YAH 
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773 
“he north pier, is 340 yards long, 30 feet broad, and 30 deep; 
64 feet of the depth is generally under water, which, previous 
to the erection of this pier, was seldom more than three. 
This was intended for preventing the waters of the old haven 
From running out south, in their progress to the sea. These 
piers, &c. have been considerably improved at different 
periods since their erection, particularly in the mayoralty of 
alderman Manship. The extent of the haven, between the 
north and south piers, is 1111 yards. During the late wars, 
the importance of Yarmouth was greatly increased, owing to 
its being a grand station for part of the British navy; the 
roads opposite the town affording safe anchorage for a numer¬ 
ous fleet. Here, accordingly, all the vessels engaged in car¬ 
rying on the trade of the north of England, and the numer¬ 
ous colliers which pass from Shields, Sunderland, and New¬ 
castle to London, and the shipping from Scotland, resort for 
protection against easterly storms. The harbour is perfectly 
secure against every danger, and is provided with two light¬ 
houses, one at Caistor, and one at Garleston ; yet the coast is 
the most dangerous in Britain. A melancholy instance occur¬ 
red in the year 1692, when about 140 sail were driven ashore 
in one fatal night, and 1000 people perished. In the year 
1554 also, 50 sail of ships perished in one day; and a simi¬ 
lar catastrophe befel a larger number in 1790. The inhabi¬ 
tants of Yarmouth have experienced great difficulties, and in¬ 
curred continual and heavy expenses, in forming and pre¬ 
serving the haven from decay. The present annual expenses 
on the harbour, &c. amount to about 2000/. For meeting 
this vast expenditure, various powers have been granted by 
11 different acts of parliament; the last of which wasobtain- 
ed in the year 1800. By virtue of this, the collector has a 
right to charge, as a harbour tax, one shilling on every chal¬ 
dron of coals; also on every last of grain and weigh of salt: 
the same tax is likewise levied on every ton of goods of a 
different description, fish excepted, which are unladen in the 
harbour of Yarmouth. This place is advantageously situated 
for commerce, particularly to the north of Europe; and lying 
at the mouths of the rivers Yare, Bure, and Waveney, which 
are navigable for keels of 40 tons, has ready communications 
with the interior. Besides fishing smacks, upwards of 300 
vessels belong to this port: and its mariners are considered 
amongst the most able and expert navigators in the kingdom. 
Yarmouth was early distinguished, and still remains unri¬ 
valled, in the herring fishery; and the trade affords subsis¬ 
tence to about 6000 persons, besides those who carry the 
fish to foreign markets. The boats are large decked vessels, 
from 40 to 50 tons burden. Yarmouth has also a considera¬ 
ble coal trade. The first mention of Yarmouth is in Domes¬ 
day-book, whence we may infer that it originated in the early 
part of the Anglo-Saxon dynasty. About the year 1040, the 
northern channel of the Yare began to be obstructed by 
sand, which induced the inhabitants to move their dwellings 
towards the southern branch of the river. The town quickly 
increased from the influx of foreigners, who came to this 
mart for the sale and purchase of fish; and in process of 
time it became the most flourishing seaport town on this 
part of the English coast. In 1285, walls were begun to be 
erected, and the place was surrounded by a moat. Other 
works were afterwards added, when the country was threat¬ 
ened with invasion by the Spanish armada. The modern de¬ 
fence of Yarmouth is by three forts, which were erected on 
the verge of the beach, during the American war, and 
mounted with 32-pounders. The harbour also is defended by 
two bastions of a mural construction, with two smaller bas¬ 
tions, one at the extremity of the denes or sands, and the other 
on an elevated spot on the opposite side of the water. Bar¬ 
racks, capable of containing 1000 men, are built on the 
beach; and an armoury has lately been erected, under the 
direction of Mr. Wyatt. This building stands on the west¬ 
ern side of the town, and is calculated to contain 10,000 
stand of arms, besides a large assemblage of naval stores. 
