clared that the free men residents did not forfeit their title to a vote, till a year and a day after they had left the town. In the subsequent contests, in 1705 and 1792, the discussion was confined to the question of residence for a year and a day, that they had actually ceased to reside in the town, and was decided against their claim. In the trial of the last petition by Thomas Fletcher, Esq. and Clement Kinnersley, Esq. against Sir Archibald Mac Donald and the honourable Leveson Gower, the sitting members, it appeared in evidence that a great part of this borough was the property of the Marquis of Stafford, whose influence directed the choice of the electors; that it was found customary for the burgesses to live ten, fifteen, and even twenty years in the houses, without payment of rent; and that the then members were brother and son in law of that nobleman. Upon the trial of this petition, the counsel for the petitioners stated the right of election to be vested in the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, or freemen, whose place of residence at the time of giving their votes was in the said borough; or who at such time have no place of residence elsewhere, and who have never been absent from the borough a year and a day, without interruption, since they were admitted to the freedom thereof, or whose families (if they were masters of families) have not been absent for the space of time aforesaid, without interruption, after the time of the admission of such burgesses or free. men, having families to the freedom of the said borough. The counsel for the sitting members maintained the right of elec tion to be in the freemen residing in the borough of Newcastle, and not receiving alms or church bread; and that persons live ing a year and a day out of the borough lose their freedom.

The committee having considered these statements, and examined evidence, both written and oral, relative to the ques tion at issue, determined that neither the view of the petitioner, nor of his opponent in the petition, coincided with fact; but declared their opinion, that the right of election was vested

" in

"in the freemen residing in the borough of Newcastle under line."

The situation of Newcastle is extremely pleasant, and the houses display considerable neatness of architecture, and uniformity of arrangement. The principal street in particular is spacious and well paved. This town formerly possessed four. churches, of which only one now remains, having a lofty. square embattled tower, containing a chime of eight bells. The others suffered demolition during the barons' wars, after which periods they were never rebuilt. Besides the established church, which is only a chapelry to Stoke, there are several meeting houses for Dissenters of different denominations.

The Abs-houses, twenty in number, were built and endowed by the Marquis of Stafford and lord Grenville for the assistance of twenty poor women inhabitants of the town. A monastery for black friars is said to have stood in its southern division; but no vestiges of this edifice can now be discovered.* The clothing trade and a manufactory of hats constitute the chief employment of the inhabitants, and are consequently the principal sources of their wealth, independent of the pot teries, which shall be described in a subsequent part of our work.

Here is an excellent market place situated in the centre of the principal street. The market day is on Monday, when all sorts of provisions are abundant. Every alternate week a great beast market is held.

An excellent device for the cure of shrews or scolding women has been frequently put in practice within the limits of this ancient borough; a bridle being fixed in the scold's mouth, which deprives her of the power of speech, she is led through the town, and exposed to public shame, till she promises amendment.

The immediate neighbourhood of Newcastle is distinguished in the sporting world, as containing a race course, which is not

a little

. Leland's Itin. Vol. VII. 36.

a little dangerous, on account of the numerous unfilled coal pits by which it is surrounded. Plot informs us, in his Natural History of the county, that he saw a solid block of stone raised from a quarry here, which exhibited the petrified skull of a human being entire, most probably that of some malefactor who had been executed here; the spot where it was found being still called Gallows tree, in memory of its ancient appropriation.

According to the parliamentary returns of 1801, the population of this town in that year amounted to 4495 persons, viz. 2235 males, and 2260 females, of which number 635 were returned as employed in different branches of trade and manufacture, and three only in agriculture.

The neighbouring country boasts several ancient and respectable gentlemen's seats, besides a great variety of modern mansions, raised by the genius and energies of trade. Keel hall, in particular, deserves the attention of the antiquarian architect and topographer. This edifice is situated two miles in an easterly direction from the town, and stands in an extremely agreeable and fertile country. It is built in the same style of architecture as Tixal, viz. that in use about the time of queen Elizabeth. Dr. Plot has given a very excellent view of the west front of this house, executed by that excellent artist Michael Burghers.

