THE HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUARY & NATURALIST. 



Bailiff, who has a booth, in which he entertains the 

 Corporation during the Fair " a custom that was 

 annually observed till within the last 20 years. The 

 market house " lately built, stands near the center of 

 the town, and is universally admired for its uni- 

 formity, neatness, and commodiousness." Holy- 

 rhood " is the fashionable church, service being 

 there twice every day." The churches are mostly 

 old buildings " except that of St. Mary's, which being 

 many years ago destroyed by fire has been re-built in 

 the modern manner" what a contrast this remark- 

 ably ugly building was with the present beautiful 

 edifice, raised by the personal effort of Canon Wilber- 

 force. There is a reference to the charter of God's 

 House Hospital ; the names of the donors, and 

 quantity and bounds of its lands are " inexplicable," 

 and " of no great importance if known" an opinion 

 not held in these latter days, when efforts are being 

 made to recover to the town some of the rights in the 

 funds of the charity of which many believe it has 

 been deprived through carelessness in past times. 

 Sunday Schools were established in 1786, at the in- 

 stance of the Corporation. Their operations seem to 

 have been confined to " poor boys and girls," and 

 " one happy tendency is already obvious, viz., that 

 few children are now to be seen idling in the public 

 streets on the Lord's Day ; a practice which has been 

 of late too prevalent." In respect of the great busi- 

 ness establishment of which Mr. Edwin Jones is the 

 head, the following may be quoted as a coincidence : 



South of East-street, a number of well planned building's, 

 with outlets, are in great forwardness, and, from their 

 pleasant situation, conveniency for manufactures, and 

 contiguity to the town, bid fair to increase rapidly. A 

 manufactory for ropes is established by Mr. Edwin Jones. 



The " playhouse " was built in 1766 by subscrip- 

 tion. " The company come here annually, in the 

 beginning of August, and perform thrice a week till 

 the latter end of November. They then take a 

 regular circuit, and remain at Salisbury 4 months, at 

 Chichester 2 months, at Winchester 2 months, from 

 whence they come to this place." The town was a 

 resort of " the nobility and gentry during the summer 

 months, for the advantage of the sea bathing." There 

 is a highly coloured recommendation of "cold 

 bathing" it may be news to some that " in very 

 fat persons the fibres are so stuffed up that they have 

 not room to vibrate, or contract with the squeeze 

 of the bath." The "Long Room" still standing 

 was built in 1761 ; it took the place of the old 

 Assembly Room in the High-street, and was first pro- 

 posed "as a place to walk in while others were 

 bathing." But, the company increasing, another 

 spacious room was added in 1767. The following 

 conclusion applies as forcibly to to-day as it did when 

 it was written : 



In a word, Southampton is so beautifully situated as to com- 

 mand a variety of the most charming and agreeable enter- 

 tainments by land as well as by water. The neighbouring 

 country is well cultivated and improved, the seats and plea- 

 sant towns near it are numerous, and the roads unequalled. 



WEATHER REPORT FOR THE WEEK. 



From the meteorological register made at the Ordnance 

 Survey Office, Southampton, under the direction of Col. Sir 

 Chas. Wilson, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R.S , R.E. Lat. 50 

 54'' so"N. ; long. i 24' o" W. ; height above sea, 84 feet. 

 Observers Sergt. T. Chambers, R.E., and Mr. J.T. Cook. 



* Black bulb in vacuo. 



THE HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENT, June 21, 1890. 



WEATHER REPORT FOR THE WEEK. 



From the meteorological register made at the Ordnance 

 Survey Office, Southampton, under the direction of Col. Sir 

 Chas. Wilson, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.R S., R.E. Lat. 50" 

 54' 50" N. ; long, i* 24' o" W. ; height above sea, 84 leet. 

 Observers Sergt. T. Chambers, R.E., and Mr. J. T. Cook. 



*Black bulb in vacuo. 



