MANCHESTER. 
founder for objects of his charity, are the following, to¬ 
gether with the refpeftive numbers admitted from each : 
Manchefter, original number 14, now 28 ; Salford 6, now 
; Droylfden 3, now 6 ; Crutnpfall 2, now 4 ; Bolton-le- 
moors 10, now 20 ; Turton 5, now 10. So that eighty- 
nine perfons are now annually provided for by this libe¬ 
ral benefaCtor; including for the hofpital a governor, one 
man and five women fervants, a ichool-mailer, and, on 
the library ellablilhment, a librarian. (See an authentic 
letter in the Gent. Mag. for June 179 2 ). P- 5 l6 -). The 
boys of this hofpital are comfortably provided for till the 
a^e of 14, when they are further clothed, and with a pre¬ 
mium placed apprentices to ufual trades. The building 
appropriated to this charity is lituated on a lofty rock, 
near the confluence of the rivers Irk and Irwell, immedi¬ 
ately adjoining to the collegiate church already mention¬ 
ed, to which indeed it formerly belonged. Upon this 
lpot Mr. Whitaker fuppofes the Romans had their prato- 
riurn, or fummer-camp; and certainly the fituation was 
admirably adapted for that objeCt. In a large gallery, in 
this edifice, is a public library, likewife founded by Mr. 
Chetham, which now contains upwards of 15,000 volumes 
in various languages, and in almolt every branch of fci- 
ence or literature, befides fome very valuable manu- 
fcripts. 
The Infirmary, Difpenfary, Lunatic Hofpital, and Afy- 
lum, are all included in one fpacious building, lituated 
in the front of Lever's Row, which is confidered as the 
higheft ground in the town. The foundation of the firlt 
edifice was laid in 1753, for the reception of forty pati¬ 
ents ; but the number was foon afterwards doubled, and 
now there are 160 beds appropriated for the ufe of the 
Tick. The Lunatic Hofpital was opened in 17665 and the 
Difpenfary in 1792. The annual fubfcriptions for the 
fupport of thefe inftitutions amount to feveral thoufand 
pounds. Here are two poor.-houfes, one of which was 
eredted in 1792, on the fide of the Irk, nearly oppofite 
the college 5 and the other built the year following, at 
the upper end of Greengate in Salford. Both of them are 
handfome buildings, and admirably fitted up for the pur- 
pole to which they are appropriated. The Lying-in Hof¬ 
pital was inftituted in 1790; and not only provides pro- 
feflional aid for in-door patients, but likewife for the af- 
filtance of fuch poor married women as find it inconveni¬ 
ent to leave their own houfes. The Houfe of Recovery 
is intended chiefly for the reception of patients afflicted 
with contagious fevers.—The other principal charities 
are the Stranger’s-friend Society, inftituted in 1791, and 
the Boroughreeve’s Charity; the former deligned for the 
relief of 11 rangers, and the latter for the aid of the poor 
inhabitants in general. The Free-fchool is an excellent 
foundation, which owes its origin to Hugh Oldham, bi- 
fnop of Exeter. In this fchool the greater part of the 
clergy of the town and neighbourhood have been edu¬ 
cated, as well as many noblemen. There are, befides, fe¬ 
veral inferior charity and funday fchools in various parts 
of Manchefter. 
Though in every refpeft a manufacturing town, Man¬ 
chefter has not wholly negleCted the promotion of litera¬ 
ture and fcience. Societies, having this objeCt in view, 
are numerous. The chief of them are the Literary and 
.Philofophical, inftituted by Dr. Thomas Percival in 1781; 
and the Philological Society, which commenced its meet¬ 
ings in 1803. Here are alfo two very extenfive public 
circulating libraries ; the former founded in 1757, and the 
latter in 1792. The Manchefter Agricultural Society was 
eftabliffled in 1767 ; and has for its objeCt the encourage¬ 
ment of the ufeful arts in general, by the dilfribution of 
premiums for fcientific difeoveries. A laudable praCtice 
is alfo adopted, of granting premiums to cottagers who 
fupport their families without parochial aid ; and, in fome 
inftances likewife, honed and good fervants are rewarded 
by honorary prefents. The Repofitory, defigned to en¬ 
courage and reward indullrious females, has proved highly 
263 
ferviceable to many individuals, and is therefore juftly 
entitled to liberal and careful fupport. 