The coal trade carried on in this district is very extensive. In order to facilitate the conveyance of that valuable article of fuel, a canal was some years ago cut by Sir Nigel Greasly, from some mines on his estate of Kimpersley, to the town. A branch of the Grand Trunk serves in the same manner to transport coal from Harecastle to any part of the county.

Proceeding down the river Trent, on its southern bank, the traveller arrives at the town of Trentham, which Dr. Plot informs us, Dr. Fulke of Cambridge regarded as the Bremetonacis. mentioned in the tenth itinerary of Antoninus; but the correct

ness of this opinion is extremely problematical, as no Roman remains have hitherto been discovered at this place. This village derives its name from the river Trent, and gives title to the Marquis of Stafford, whose noble seat here is one of the finest in the county. The house is of modern erection, and built after the model of the Queen's palace in St. James Park. One defect attends it, which is the proximity of the church yard to its entrance. The inclosures which surround this mansion are very extensive, and finely variegated by umbrageous fo liage, and extensive sheets of water, formed by the river Trent, which passes through them. These lakes with their accompaniments of imperious shade, winding behind a swelling hill covered with trees which approach and hang over the margin of the water, have an effect truly magnificent and worthy of the noble owner.* The higher grounds command extensive

views.

In this town there formerly stood a very ancient nunnery. The period of its foundation is uncertain; but, in the reign of king Ethelred, we find his sister, the celebrated St. Werbury, appointed abbess of it. This lady died in the year 683. From that time history is silent concerning it, till towards the close of the reign of Henry the first, when it is said to have been rebuilt or refounded by Randal, second earl of Chester, for canons of the order of St. Augustin. Mr. Erdeswicke indeed hazards a conjecture that it was actually refounded by Hugh Lupus, in the time of William Rufus, and subsequently only augmented by Randal; an opinion not entirely destitute of probability. After its renewal the priory was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary and All Saints. At the æra of the dissolution it had seven Religious, and possessed endowments to the

amount

According to the author of the Topographer, the lakes here broke their banks about fifty years ago, and so stocked the lower division of the river with fish, that the very ditelies and meadows, for several miles around, wete comparatively filled with them.

amount of 1211. 3s. 2d. per annum. Subsequent to that event the site was granted by the king to Charles duke of Suffolk.*

In later times than the æra of its monastery, Trentham became remarkable by the large share it had in the will of the charitable lady Catherine Leveson, daughter of Alice duchess Dudley, who died in 1673; leaving several excellent endow. ments for support of poor widows and inhabitants in this and various other places. That lady was the wife of Sir Richard Leveson, upon whose death without issue his sister and coheir, carried the lordship by marriage to Sir Thomas Gower, whose descendants were elevated to a peerage, and continued to reside chiefly at this house.†

Pursuing the course of the river, about three miles below, we reach Darlaston. This village is situated in a valley on the south bank of the Trent, surrounded by fertile pasturage lands, and environed by hills which afford it an agreeable shelter, and add a pleasing picturesque charm to the scene.

At a short distance from the village, is a hill called Bury Bank, the summit of which is crowned with the ruins of an ancient castle, or entrenchment, of an oval form. The area of this work extends about 250 yards in diameter, and is defended by a trench and ramparts. The entrance is on the northwest, and on the south side appears a conical mount, resembling a tumulus environed by a ditch. Mr. Pennant imagines this mount to have been formed out of the ruins of some buildings, and to have constituted a sort of Prætorium to the occupier. Wulphere king of Mercia is supposed to have fixed his residence here from the year 656 to 675; an opinion which derives some support from its old name Wifercester. This hill is a most delightful spot in summer, abounds with rabbits, and affords many pleasing prospects of the surrounding country. The

Tanner's Notitia.

+ Sir John Leveson Gower, the fifth baronet, was created Baron Stettenham in Yorkshire, March 16, 170, Viscount Trentham and Earl Gower, July 8th 1746, and Marquis of Stafford 1786.