the county-town of Essex, 29 miles N.N.E. from London; situated in a valley the Chelmer, near its confluence with the Cann. The Cann is crossed by two bridges, one of stone and the other of cast-iron, and there are also two bridges over the Chelmer, which divides into two branches and incloses an island called Mesopotamia, famous to the townspeople as the scene of mock-elections. The parish church of St Mary is an ancient Gothic edifice, and has been twice rebuilt. Besides it there are six churches belonging to different religious bodies. It has a grammar-school founded by Edward VI., national, Lancasterian, and infant schools, a mechanics' institute, museum, library, &c. It is the seat of the county assizes and quarter-sessions, and has an elegant shire hall. Most of the inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, and the trades connected with it. Chelmsford communicates with Maldon by means of a canal, and with London by the Eastern Counties railway. Chelsea Pop. 6033.