very ancient city, the capital of the county of the same name. It is 198 miles from London, and 201 from Edinburgh. This city ranks as the second in the kingdom, and is said to have been founded by Elbrancus, 983 years before the Christian era. In form it is very similar to Rome, the river Ebor (now called the Ouse) running di- rectly through it. Little is known of its history till the year of our Lord 150, when it was one of the greatest Ro- man stations in the province, having an imperial palace, a tribunal, and a regular government within its walls, the same as at Rome. In 207 the emperor Severus under- took an expedition to Britain, and lost 50,000 men in defeating the Britons at York. He lived in the palace three years, and died there. His body was burnt on an elevated ground near the city, now called Severus's Hill, and his ashes were sent to Rome. He was succeeded by his sons, Caracalla and Geta, the former of whom mur- dered the latter in York, and returned to Rome. About a century after, Carausius landed in Britain, and was pro-

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1 See Toke's Agriculture of the North Riding; Rennie, Brown, and Sheriff's West Riding; and Latham's East Riding; Yorkshire History, by Hargrove; Topographical Dictionary of Yorkshire, by Langdale; Parliamentary Population Returns; Bigland's Beauties of England and Wales. claimed emperor at York. He was slain by his friend Allectus, who in his turn was slain by the emperor Constantius, father of Constantine the Great, the latter of whom was born in York in 272, and left it in the fourth century. Constantius died in the palace at York in 307.

In the twentieth year of the reign of Constantine, Octavius, king of the Britons, rebelled, but was subdued. Being afterwards joined by the Scots, he defeated the Romans. Britain was then connected with Gaul, and Constantine divided it into three parts, York remaining the metropolis. Constantine soon after this left Britain, and removed the seat of government to Byzantium. The Picts and Scots now rushed upon the Britons, and the latter engaged the assistance of the Saxons. York was consequently the scene of many a deadly conflict, Britons, Saxons, and Danes struggling for dominion, till William the Conqueror came and took possession of the English crown. In all the subsequent national troubles York has had her share, and was particularly conspicuous during the civil wars of Charles the First. The walls, gates, and posterns are to a considerable degree still remaining, and possess high and gratifying interest to the passing stranger. The walls, which are three miles in circumference, have a delightful promenade on the top of them, which commands a beautiful prospect of the surrounding country.

The civil government of the city, under the municipal corporation act, which divides it into six wards, is vested in a mayor (who still retains the title of lord mayor), twelve aldermen, and thirty-five councillors. There are also a recorder, town clerk, and prothonotary. The city gives the title of duke of York to the second son of the sovereign, and returns two members to parliament. The aldermen were formerly justices of the peace, but the magistrates are now appointed by the crown. The situation of York is on a pleasant and healthy plain, through which flow two rivers, the Ouse and the Foss. They are both navigable; but the former is the more important river, and, joining the Humber at no great distance, has a direct communication with the main ocean. There are two markets every week, one on Thursday, the other on Saturday. The latter is the principal, and is always plentifully supplied. There formerly was a division in connection with York, entitled the Ainsty, or County of the City. It was formed by King Richard in 1392. This division included thirty-five towns and villages. In 1837, however, this county of the city being joined to the west riding of Yorkshire, was parcelled into the eastern or York division, and into the western or Tadcaster division; the townships of the former to attend special and petty sessions at the castle of York, those of the latter at Tadcaster. There is another distinct and important division of the city, connected with the cathedral or church of St Peter, and called the Liberty of St Peter. In this division district courts are held, and magistrates preside, in connection with both ecclesiastical and common law.

