HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 115 



Buda. There is also a considerable collection of printed books, 

 chiefly on divinity. 



The Close contains several houses, built at a convenient distance 

 from the Cathedral, so as to allow a sufficient space for passengers. 

 The Bishop's palace is situated at the north-east corner of the Close : 

 it is a spacious edifice of stone, adorned with the arms of the 

 bishopric in front, with the date 1687. This palace is generally 

 occupied by tenants, the Bishops having for ages chosen Eccleshall 

 Castle for their residence. Westward of the palace stands the 

 Dean's mansion, re-built in the reign of Queen Anne. The houses 

 of the Prebendaries are situated in different parts of the Close. The 

 vicarage consists of two small quadrangles of houses, situated in the 

 north-west corner. Several other handsome buildings occupy the 

 rest of the Close, the most remarkable of which is a building of brick, 

 faced with stone, at the west entrance, erected by Andrew Newton, 

 Esq. and liberally endowed by him, for the reception and support of 

 twenty aged and necessitous widows, or unmarried daughters of 

 clergymen. This structure is supposed to occupy the scite of the 

 ancient Castle. 



From the first foundation of Lichfield Cathedral in 655 to the 

 present year, 1816, or more than eleven centuries and a half, eighty 

 Bishops, many of them men eminent for learning and piety, have 

 been seated in the episcopal chair. 



The members of Lichfield Cathedral are a Dean, Precentor, 

 Chancellor, and Treasurer ; a Sacrist, Sub-sacrist, Organist, eight 

 Choristers, and two Vergers. The Cathedral is governed by the 

 Dean and six Canons, who constitute the Chapter, and hold their 

 court every alternate Friday to hear and determine causes. 



The Close is a peculiar jurisdiction, distinct from and indepen- 

 dent of the city of Lichfield, and the county of Stafford, the Dean 

 and Canons being sole justices within its precincts. 



According to the population returns of 1801, the three parishes 

 ef Lichfield contained : 



Houses Inhabited. Families. Males. Females. 



Saint Mary, 444 498 1058 1364 



Saint Michael, 187 227 450 457 



Saint Chadd, 242 264 537 646 



Total, 873 989 2045 2467 



In the census for 1811 : 



Saint Mary, 450 487 1069 1313 



Saint Michael, 214 237 476 518 



Saint Chadd, 291 317 614 791 



Total, 1)55 1041 2159 S622 



