582 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1742. 



of Morfe, and was built, according to Camden, by Edelfleda, lady of the Mer- 

 cians ; but encompassed with a wall, and fortified, by Robert de Belesme, Earl 

 of Shrewsbury ; and afterwards favoured by King John, and other kings, with 

 many and great privileges granted in their respective charters. 



The town is divided by a stately stone bridge, of 7 arches, over the Severn 

 into two unequal parts ; the lesser part, that lies upon the east of the river, is 

 called the low Town, and consists of two streets, one extending from the 

 bridge to the very foot of Morfe, and goes by the name of St. John's-street, 

 from a religious house there in times of popery, dedicated to St. John the 

 Baptist. 



The high town lies on the western bank of the river ; and rises gradually to 

 a considerable height. 



A Table of Birth and Burials for 12 Years, in the Parish of St. Mary Mag- 

 dalen, which contains about 520 Families ; and of St. Leonard, containing 

 ■ about 550 Families ; ivhich, allowing 5 to each Family, amounts to 260O In- 

 habitants in the Parish of St. Mary, and to 2750 in the Parish of St. Leoriard; 

 in all 5350. 



In the Parish of St. Mary Magdalen. In the Parish of St. Leonard. 



Births. Burials. Births. Burials. 



54 119 Small Pox. 1 727 



72 77 1728 



52 74 1729 



65 78 1730 



75 36 1731 



64 41 1732 



70 46 1733 



69 77 1734 



46 56 1735 



60 32 1736 



67 11 1737 



61 53 1738 



755 711 822 778 



Total increase 88. 



In July 1740, he inspected several tumuli on Morfe, where the soil is strong 

 gravel. Monifaucon, in his Antiquities, tells us, that the old Cimbri, or old 

 inhabitants of Denmark, were wont to throw up heaps of gravel on their graves; 

 and that the more remarkable the persons were, the larger were the tumuli over 