The minster or cathedral stands the foremost among the public buildings of the city, and is worthy of the attention of every stranger. It is unquestionably the finest Gothic building of the kind in Europe; and in every respect may be pronounced, both as regards the interior and the exterior, truly imposing and magnificent. It was first founded in 626, by Edwin the Saxon king of Northumberland, and through succeeding ages has been enlarged, repaired, and improved, with great taste, and with a uniformity which is highly creditable to all concerned. Our limits will not allow of a minute description, but we may venture to give a brief outline. The nave, from the west end to the door of the choir, is 261 feet long, 109 feet wide, and ninety-nine feet high. The windows of the nave are long, narrow, and pointed, containing representations of some of the apostles, archbishops, &c. Near the south entrance winding steps lead to the summit of the principal tower, from which there is a splendid view of the city and neighbourhood. The body of the nave comprises eight equal arches, the principal part of the western towers being supported by columns. Over the arches runs a curious gallery. On each side, and beyond the choir, are the monuments, many of which are highly interesting. In 741, the minster suffered much by fire. It was repaired, and in 1069, during the siege by the Northumbrians and Danes, was again the victim of that unsparing element. Being rebuilt, it remained the admiration of every beholder, till June 1137, when a tremendous fire in the city consumed it, St Mary's Abbey, and thirty-nine parish churches. It was partly rebuilt in 1171, and was subsequently enlarged. In 1829 the choir was set on fire by Jonathan Martin, a maniac, who hid himself behind a tomb after the evening service, and effected his purpose when all the vergers had departed. He was apprehended, tried, found guilty, and sent for confinement during life to the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, St George's Fields, London, where he died in 1838. The choir was repaired by subscription; and in May 1840, a fire broke out in the south tower of the western front. The flames quickly spread, and the fire continued all night, leaving that tower and the roof of the nave a complete wreck, the very excellent peal of bells having also been destroyed. On inquiry, it was discovered that a person from Leeds, who had been engaged to repair the clock, had been careless with his candle, and that it had communicated with a quantity of combustible matter on the floor, but that no intention to do mischief had ever been entertained. A subscription was again commenced, and the work of restoration is now rapidly advancing. We have already stated that the minster was founded in 626. We may here observe, that Paulinus was the first archbishop, having been instituted the previous year, and that from that time to the present there have been no fewer than eighty-three archbishops; the present being the Hon. Edward Vernon Harcourt, who was translated to the see in 1808. The archbishop of York is primate and metropolitan of England, and has the honour of crowning the queen, and of preaching the sermon at the coronation of the king. There are twenty-three churches in York, in addition to the cathedral; four Methodist chapels; three Independent chapels; two Quakers' meeting-houses; one Catholic chapel, and a nunnery, with extensive premises occupied as a Catholic ladies' school; a Unitarian chapel; and a Primitive Methodist chapel.

Among the charitable institutions of the city, we may mention the County Lunatic Asylum; the Retreat, for the same purpose, established by the Society of Friends; fourteen hospitals or almshouses for poor widows, &c.; the County Hospital for the sick; the Eye Institution; the School for the Blind; the Blue-Coat Boys' and Grey-Coat Girls' Schools, &c. &c. The other objects of public interest are, the city-walls, the castle, the ruins of Clifford's Tower, the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, the Assembly Rooms, the public cemetery, &c. York has also its railway stations, very splendidly built, under the direction of George Hudson, Esq., the splendid chairman of the York and North Midland Company. They are connected both with the north, the west, and the south; and the city is altogether improving beyond what has been known in former years. The population of York and its suburbs, according to the census of 1831, amounted to 35,362, viz. 16,510 males, and 18,852 females; the population of the city, exclusively of the suburbs, was 26,260, viz. 11,989 males, and 14,271 females. According to the census of 1841, the population of the city alone is nearly 30,000.

York Cape, the north-eastern promontory of New Holland, consisting of a double point, one of which is situated York Islands, three small islands in the South Pacific Ocean, near York Cape, on the north coast of New Holland.

O-TCHEOU, a city of China, of the first rank, in Hequang, situated on the great river Yang-tse-kiang, where it connects with the large lake of Tong-ting. It is one of the most populous and trading cities in the empire. The neighbourhood is fertile, and abounds in fruit. Long. 111° 35' E. Lat. 29° 23' N.

OUGANE, a river of Asiatic Russia, in the government of Tobolsk. It rises in the district of Narym, and after passing through a lake of the same name, falls into the Obi.

OUGHAL, a town in the county of Cork, is situated about 140 statute miles from Dublin, and lies on the shore of harbour of the same name, into which, at spring-tides, vessels of 400 or 500 tons burthen can enter. It is of great antiquity, and was formerly a place of strength. The old walls are in great part remain, and still form, on the summit of the hill to the westward, the boundary of the town. Owing to its very abrupt rise of this hill, the town is confined between it and the water, and can only extend itself in the direction of its length from north to south; but in both directions it has outgrown its ancient limits, which are now only to be traced by partial remains of the walls. Youghal, notwithstanding its vicinity to Cork, which will probably prevent its ever rising into any great commercial importance, has yet a considerable trade with England, particularly in the export of agricultural produce. It contained, according to the census of 1831, about 9600 inhabitants, and 1200 houses, being, on an average, exactly eight houses per house. The increase of population in ten years is supposed to have been about 1000, but is not very accurately known. When the census was taken, there were only six houses building. The greater part of the town belongs to the duke of Devonshire.