438 favour is obtained, and having been long accustomed to reprefs all starts of refentment, and fallies of confi. dence, could without any repugnance or hesitation accommodate himself to every caprice, adopt every opinion, and echo every affertion. He A never doubted but to be convinced, nor ever attempted oppofition but to flatter Thrafybulus with the opinion of a victory. By this practice he made way quickly into the heart of his patron, and having firft made himfelf agreeable, foon became important. His infidious diligence, by which the laziness of age was gratified, foon engroffed the management of all affairs, and his warm profeffions of kindnefs, petty offices of civility, and occafional interceffions, prevailed on the tenants to confider him as their friend and benefactor, to confult him in all their fchemes, and to entreat his enforcement of their reprefentations of hard years, and his countenance to petitions for abatement of rent. A DESCRIPTION of GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Oct. ftate, and bad defiance to enquiry A DESCRIPTION of GLOUCES- G LOUCESTERSHIRE is bounded on the fouth with Somerfetshire and Wiltshire, on the north by Worcestershire, on the weft by Monmouthshire and Herefordshire, and on the eaft by Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, and the fouth-caft corner B touches upon Berkshire. Its extent from east to weft is about 26 miles, and from north to fouth about 48, being near 140 miles in circumference. It is divided into 30 hundreds, contains about 800,000 acres, and has one city, two parliament boroughs, 24 Cother market-towns, and 280 parishes. It fends 8 members to parliament, viz. two for the county, who at prefent are Thomas Chester and Norborne Berkely, Efqrs. two for the city, and two for each of the boroughs. Gloucestershire is a pleafant, healthful and fertile county, yielding plenty of corn, and feeding abundance of cattle, and great flocks of fheep, efpecially about the hilly part, called Cotefwold, whofe wool is much esteemed for its fineness, and the inhabitants make of it great quantities of E cloth. The other principal commodities are corn, iron, wood and fruit, which it yields in great abundance. It is also remarkable for its large manufacture of cheese, tho' that which is called Gloucestershire cheese in London, comes chiefly out of Wiltfhire, the real cheefe of this county going mostly to Bristol. It is well watered with rivers, the principal of which is the famous river Severn, between which and the Wye lies the forest of Dean, containing about 30,000 acres, being 20 miles long and 10 broad, and having in it hundreds, 23 parish churches, and 3 4 market-towns; and here grow numbers of oak and other timber trees, tho' not in such plenty as before the Thrafybulus had now banquetted D on flattery, till he could no longer bear the harshness of remonftrance, or the infipidity of truth. All contrariety to his own opinion fhocked him like a violation of fome natural right, and all recommendation of his affairs to his own infpection was dreaded by him as a fummons to torture. His children were alarmed by the fudden riches of Vafer, but their complaints were heard by their father with impatience, and their advice rejected with rage, as the refult of a confpiracy against his F quiet, and a defign to condemn him for their own advantage to groan out, his last hours in perplexity and drudgery. The daughters retired with tears in their eyes, but the fon continued his importunities, till he found his inheritance hazarded by his obftinacy. Vafer having thus triumph-G ed over all their efforts, continued to confirm himself in authority, and increafe his acquifitions, and at the death of his mafter purchased an e civil 1751. A DESCRIPTION of GLOUCESTERSHIRE. civil wars: Here are also many coal mines, and iron mines, and furnaces and forges for working it. The Severn has plenty of falmon and other excellent fifh. B 439 by the freeholders and freemen of the borough. The prefent members are lord vifc. Gage and William Dowdeswell, Efq; It has two markets weekly, viz. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 2. Cirencefter, vulgarly called Ciffiter, about 18 miles S. E. of Gloucefter, the largest and most antient town in the county, having been a fortified city in the time of the Britons, and the metropolis of the large province of the Dobuni, as alfo an eminent Roman ftation. It is fituate on the river Churn, and is governed by 2 high conftables, and 14 wards-men, over 7 diftin&t wards, appointed annually at the court-leet. It tends 2 members to parliament and every housekeeper not receiving Calms, has a vote. The prefent members are the Hon. Henry Bathurft, and John Cox, Efqrs. It has a market on Monday for corn, cattle and provifions, and on Friday chiefly for wool, for which commodity it is the greatest market in England. Gloucester is the principal place in this county, from which it takes its A name. It is a city and county of it felf, and is tolerably well built, tho not fine. It is governed by a mayor, 12 aldermen, 24 common-councilmen, 2 fheriffs, a high-fteward, and a recorder, and fends 2 members to parliament, who at prefent are John Selwyn, and Benjamin Bathurst, Efqrs. It is fituate on the river Severn, over which it has a large ftone bridge, and before the civil wars had 11 churches, 5 of which were then demolished, and for its obftinate oppofition to king Charles I. it had all its walls and works destroyed, which were very ftrong. Here are 12 parishes, tho' but 6 parish churches, and the cathedral. It is a port, and has a large key and wharf on the banks of the river, very commodious for trade, to which belongs a cuftom. houfe, with proper officers; but the bufinefs is now but fmall, most of the foreign trade being removed to Bristol. It is 81 computed, and 102 measured miles N. W. from London, and has markets on Wednefdays and Saturdays. (See a VIEW E of this city in our Magazine for October, 1749.) D The boroughs are, 1. Tewksbury, about 8 miles N. E. of Gloucester, a large and populous town, confifting of 3 high-built ftreets, from which run feveral fide lanes. It is almoft F encompaffed with the rivers Avon, Carron, Severn and the Swilyate, which renders it very liable to inundations; but this inconvenience is amply recompenfed by the flime very richly manuring the ground, and making it exceeding fruitful. The G clothing trade is with great induftry and fuccefs carried on here. It is an ancient corporation, governed by 24 burgefies, and fending two members to parliament, who are chofen The other market-towns are, 1. Cumpden, 14 miles N. E. of Tewksbury, a borough town, governed by 2 bailiffs, &c. whofe market is on Wednesdays, particularly famous for ftockings. They have power to try actions, not exceeding 61. 