a market-town, parliamentary and municipal borough of England, capital of Berkshire, on the Kennet, just above its confluence with the Thames, 36 miles W. by S. of London. It is irregularly built, but has been recently very much improved. The greater part of the town lies in the parish of St Lawrence, on the angle of land formed by the Kennet and Thames, and the principal business streets are in this quarter. To the west lies the parish of St Mary, occupied by many of the poorer people; and to the south that of St Giles, containing most of the best and newest streets. The houses are for the most part substantial, many of them handsome, and the streets broad and well paved. The church of St Lawrence is an edifice mostly in the later English style; but has some portions in the Norman style, in which it was originally built. In 1434 it seems to have been considerably repaired and altered. The tower at the west end is of chequered flint work, and has a peal of ten bells. A similar but not so handsome tower belongs to St Mary's church, which was built in 1550 out of the remains of a more ancient abbey. Besides the church of St Giles, two district churches, and a chapel of ease, there are Independent, Methodist, Quaker, and Roman Catholic churches in the town. The town-hall is a commodious modern structure, having in the lower part accommodation for the grammar school. The county jail and house of correction, after the model of that of Pentonville, occupies a costly edifice of a castellated form. A building, known by the name of the Oracle, for the employment of the poor in ribbon and silk weaving, erected in the seventeenth century by John Kendrick, exhibits a combination of the Grecian and Gothic architecture. Reading has also various almshouses, a dispensary, and an eye-infirmary. The educational establishments include a free grammar school, founded in 1556, and containing in 1851 thirty-five scholars; a blue-coat school, for forty boys; a green-coat school, for twenty-one girls; national, British, and infant schools, &c. A fine public hall affords accommodation to the literary society and mechanics' institute of Reading. For public amusement and recreation there is a theatre, a news-room, and baths. The town was formerly remarkable for its extensive manufactures of woollen goods. This branch of employment has, however, been abandoned, although there is still some industry in various other departments. Silk, ribbons, coarse linen, and sail-cloth are made; and there are also iron foundries, breweries, large building-yards, and establishments for making biscuits. The trade is considerable, and is facilitated by various means of communication with different parts of the country. The Kennet is navigable up to the town for vessels of 120 tons; the Kennet and Avon Canal opens up an intercourse with the large seaports, and the Great Western Railway passes close to the town, and has a station here. Corn, flour, hops, timber, seeds, wool, cheese, and beer are among the articles of trade. Markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and there are four yearly fairs. The borough is governed by a mayor, five other aldermen, and eighteen councillors; and it returns two members to the House of Commons. Assizes, quarter-sessions, and a county court are held here. The earliest historical notice of the place informs us that in 871 it was in the possession of the Danes, who, after resisting an assault of the West Saxons, were in the following year obliged to evacuate it. In 1006 they again made their appearance, and burned the town. During the civil war between Stephen and Maud, Reading and its castle were of some importance; but the castle seems to have been destroyed not long after. Several of the subsequent monarchs resided and held Parliaments in the town. In the civil war of the seventeenth century Reading was at different times in the possession of both parties, and suffered much during that contest. Among the celebrated men who have been natives of Reading are Archbishop Land and Sir John Soane. Pop. (1851) 21,456.

a city in the United States of North America, capital of Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the left or east bank of the Schuylkill River, here crossed by two bridges, 52 miles E. from Harrisburg, and about the same distance N.W. from Philadelphia. It is a handsome town, compactly built, and intersected by straight, clean streets, crossing each other at right angles. It stands on a plain rising gradually from the river, and is inclosed on the east by an eminence called Penn's Mount. Among the most conspicuous public buildings are the court-house; the German Lutheran church, surmounted by a handsome steeple about 200 feet in height; and the German Reformed church, which has also a steeple 150 feet high. In addition to these, it has about twelve churches, an academy, two market houses, two banks, and several public libraries. Reading is a flourishing town, and carries on an active trade, being in point of population and manufactures the third in the state. It is connected with Philadelphia, Pottsville, and other places by railway, and is the centre of a rich and populous agricultural district. It is also largely engaged in the manufacture of iron, hats, shoes, and other articles. It was laid out by William and Richard Penn in 1748; incorporated as a borough in 1783, and as a city in 1847. Pop. (1840) 8410; (1850) 15,743; (1853) about 17,000.