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account obliged to clear out from Newcastle, a distance of 8 
miles from that place. The principal trade of North 
Shields, as that of the Tyne in general, consists in the 
exportation of coals to London, and other places along the 
eastern coast, both of England and Scotland. Some vessels 
are also employed in the Baltic and American trade; and 
during the late wars, a great number were employed by 
government in the transport service. North Shields carries 
on various manufactures, chiefly those of the coarser kind, 
and such as depend on the shipping interest, as ship¬ 
building, boat-building, rope and sail-cloth making, 
brewing, baking, &c. Here is a cast-iron foundry, an 
extensive tannery, a skinnery, a tobacco manufactory, a 
glove manufactory, and five hat manufactories. North 
Shields is a place of considerable antiquity, and owes its 
origin to the monks of Tynemouth priory, who erected a 
number of houses here, and encouraged the settlement of 
ship owners and tradesmen, early in the reign of Edward I. 
The situation being well adapted for a seaport, they also 
formed a harbour, and established a weekly market and 
fairs; but its privileges being disputed by the corporation of 
Newcastle, they were inhibited by a decree of the itinerant 
judges; and the town continued on this account a mere 
fishing village, till the middle of the 17th century, when 
Cromwell undertook its improvement and revival. He 
caused an act of parliament to be passed, ordering quays 
and other accommodations to be built, and a market to be 
held two days in the week. At the restoration, however, 
the rights of the corporation of Newcastle were resumed; 
and it was only towards the end of the last century that the 
unjust restrictions that had retarded the prosperity of the 
town, were in some measure removed. In 1804, the town 
obtained, by petition of the inhabitants to the duke of 
Northumberland, the lord of the manor, the privilege of 
holding a weekly market and fairs; and since that time the 
trade and business of the place have greatly increased. 
North Shields contains, according to the census of 1811, 
804 houses, and 7699 inhabitants. Market on Wednesday. 
Half a mile west of Tynemouth, and 279 north-by-west of 
London. Lat. 55. 0. N. long. 1.25. W. 
SHIELDS, South, a market town of England, in the 
county of Durham, situated at the mouth of the river Tyne, 
directly opposite to North Shields. Most of the streets are 
narrow, and the houses indifferently bnilt. The church, 
which is dedicated to St. Hilda, is a chapel of ease to 
Jarrow, and was altogether rebuilt in 1810 and 1811, except 
the steeple, which is a plain square tower. The expence 
amounted to upwards of 5000/. Its outward appearance 
is rather heavy ; but it is remarkably neat and commodious 
within. There are also some dissenting meeting-houses, the 
most important of which is that of the Methodists: it was 
opened 26th February 1809, and cost 3800/. It is capable 
of holding 1700 people. The town-house is a respectable 
building, situated in the centre of the market-place, which 
is a spacious square. In this building the magistrates hold 
the petty sessions for the east division of Chester ward ; aiso 
a court leet and court baron are held, the one for making 
presentments to, and the other for the recovery of small 
debts; it is also appropriated for the use of an exchange for 
the town. In this town are not less than 30 benefit societies; 
there are also several public schools, and a theatre. South 
Shields, like North Shields, has of late years greatly increased 
in size and population; but it wants many of the advantages 
possessed by the other; and though it depends, like it, 
chiefly on the coal trade and shipping, it carries on a 
greater proportion of manufactures, it was formerly famous 
for its salt works, which - -were carried on by several of the 
most opulent families of the neighbourhood ; and about 60 
years ago, nearly 200 large pans were employed in this 
manufacture. This business has, however, greatly declined, 
being at present confined to four or five pans; but the loss 
is amply repaid by the increase of other trades. The 
ground formerly occupied by the pans has been converted 
into yards and docks for building and repairing ships, 
which, from the number of ships that rendezvous here, are 
Vob. XXIII. No. 1559. 
almost constantly employed. The dry docks are 11 in 
number: they are commodious, and large enough to con¬ 
tain 16 vessels. About 50 or 60 years ago, the number of 
ships belonging to this town is said to have been only four; 
they now amount to upwards of 500. The manufactures 
of the town are ship-building, glass-works, soap-works, sal- 
ammoniac works, several extensive breweries, and some large 
roperies. There are also several machines for taking ballast 
out of the ships; and one lately erected by Messrs. 