138. and 4d. The parish is 10 miles in compass. It has a fine grammar-school, and good alms-houfes very well endowed. 2. Moreton, or Moreton Hindmarsh, 10 miles S. E, of Campden, had formerly 'a market on Tuesday, but now difcontinued. 3. Winchcomb, about 8 miles S. E. of Tewksbury, fituate in a deep bottom, a fmall town, with a market on Saturdays. Some plantations of tobacco were formerly made here, but left off fince the act for prohibiting the growing of it in England. 4. Cheltenham, 4 miles S. W. famous for its mineral waters, has a good market on Fridays, tho' but a fmall town. 5. Stow, commonly called Stow on the Would, 3 miles S. W. of Moreton, which altho' it be but a mean town, with few inhabitants, and a small market on Thurfdays, yet the parish is 12 miles in compafs. It has an alms-house and a free-school, and is remarkable for its fcarcity of wood and water. 6. Newent, 6 miles N. W. of Gloucefter, a tolerable town in the forest of Dean, with a market on Fridays, 7. 440 A DESCRIPTION of GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Oct. 7. Dean, or Michael Dean, 5 miles S. W. of Newent, another tolerable town in the foreft of the fame name, confifting chefy of one freet. The clothing trade flourished here formerly, but now their chief manufacture is pin-making, It has a good market on Mondays. 8. Colford, 6 miles S. W. of Dean, a- A nother town in the fame foreft. It is but fmall, but has a market on Tuesdays. 9. Newnham, 7 miles S. E, of Colford, a fourth town in Dean foreft: It is antient, governed by a mayor, and confifts of one ftreet of old houses. 10. Panfwick, 6 miles S. E. of Glou cefter, commodiously fituated, in a sweet air, with the conveniency of wood, wa- B ter, and ftone for building. The woollen manufacture is vigorously carried on here, and it has a small market on Tuesdays. 11. Stroud, 3 miles S. of Panswick, a fmall town, built moftly of stone, and fituate on a hill, at the foot whereof runs a river of the fame name, but ufually called Stroud-water, on which are erected C many fulling mills, the town being particularly famous for making and dying broadcloth. It has a good market on Fridays. 3 miles 12. Minching- Hampton, about S. of Stroud, has a fmall market on Tuel-days. 13. Stanley, 4 miles W. of MinchingHampton, a (mall town, with a market on Saturdays. called a mayor, who is annually chofen at 18. Thornbury, 9 miles S. W. of Wot- 19. Wickware, 7 miles S. E. of Thornbury, a fmall town, but a very ancient corporation, governed by a mayor its market is on Mondays. 20. Chipping Sodbury, 3 miles S. of Wickware, fituate at the bottom of the Downs, and having a very great market for cheefe on Thursdays, which is also well ferved with other provisions. 21. Marshfield, 7 miles S. of the former, a fmall town, where the woollen manufacture is vigorously carried on, and whose market is on Tuesdays. 22. Northlech, 10 miles N. E. of Cirencester, has a market on Wednesdays, a fair church, and good grammar-school. Near this place, at Farmington, is a large Roman camp, called Norbury, 850 paces long, and 473 broad, the works fingle and not high; and there is a barrow near it. 23. Fairford, 6 miles S. of Northlech, a fmall town, having two large bridges over the river Coln, and a church with the finest painted glafs windows in England, Dexhibiting feveral hiftories both of the old 14. Berkeley, 8 miles W. of Stanley, an antient borough-town, governed by a mayer and aldermen, with a small market on Tuesdays. It was formerly eminent for a ftrong caftle, where Edward II. was murdered, and the little room wherein the barbarous fa&t was committed is ftill fhewn. The town gives title of earl to the family E of the fame name. 15. Durley, 5 miles S. E. of Berkeley, a good town, chiefly inhabited by clothiers, with a market on Thursdays. It was the antient poffeffion of the Berkeleys, to whom it gives the title of vifcount. 16. Tetbury, 10 miles S. E. of Dursley, a confiderable town, pleasantly fituated upon a rifing ground, and in an healthy air. It is handsomely built and well inhabited, is governed by a bailiff, and adorned with a fair market houfe; the market, which is on Wednesdays, being efteemed one of the beft in thefe parts for corn, cattle, cheese, mait, yarn, wool, &c. They also carry on a confiderable trade in bacon. F 17. Wotton, or Wotton-under-Edge, G and new teftament on 28 large windows, defigned by the famous artist Albert Durer. This glafs was taken by one John Tame, a merchant, in a prize hip, which was carrying to Rome. When he brought it home, he purchased the manor of Fairford of K. Henry VII. and built the church on purpofe to put this glass up in it, where it has been preferved entire to this time. 24, Lechlade, about 2 miles S. E. of Fairford, a fmall town on the confines of Berkshire and Oxfordshire, which takes its name from the Lech's unlading or emptying itself hard by into the Inis or Thames; before which the Thames receives the Churn and the Coln, and after these conjunctions becomes the chief of the British rivers. It rifes near the fouth borders of this county, 8 or 9 miles N. W. of Cricklade in Wiltshire. At Lechlade abundance of barges are employed to carry butter, cheefe, &c, to London. Its market is on Tuesdays. Between Bristol and the Severn, in this county, is Pen-park hole, the entrance into which is down a ragged and rocky tunnel, for 39 yards; after which the hole fpreads to the length of 75 yards, and the breadth of 41; and at the bottom is a large pool of water, JOUR |