780 
SWA 
have been originally written Swinesea or Swinesey, and to 
have been derived from the number of porpoises which fre¬ 
quent the Bristol channel. The appearance of the town, 
both from the bay and from the high grounds in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, is very striking and picturesque, and the general 
aspect of the interior is much superior to that of most Welch 
towns. The climate is mild and healthy, and the beach 
remarkably well adapted for sea-bathing. The vicinity 
also affords agreeable walks and rides; while the bay, which 
in itself forms so great an ornament to the town, and may 
be regarded, indeed, as one of the finest in Europe, presents 
ample opportunities for the enjoyment of excursions by water. 
Nor is the situation of the place less eligible for the purposes 
of trade and commerce. The neighbouring country is rich 
in mineral treasures, and the town in fact stands in the 
midst of the most inexhaustible mines of coal and of iron; 
while by means of its harbour, and of the navigable river 
Tawe, it commands a ready outlet for these productions of 
the interior. The town extends in length about a mile and 
a half or two miles, if we include the suburb of Greenhill; 
the greatest width does not exceed half a mile. The streets 
are numerous, and contain a large proportion of well built 
houses, occupied by opulent individuals, among whom are 
many professional men of eminence, merchants, and sub¬ 
stantial tradesmen. The influx of strangers during the 
summer season for sea-bathing is very considerable, and 
this circumstance has led to the erection of a great number 
of lodging houses, which are in general very handsome, and 
many of them adapted for the reception of families of the 
first distinction. The castle of Swansea is situated on an 
elevated spot in the middle of the town, and might still 
present a bold and picturesque appearance, but for the 
houses, which, being built up against it, conceal it on every 
side. The town-hall of Swansea is a spacious and hand¬ 
some modern building, erected on a part of the castle in¬ 
closure, in the middle of the town. The commerce and 
manufactures of Swansea are very considerable. The miner¬ 
al riches of the neighbourhood afford not only a direct 
source of export trade of great extent, but the abundance 
of coal and iron have drawn hither immense manufacturing 
establishments in iron, copper, brass, spelter, tin, and earth¬ 
enware. The produce of these manufactories forms an im¬ 
portant addition to the exports of the town, while the con¬ 
sumption of the numerous population that they employ, 
causes a vast influx of commodities for their supply. Of the 
potteries at Swansea, there are at present two on a large 
scale. The ware, which comprises almost every article in 
this department produced by the Staffordshire works, is of 
prime quality, and large quantities are annually shipped 
for the English market. The coal exported from Swansea 
is chiefly of the kinds called stone-coal and culm, brought 
down by the canal, which conveys them to shipping quays 
by the river side. The manufactured shop goods, and 
articles of consumption, are chiefly imported from Bristol 
and other English towns. 
The corporation of the town have been laudably exerting 
themselves for many years in improving the harbour. In 
the year 1791, they obtained an act of parliament to enable 
them to raise the necessary funds; and since this period pro¬ 
digious sums have been expended in clearing and deepening 
the bed of the river, and removing some obstacles at its 
entrance from the sea. Two large and handsome piers have 
also been run out, one from the eastern, and the other from 
the western side, to confine the channel; but not having 
been laid out with due skill and judgment, a cross pier was 
added in 1814 within the harbour, to remedy the inconve¬ 
niences which were still felt by the shipping. About five miles 
south of the town a light-house has been erected on the 
outer Mumble rock. Besides its commerce and trade, Swan¬ 
sea derives considerable benefit from the great resort of 
visitors to the sea-bathing. For the accommodation of in¬ 
valids, warm and cold salt water baths have been made in 
the Burrows, and also near the pottery, by the river side. 
Swansea is a corporate town, and shares the privileges of 
Cardiff as a contributary borough, in the return of the mem- 
S W A 
ber of parliament for that place. Market on Wednesday 
and Saturday, and several annual fairs; 45 miles west of 
Cardiff, and 205 west of London. Lat. 51. 37. F. lone 
3. 55. W. e 
SWANSEY, a post township of the United States, in 
Cheshire county. New Hampshire; 6 miles south of Keene. 
Population 1400. Here is a cotton manufactory. 
SWANSEY, a post township of the United States, in 
Bristol county, Massachusetts; 38 miles south of Boston. 
Population 1839. 
SWANSKIN, s. A kind of soft flannel, imitating for 
warmth the down of a swan. 
SWANTON, ABBOTS, a parish of England, in Nor¬ 
folk; 3 miles south-south-west of north Walsham. Popula¬ 
tion 374. 
SWANTON, MORLEY, a parish of England, in Nor¬ 
folk'; 3± miles north-east of East Dereham. Population 571. 
SWANTON, NOVERS, a parish of England, in Nor¬ 
folk: 6 miles south-west of Holt. 
SWANTON, a post township of the United States, in 
Franklin county, Vermont, on Lake Champlain, and bor¬ 
dering on Canada; 32 miles north of Burlington. This 
town has some trade in timber, and contains a quarry of 
coarse marble. 
SWANTOWN, a village of the United States, in Kent 
county, Maryland; 3 miles from Georgetown. 
SWANWiCH, a town and parish of England, situated 
in Purbeck isle, Dorsetshire. It consists of one street about 
a mile in length, with small and low stone buildings. The 
inhabitants carry on a brisk trade in exporting stone; im¬ 
mense quantities, for various purposes, being annually 
quarried in the neighbourhood; 6 miles east-south-east of 
Corfe Castle. 
SWANWICH, a township of England, in Derbyshire; 
2 miles south-by-west of Alfreton. 
To SWAP, v. a. [swipa, Icel. to snatch ; ppapan, Sax., 
to sweep.'] To strike with a long or sweeping stroke; to 
strike against; to throw violently .—Swap off his hed, this 
is my sentence here. Chaucer. 
To SWAP, v. n. To fall down.—A1 sodenly she swapt 
adoun to ground. Chaucer .—To ply the wings with noise; 
to strike the air. 
When fowls fly by, and with their swapping wings 
Beat the inconstant air. More. 
SWAP, s. A blow; a stroke. Prompt. Parv. 
If’t be a thwack, I make account of that; 
There’s no new fashion’d swap that e’er came up yet. 
But I’ve the first on ’em. Beaum. and Ft. 
SWAP, adv. Hastily; with hasty violence; as, he did 
it swap. It seems to be of the same original with sweep. 
A low word. 
To SWAP, v. a. To exchange. See To Swop. 
Thy works purchase thee more 
Than they can swappe their heritages for. Verses. 
SWARBY, a parish of England, in Lincolnshire; 6 miles 
north-west-by-north of Folkingham. 
SWARCHA, a small town of'the Austrian states, in Croa¬ 
tia, in the military district of Carlstadt, and the usual resi. 
dence of the commandant general. 
SWARD, s. [sward, Swedish; j-peapb. Sax., cutis.]— 
The skin of bacon.—Brandish no swords but sweards of 
bacon ! Brewer .—The surface of the ground : whence 
green sward, or green sxvord. 
The noon of night was past, and then the foe 
Came dreadless o’er the level swart, that lies 
Between the wood and the swift streaming Ouse. A. Philips. 
To SWARD, v. v. To breed a green turf.—The clays 
that are long in swerding, and little subject to weeds, are 
the best land for clover. Mortimer. 
SWARDESTON, a parish of England, in Norfolk; 5 
miles south-south-west of Norwich. 
SWARE. The preterite of swear. 
SWARFORD, 