Befides thofe already noticed, many other public build¬ 
ings and inftitutions, intended either for ufeful purpofes 
or for amul'ement, may properly claim attention in this 
place. The Theatre, a commodious and extenfive build¬ 
ing, was ereCted in 1807. It is open during (even months 
of the year, and can in general boalt of a very refpectable 
company of performers. The Gentlemen’s Condert-room 
is elegant and capacious, and will accommodate 1200 
perfons. This is l'upported by a voluntary fubfeription ; 
and ftrangers are admitted with a fubferiber's ticket. 
There are likewife very excellent new and commodious 
affembly-rooms for balls, card-affemblies, See. The New 
Bayley, or Penitentiary-houfe, is well deferving attention, 
both on account of the extent of the edifice and arrange¬ 
ment of its parts, and alfo for the economy obferved in 
the interior. Immediately above the entrance is a large 
room, where the feftions are held ; and adjoining to it are 
feVeral commodious rooms for the magiftrates, jurors, &c. 
Beyond this, in the centre of a large area enclofed by 
lofty walls. Hands the prifon, an extenfive building in the 
fliape of a crofs, three liories high. It is remarkable for 
the cleannefs with which it is kept, as well as for its re¬ 
gulations. Prifoners, not confined for capital crimes, are 
allowed the free exercife of their refpeCtive trades. A 
workhoufe, on a large fcale, has alfo been lately built. 
A new ftrufture, called the Manchefter Commercial 
Building, or Exchange, was commenced in the year 1806, 
from defigns by Mr. Harrifon, architect. It was completed 
in January 1809, and is appropriated to the ufe of the mer¬ 
chants and manufacturers of the town, who fubferibed 
fhares of 50I. each, to defray the expenfes of its erection. 
The building comprifes an exchange-room, dining-room, 
drawing-room, ware-rooms, fhops, and counting-houfes, 
a fuite of rooms for the poll-office, with extenfive cellars 
under the whole. It is built of ftone, and prefents a Am¬ 
ple but clallical fagade, with demi-columns of the Grecian- 
Doric order. The exchange-room is very fpacious, con¬ 
taining an area of 4000 fuperficial feet; in the centre of 
which is a glazed dome, forty feet in height, fupported 
by eight fluted columns of the Ionic order. Over a part 
of this room is a gallery, or femicircular fuite of rooms, 
appropriated to an extenfive library. 
The trade of Manchefter confilts chiefly, but not en¬ 
tirely, in the manufacture of cotton goods. Velverets, 
checks, a variety of fmall articles, fuch as filleting, tapes,, 
laces, gartering, &c. are likewife made in great quantities. 
The filk-manufaCture has advanced rapidly here within 
the lalt ten years; and a manufactory for making and 
finifhing hats is now carried on to a great extent. The 
profufion of goods made here is conveyed, by means of 
the Irwell and the numerous canals which interfect the 
town, to different ports both on the eaftern and weftern 
coalt. Liverpool, however, is the principal mart for the 
exportation of the cottons; and between that town and 
Manchefter there is a conflant and rapid communication 
both by land and water carriage. 
Manchefter has two markets, called the old and the 
new, which are held on Tuefdays and Saturdays: the lat¬ 
ter is the principal one for provifions; the former being 
moltly frequented for tranfaCting the manufacturing bufi- 
nefs of the town with the country traders. The fairs are 
Whit-Monday, Oct. x, and Nov. 17. Mod of the ftreets 
are paved and lighted, and are guarded at night by about 
two hundred watchmen. For the regulation of parochial 
affairs, Manchefter is divided into fourteen diftriCls. It 
gives title of duke to the noble family of Montague, fome 
of whom have been diftinguifhed characters; as to which, 
fee the article Heraldry, vol. ix. p. 474, 5.—Manchefter 
is thirty-eight miles eaft-north-ealt of Chefler, and 182 
north-weft from London. Lat. 53.27. N. Ion. 2. 11.W. 
The environs of this tdwn abound with old manlions, 
refpeCtable villas,, and a number of modern feats.— An- 
oouts- 
