four fronts, and ornamented with a light and beautiful tower and spire, containing a clock, the gift of R. Clarke, Esq., 1804. It contains an assembly-room, a court-room, a news-room, a tavern kept by the town's serjeant, and other suitable apartments for the use of the town. The principal entrance is on the south, over which are the arms of the town cut in stone. On the north, a handsome piazza, erected in 1768 for the accommodation of the market-people, stretches along the lower story, above which is a regular range of the assembly-room windows. Mr. Brewster remarks that the style of this edifice produces an effect similar to that of some of the buildings in Holland; and may be added that the neat order in which it is kept by the corporation, may vie with any thing of the kind in that country, so celebrated for its cleanliness. In 1768, an old covered cross in the market-place was removed, and the present handsome Doric Column, 33 feet high, erected on its scite, a little to the south of the Town Hall.

it

The Shambles.-Shambles were erected for the butchers in Stockton in 1768, which the corporation came to a resolution of rebuilding in 1821.. The foundation-stone of the new erection was laid June 21, 1823, and the work carried on for a few days, when it was levelled by order of a party in opposition to the measure. It was again begun, and again demolished; and, in the following year, counsel was heard at the Town Hall on both sides, when a verdict was given in favour of the projected improvement, and notice of appeal laid in by the oppositionists. The work, however, proceeded, and the building was completed and opened in June, 1825. It is of brick, one story high, with stone copings along the tops of the walls and windows; and its interior arrangements are convenient. It must be confessed, however, that the beauty of the High Street, in the centre of which it stands, is decidedly injured by it.

The Custom-house.-The first Custom-house in Stockton, on the removal of the officers from Hartlepool in 1680, was situated in the Red Lion Inn Yard, whence it was removed in 1696 to the foot of Finkle Street. In 1730, the corporation built a new Custom-house there, on the scite of the old one. In 1828, the present building was erected further to the north, but still near the quay, "for the ease of merchants and the despatch of business." Its interior is commodious, and the principal room is well lighted from a dome in the roof. Several good warehouses for wet and dry goods are attached.

The Bridge.-An act of parliament was obtained, in 1762, for building "a bridge across the Tees above the town of Stockton, at or near unto, and instead of, the ferry used as a passage over the river." The foundation-stone was laid August 23, 1764; and the structure was completed in

cisms on the edition of Shakspeare published by Edmond Malone, 1792," 8vo.-" Ancient Songs, from the time of King Henry the Third to the Revolution, 1792," 8vo.-"The Northumberland Garland; or, Newcastle Nightingale: a matchless Collection of famous Songs. Newcastle, 1793," sm. 8vo.-Scottish Songs [and Tunes], 1794," 2 vols. 8vo.-" Poems on interesting Events in the Reign of King Edward III. Written in the year 1352, by Laurence Minot. With a Preface, Dissertations, Notes, and a Glossary, 1795," 8vo. "Robin Hood; a Collection of all the ancient Poems, Songs, and Ballads now extant, relative to that celebrated English Outlaw. To which are prefixed Historical Anecdotes of his Life, 1795,” 2 vols. 8vo.— "Bibliographia Poetica; a Catalogue of English Poets of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Centuries, with a short Account of their Works, 1802," 8vo.-" Ancient English Metrical Romances, 1802," 3 vols. 8vo.-"The North-Country Chorister; an unparalleled variety of excellent Songs, Collected and published together for general amusement, by a Bishopric Ballad-Singer. Durham, 1802,” 12mo. "An Essay on Abstinence from Animal-food, as a moral duty, 1802," 8vo.- The Office of a Bailiff of a Liberty," 8vo. (edited by J. Frank), 1811. Ritson assisted both Brewster and Hutchinson in their respective works, and is said to have prepared some materials for a "Villare" of the county of Durham.---Surtecs, vol. iii. p. 183.

April, 1771. In compensation for the ferry-dues, which belonged to the bishop, the act gave to the see of Durham an indemnity of £90 per annum, and £3 for every acre of the bishop's ground which might be used as a road leading to the bridge. The boat-house and adjoining ground were conveyed to the mayor and burgesses. The bridge is an elegant structure, consisting of five arches. The span of the centre arch is 72 feet, and it is 23 feet high from low-water mark: the two next are 60 feet in span, and the end arches 44. The passage for carriages is 18 feet broad; and there is a raised pavement of three feet for foot-passengers, who, as well as carriages, &c. formerly paid toll each way. It was built by subscription, and cost £8000, the subscribers being entitled to interest not exceeding five per cent. In 1792, the tolls were let for £702; and, in 1814, for £1005. In 1817, they were reduced to £900, principally on account of the discontinuance of the races. The act provided, that when the incumbrances should be discharged, and a sufficient purchase of land made as an equivalent for the bishop of Durham's rent, the bridge should become free, and be repaired at the equal charges of the county of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. The debt was cleared off August 2, 1816; and, in 1819, a mob, under the impression that the passage of the bridge should consequently be free, attacked the gates, two of which they threw into the river, and carried a third in triumph about the town. The tolls, however, ceased January 1, 1820; and the purchases for the bishop were completed in July, 1821, having been effected by the produce of the tolls after the debt was discharged, as directed by the act. The Toll-house has since been greatly improved, and is much frequented as a public house.

