a municipal and parliamentary borough and market-town of England, county of Essex, on the Colne, here crossed by three bridges. It stands on the Eastern Counties railway, 51 miles N.E. of London. The borough is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors, and returns two members to parliament. Registered electors (1851-2) 1258. Pop. (1851) 19,443. It is supposed to be the Camalodunum of the Romans; and there are few places in the kingdom where more Roman antiquities have been discovered. It was taken from the Danes in 921 by Edward the Elder, who founded the castle; and in the reign of Coehelium Edward III. it sent five ships to the blockade of Calais. It was ravaged by the plague in 1348, in 1360, and again in 1665. In 1648 it was taken by Lord Goring for Charles I.; but was retaken by Fairfax after a siege of 11 weeks, when Sir C. Lucas and Sir C. Lisle were put to death, and the castle itself dismantled. The walls which surrounded the town, forming an oblong of about 108 acres, with 4 gates and 3 posterns, and about 7 feet thick, still exist in part. Remains of the castle, built of flint and Roman brick, are still to be found; and among them are parts of the tower, Norman gateway, sally-port, and chapel. The remains of the church of St Botolph's priory, founded in the early part of the twelfth century, present fine specimens of Norman architecture. Several of the churches and chapels are elegant buildings. It has also a free grammar-school with a scholarship at St John's College, Cambridge, town-hall with jail underneath, corn exchange, house of correction, theatre, library, botanic garden, savings-bank, gas and water works, several hospitals and almshouses, bank, a large distillery, and literary, medical, and other societies. Baize was formerly made in the town to a considerable extent, but this branch of industry has been superseded by the manufacture of silk. The oyster fishery is extensively carried on. Vessels of 150 tons come up the river to Hythe, a suburb, and the port of Colchester. In 1852, 683 vessels of 62,329 tons (of which 657 vessels of 50,281 tons were in the coasting trade) entered; and 336 vessels of 16,174 tons (of which 305 vessels of 13,866 tons were in the coasting trade) cleared at the port. On 31st December 1852, 187 sailing vessels, under 50 tons = 3950 tons, 65 sailing vessels above 50 tons = 7156 tons, and 1 steam vessel of 23 tons, were registered as belonging to the port.

COLDICUM AUTUMNALE, meadow saffron, or autumn crocus, a plant of the natural order Melanthaceae, is largely collected for medicinal use in this country. (See BOTANY, vol. v., p. 213.) Its infusion is well known as a powerful remedy for gout, and has long been celebrated in France under the name of Eau Medicinale. The cormus or bulb, and also the seeds, are used in medicine, and have a strong, persistent, bitter taste. Its medicinal virtues appear to be derived from a peculiar alkaloid, which has been termed colchica. The best preparation is the wine of colchicum, prepared by digesting eight ounces of the seeds in forty ounces of sherry for about a week, shaking the vessel daily, and pressing out the liquor. The usual dose is from 10 to 50 drops taken in water. It possesses intense activity as a poison. The plant derives its name from Colchis in Armenia, where it is said to have abounded. See Christison "On Poisons," and Pharmacopoeia Edin.