created earl of Glamorgan, while heir apparent to the marquis of Worcester. This nobleman flourished chiefly in the reign of Charles I., and seems to have been a most zealous adherent to the cause of that unfortunate monarch, on whose account it is said that he and his father wasted an immense sum. Of this the king was sensible, that he granted to the earl a most extraordinary patent, the chief powers of which were, to make him generalissimo of three armies, and admiral with nomination of officers; to enable him to raise money by selling his estate's woods, wardships, customs, and prerogatives; and beareate by blank patents, to be filled up at Glamorgan's pleasure, from the rank of marquis to that of baronet. If anything, says Lord Orford, could justify the delegation of such authority, besides his majesty having lost all authority when he conferred it, it was the promise with which the king concluded, of bestowing the princess Elizabeth on Glamorgan's son. This patent was given up by the marquis to the House of Peers after the restoration. He died in 1667, after he had published his celebrated work entitled "A Century of the Names and Scantlings of such Inventions as at present I can call to mind to have tried or perfected, which (my former notes being lost) I have, at the instance of a powerful friend, endeavoured now, in this year 1655, to set these down in such a way as may sufficiently instruct me to put any of them in practice." Some of the inventions referred to in this work are the following. A ship-destroying engine, a coach-stopping crane, a balance water-work, a bucket fountain, an ebbing and flowing castle-clock, a tinder-box pistol, a pocket ladder, a most admirable way to raise weights, a stupendous water-work. For the last contrivance the marquis procured an act of parliament in 1663, for the sole benefit arising from it, one tenth of it being appropriated to Charles II. and his successors.

Various and very opposite opinions have been held with regard to the title of this nobleman to be considered as a mechanical genius. Lord Orford has pronounced his book an amazing piece of folly; and Mr Hume, speaking of this nobleman's character, appears from his Century of Arts, or Scantling of Inventions, which is a ridiculous compound of lies, chimeras, and impossibilities, and shows what might be expected from such a man. It may be fairly presumed, that neither Lord Orford nor Mr Hume was qualified to judge of the marquis's work, otherwise a more temperate or more modified opinion would have been given. By others, its author has been regarded as one of the greatest mechanical geniuses; and he is considered as the inventor of the steam-engine, which he denominates a stupendous water-work. See Steam-Engine.

Worgaum, a town of Hindustan, in the province of Aurungabad, situated twenty miles west of Poonah.