a market-town of Shropshire, hundred of Pimhill, 16 miles N.N.W. of Shrewsbury. It is so called from the beautiful lake or mere near which it stands; and consists of four main streets, with a handsome church. Pep. (1851) 2087, chiefly engaged in tanning and the making of malt, the barley grown in the vicinity being of excellent quality. The site of the ancient castle, of which

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1 There was something like personal vindictiveness in the feeling entertained by Elizabeth towards Mary. She hated her for her personal charms and graces, for her having presumed to quarter the royal arms of England, for her having a "fair son," and for her complicity in the Catholic conspiracies. But more than all perhaps must she have been provoked by the malicious letter written by Mary to Elizabeth, in which she reported certain alleged speeches of the Countess of Shrewsbury, charging the queen with licentious amours, physical defects, absurd vanity, folly, avarice, &c. (See Hume, note to chap. xlii.) The original letter in Mary's handwriting was seen a few years since by Prince Lakanoff in the repositories at Hatfield House. It is such a letter as no woman (royalty apart) could have forgiven. there are now no remains, is now used as a bowling green, and commands a rich and varied prospect. Market-day Tuesday. Ellesmere is connected with the Mersey by a canal which greatly facilitates its trade.