Newmarch and Company, which conveys it several hundred 
yards, by means of a tunnel. The life-boat owed its origin 
to a society of gentlemen belonging to this town, the utility 
of which is now known in almost all the maritime towns of 
the globe, and for which Mr. Greathead, the inventor, was 
rewarded with 1200/. voted to him by the House of 
Commons. On the point of land called the Saws, near 
South Shields, which forms the southern entrance into the 
Tyne, a Roman station is supposed to have been situated. 
Various Roman coins, broken inscriptions, and the remains 
of a hypocanot or sudatory, were dug up in 1796. On the 
low bank facing the sea is a guard-house and a battery, 
which formerly mounted four guns, but which have been 
removed within these five years. According to the census 
of 1811, South Shields contained 528 houses, and 9001 
inhabitants. The houses have been increasing, and the 
inhabitants are now above 10,000. There are two market 
days, Wednesday and Saturday; also annual fairs, held 
24th June and 1st September; bjut none of these seem to 
flourish; 21 miles north-nortli-east of Durham, and 278 
north-north-east of London. 
SHIELDS RIVER, a river of North America, which runs 
into the Missouri; 7 miles below the Great Falls. 
SHIELDSBOROUGH, a township of the United States, 
in Hancock county, territory of the Mississippi, on the bay 
of St. Louis; 39 miles by land east-north-east of New 
Orleans, and 60 by water. It has a very pleasant and 
healthy situation, elevated from 20 to 40 feet above tide 
wafer, contains about 60 houses, and is a place of consider¬ 
able resort from New Orleans during the sickly season. A 
college has been lately incorporated here. The bay is 
navigable to the town for vessels drawing seven feet. 
SHIERE, or Shire, a parish of England, in Surrey; 6 
miles east-by-south of Guildford. Population 918. 
SHIFFNAL, or Sheffnai.l, a market town and parish 
of England, in the county of Salop. It is a great 
thoroughfare - on the mail road from London to Holyhead. 
The church is an ancient building, and here is also a small 
charity school. Population 4061. Market on Friday; 
9 miles north-east of Bridgenorth, and 136 north-west of 
London. 
SH1FFORD, a hamlet of England, in Oxfordshire; 5£ 
miles east-by-south of Witney. 
To SHIFT, v. n. [the Sax. pcypcan, to divide, to dis¬ 
tribute. Our old lexicography also thus illustrates the word ; 
“ To shiftyn, or departen asunder, or divide.” Prompt. 
Parv.—To change place.—Vegetables being fixed to the same 
place, and so not able to shift and seek out after proper 
matter for their increment, it was necessary that it should be 
brought to them. Woodward. —To change; to give place 
to other things.—If the ideas of our minds constantly change 
and shift, in a continual succession, it would be impossible 
for a man to think long of any one thing. Locke. —To 
change clothes, particularly the linen.—She begs you just 
w ould turn you while she shifts.. Young .—To find some 
expedient; to act or live, though with difficulty.—Since we 
desire no recompence nor thanks, we ought to be dismissed, 
and have leave to shift for ourselves. Swift. —To practise 
indirect methods.—All those schoolmen, though they were 
exceeding witty, yet better teach all their followers to shift 
than to resolve by their distinctions. Ralegh. 
To SHIFT, v. a. To change; to alter. 
Come, assist me, muse obedient; 
Let us try some new expedient; 
Shift the scene for half an hour. 
Time and place are in thy power. 
3 I* 
Swift. 
To 
