CHEADLECHEPSTOW. 



373 



ing up masts and yards of the largest dimensions : 

 several ponds, where the timbers to form the masts 

 are kept constantly floating ; spacious and hand- 

 some residences for the commissioner and principal 

 officers in the yard ; in short, every requisite and 

 convenience for the purposes of so vast an estab- 

 lishment. But, notwithstanding the multiplicity 

 of movements and processes continually going on, 

 and the number of persons employed, there is no 

 appearance of bustle or disorder; indeed, such is 

 the state of discipline and perfection by which 

 every thing is conducted, that it may be regarded 

 as a sort of rational machine, worked by instinctive 



I power, and set in motion by superior minds ; 



every man, every object, and each operation, seem 

 tributary to that great floating citadel, and ever- 

 changing home, a man-of-war. 



The rapidity with which a ship can be fitted out 

 in cases of emergency, is a striking illustration of 

 this. Even early in the last century, a first-rate 

 of 106 guns, which was ordered to be commissioned 

 with great expedition for Sir Cloudesley Shovel, 

 was completely fitted out in three days ; she had 

 previously been entirely unrigged, but her masts 

 were raised, yards to, sails bent, and anchors and 

 cables on board, at the conclusion of that short 

 period, when she was enabled to drop down the 

 Medway. Great as the celerity in this instance 

 appears, the same equipment could now be effected 

 in one-third less time. During the last war, nearly 

 4000 persons were employed in this dock-yard. 



CHEADLE ; a parish in the county-palatine of 

 Chester. The township of Cheadle-Bulkeley, in 

 this parish, is six miles from Manchester and three 

 from Stockport. In the neighbourhood are sev- 

 eral print works and bleaching-grounds. Popula- 

 tion of parish in 1831, 8154. 



CHEADLE ; a market-town and parish in the 

 county of Stafford. Tape is the principal article 

 manufactured in the town; near it are extensive 

 manufactories of brass wire. Population in 1831, 

 4119. 



CHELMSFORD, the county-town of Essex, is 

 situated near the centre of the county, twenty-nine 

 miles E. N. E. from London, at the confluence of 

 the Cam and Chelmer, from the old ford at which 

 latter river it derives its name. At present the 

 town consists of four principal streets, all well 

 paved and lighted with gas. The houses are in 

 general modern, and many of them have gardens 

 behind them extending to the river. A beautiful 

 iron-bridge was recently thrown over the Chelmer, 

 and an elegant stone bridge of one arch over the 

 Cann some time ago replaced that erected by 

 bishop Maurice, in the reign of Henry I. It is by 

 this bridge that the populous hamlet of Moulsham 

 is joined to the town. Near the centre of the 

 town stands the shire-hall, an elegant and commo- 

 dious structure. The old county gaol, finished in 

 1777 at an expense of 18,000, stands in the ham- 

 let of Moulsham. This possesses suitable apart- 

 ments for the classification of prisoners, an infir- 

 mary for the sick, and a chapel. The old house of 

 correction was incorporated \vith the gaol, an a new 

 house of correction was erected at Springfield-hill, 

 at an expense of nearly 56,000. It is capable of 

 accommodating 254 prisoners, of whom 218 may be 

 confined in separate cells. There are several large 

 corn-mills on the Chelmer, the principal trade of 

 the place being in corn, which is sent to the London 

 market. It possesses also an extensive traffic of a 

 miscellaneous nature, arising from its situation as a 



great thoroughfare. It bus a navigable canal to 

 the Black- water river a distance of twelve miles 

 which has contributed greatly to its prosperity. 

 The market is held on Friday, and it has fairs on 

 May 12th, and November 12th. There is a very 

 neat and commodious theatre, which is opened oc- 

 casionally ; assemblies and concerts take place per- 

 iodically in the shire-hall; and horse-races, which 

 continue for three days, are held in the latter end 

 of July. Population in 1831, 5435. 



CHEPSTOW; a sea-port town in Monmouth 

 shire, 136 miles W. from London. It is finely sit- 

 uated on the slope of a hill among the lofty cliffs 

 that rise abruptly from the western bank of the 

 Wye near its confluence with the Severn. It is 

 neatly built, the streets broad, well paved, and 

 lighted with gas. There are no manufactures car- 

 ried on here, but the foreign trade is considerable. 

 Wines are imported fronv Oporto, and deals, hemp, 

 flax, and pitch, from Norway and Russia. It is 

 the port of all the towns on the rivers Wye and 

 Lug, and supplies Herefordshire and the eastern 

 part of Monmouthshire with all the necessary im- 

 ports. It exports bark, iron, cider, coal, and mill- 

 stones. It sends a quantity of timber to Plymouth, 

 Portsmouth, and Deptford ; and the Bristol mar- 

 ket depends upon it in a great measure for its sup- 

 ply of grain. Ship-building is carried on to a con- 

 siderable extent, for which there are convenient 

 docks on the banks of the Wye. The tide runs 

 up the river with wonderful rapidity, and rises fre- 

 quently to the height of fifty or sixty feet. It has 

 even been known to rise as high as seventy feet. 

 Population in 1831, 3524. 



Chepstow Castle, the ruins of which still remain, 

 is built on the brow of a precipice, which rises 

 boldly from the Wye, one side being advanced close 

 to the edge, and constructed in such a manner as 

 to appear a part of the cliff itself; the same ivy 

 which overspreads the walls, twines and clusters 

 round the high fragments, and down the perpendi- 

 cular side of the rock. The other parts of the 

 castle were defended by a moat, and consist of 

 massive walls, flanked with lofty towers. The 

 area occupies a large tract of ground, and is divided 

 into four courts. The grand entrance to the east 

 is a circular arch between two round towers. The 

 first court into which it leads, contains the shells 

 of the great hall, kitchens, and numerous apart- 

 ments of considerable size, retaining vestiges of 

 baronial splendour. Some Roman bricks which 

 have been found in different parts of the ruin, have 

 suggested that a portion at least of the castle was 

 of Roman workmanship ; but evidently the work 

 vvas of Norman origin ; the shell appears to have 

 been built on one plan, and at the same time ; but 

 alterations and additions were made by successive 

 proprietors. 



Through the civil wars, this castle was consi- 

 dered of great importance by both contending par- 

 ties. It was at first garrisoned for the king, but 

 was surrendered to the parliament forces under the 

 command of Colonel Morgan. Afterwards, the 

 royalists, under Sir Nicholas Kemys, took it by 

 surprise, and made the garrison prisoners of war. 

 So much was the possession of this place valued, 

 that Cromwell marched against it then in person ; 

 but after making himself master of the town, 

 assaulted the castle without success. He then left 

 Colonel Ewer to prosecute the siege. But the 

 garrison defended themselves valiantly, until their 

 provisions were exhausted, and even then refused 