Among the peculiarities of this place is the use of a low nar¬ 
row cart drawn by a single horse, and well adapted for the 
conveying of goods through the narrow lanes of this town: 
Vol.XXIVNo. 1671. 
but others, on the same construction, more elegantly made, 
are let for airing to the neighbourhood, and are called Yar¬ 
mouth coaches; but on passing the sands they have more 
the appearance of sledges. This is a very uneasy convey¬ 
ance over the rough pavement of the streets. A sessions is 
annually held here in the month of September, for the trial 
of offences committed within the j urisdiction of the corpora¬ 
tion. They have also a court of admiralty, for the protec¬ 
tion of marine property ; and a court for the recovery of 
debt9 above 21. and under 10/., from the award of which 
there is no appeal. The corporation consists of a mayor, 
18 aldermen, a recorder, and 36 common council-men ; and 
it returns two members to parliament, chosen by the burgesses 
at large: the returning officer is the mayor. Here are two 
banks. Market on Saturday, well supplied, and a small one 
on Wednesday. Its fairs are the Friday and Saturday in 
Easter week; 22 miles east-by-south of Norwich and 124 
north-east of London. Population nearly 18,000. 
YARMOUTH, or South Yarmouth, a small seaport, 
borough, and parish of England, situated on the north¬ 
western part of the Isle of Wight, Southam,ptonshire. It 
stands on a bank sloping towards the sea, and bears traces 
of having been formerly of greater extent than at present, 
its three churches being dwindled into one, though it is de¬ 
fended by a castle with a garrison. It has a quay, where 
small vessels can load and unload ; and the place contains a 
few genteel houses, and has a neat market-house, with a hall 
over it. This town sends two members to parliament, wbo 
are chosen by the corporation. Market on Friday; 8 miles 
north-north-west of Newport, and 99 south-west of London. 
Population 427.-2. A seaport of the United States, in 
Barnstable county, Massachusetts ; 20 miles south-south-east 
of Boston. Population 2134.—3. A town on the west coast 
of Nova Scotia; 35 miles west of Shelburn. 
YARMUC, or Yarun, a village of Palestine, in the dis¬ 
trict of Saphet, on a small river of the same name, which 
falls into the lake of Tiberias; 24 miles south-east of Saphet. 
YARMUC, a river of Syria, the ancient Marsyas, which 
runs into the Orontes, near Apamea. 
YARN, s. [geapn, Saxon; the past participle of gypnan, 
to prepare, to make ready. H. Too he.] Spun wool; wool¬ 
len thread.—The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good 
and ill together; our virtues would be proud, if our faults 
whipt them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were 
not cherished by our virtues. Sha/cspeare. 
Spare me but one small portion of the twine, 
And let the sisters cut below your line : 
The rest among the rubbish may they sweep. 
Or add it to the yarn of some old miser’s heap. Dry den. 
YARNESCOMBE, a parish of England, in Devonshire; 
6 miles north-east of Great Torrington. 
YARNFIELD, a hamlet of England, in Somersetshire ; 8 
miles east-north-east of Bruton. 
YARNTON, a parish of England, in Oxfordshire; 4 miles 
north-west of Oxford. 
YAROCALLA, a settlement of Peru, in the province of 
Caxatambo. 
YARPOLE, a township of England, in Herefordshire; 5 
miles from Leominster. 
To YARR, v. n. [from the sound, hirrio, Lat.] To 
growl, or snarl like a dog. Ainsworth. 
YA'RROW, s. \millefolium, Lat.] A plant.—The yar¬ 
row, wherewithal he stops the wound-made gore. Drayton. 
YARROW, a parish of Scotland, in Selkirkshire, about 
18 miles in length, and 16 in breadth. Population 1225. 
YARROW, a celebrated pastoral stream of Scotland, in 
Selkirkshire, which rises at a place called Yarrow Cleugh, 
very near the source of Moffat water; and running east a 
few miles, forms a beautiful lake called the loch of the Lows, 
which discharges its waters, after a course of 100 yards, into 
St. Mary’s loch, from which it issues; and, after a course of 
about 16 miles through the ancient district of Etterick forest, 
joins its waters to the Etterick, two miles above Selkirk. 
8 I Near 