Markets, internal Trade, &c.

The various charters granting a Market to Stockton have already been mentioned. It is held on the Wednesdays, and abundantly stored with all kinds of grain, butcher's meat, fish, poultry, butter, eggs, vegetables, &c., and attended by a host of hawkers, with their different sorts of wares. Another well supplied market is held on the Saturdays. A Fair is held here annually, according to ancient charter, on the 18th of July; and Statutes for hiring servants on the two last Wednesdays before the 13th May and the 23d of November. Fairs for the sale of cattle, sheep, &c., established 1811, were also held on the last Wednesday of every month; but, in 1830, it was found necessary to shorten that interval, and hold them once a fortnight. At an annual Agricultural Cattle Show, prizes are distributed to those who produce the best bred stock.

In 1785, the Tees Bank was established by Henry Hutchinson, Esq.; and which existed until December, 1825, when it stopped payment. Another, the Stockton and Cleveland Bank, failed July 25, 1815. The establishments now existing in Stockton are, the Commercial Bank (Messrs, Skinner and Co.), commenced in 1815; and a branch from Messrs. Backhouse and Co.'s Bank, Darlington, opened in 1826. A Joint Stock Bank was also incorporated here in 1831.†

* Several riots, on account of the high price of corn, occurred at Stockton in the year 1740; and some of the offenders were transported for seven years to America.

+ In 1666, John Wells, a Stockton tradesman, issued tokens. The obverse had the king's head, with long hair, a la Cavalier, crowned, "GOD SAVE THE KING;" reverse, 'JOHN WELLS, 1666, IN STOCKTON." These and similar tradesmen's tokens, put in circulation for convenience, were called in on the issue of government halfpence and farthings in 1672.

In 1812, Messrs. Christopher and Jennett, of Stockton, issued copper tokens of one penny value; and, during the scarcity of silver coin in 1813, the same gentlemen issued sixpenny and one shilling silver tokens. In 1818, paper tokens, value 2s. 6d. and 5s., were put in circulation in Stockton.

The manufactures here are linen, sail-cloth, worsted, thread, &c. Mr. Jasper Whitfield, who carried on an extensive business as a damask-weaver, has recently resigned; and his premises are occupied by his son, as a sail-cloth manufactory. There is a ship-building yard at Smithfield, belonging to Henry Markham, Esq.; and another at Cottage Row End, the property of W. H. Mellanby, Esq. The vessels built here are of the first class, and many of them of heavy burthen. Mr. Andrew Brown carries on a large iron and brass foundery at the north end of the High Street; and Mr. Thomas Jackson another in the West Row. There is a manufactory for rolling and smelting lead, belonging to Mr. Stark, close to the river. Mr. Thomas A. Tennant and Mr. Robert Wilson each have roperies here. There are five corn-mills in Stockton; which also contains. about 40 hotels, inns, and public houses, and three breweries; also four porter-merchants and seven spirit-merchants. Here are nine or ten attorneys' offices,† five coal-fitters, five printers and booksellers, with a number of the shopkeepers, grocers, flour-dealers, drapers, tailors, shoemakers, dress-makers, joiners, wrights, smiths, turners, &c. necessary for the population of the place.‡

*

A mail-coach commenced running through Stockton to Sunderland and Shields on September 6, 1806. The hours of its arrival and departure were adapted to the alterations made in the arrange ments of the north mail; but, during the present year (1832), it has been discontinued, and the letters, &c. are now brought from Darlington in a gig. Conveyances may be had daily to all parts of the kingdom. Post-chaises, hack horses, and vehicles of various descriptions, are kept at the different inns; and the passage to the western parts of the county has been rendered cheap and pleasant by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

The township of Stockton includes several farms§ and corn-mills. Mr. Robert Wilson has a brick and tile manufactory at the Tile Shades; and there is a ropery at St. Anne's Hill.

"The ale brew'd in this town is very famous, and becomes a grateful present often from the gentry to their friends in London."-Magna Britannia et Hibernia, Antiqua & Nova, 1720, vol. i. p. 610.

+ In vol. i. page 498, will be found the monumental inscription of Ralph Bradley, Esq., who was born at Greatham, September 2, 1717. He was called to the bar by the society of Grey's Inn, but soon after settled at Stockton, and confined himself almost exclusively to the practice of conveyancing; from his reputation in which, and his retired habits, he increased his small paternal estate to £40,000. After deducting certain legacies, he devised the bulk of this property to trustees, to place certain sums of it in the public funds, there to accumulate till January 6, 1860, when the whole was to be applied to the purchase of such books as "promote the interests of virtue and religion, and the happiness of mankind." On the decision of the Lord Chancellor, after Mr. Bradley's death, his fortune devolved on Joseph Yeal of Greatham; his two sisters, viz. Margaret Parkin, of the same place, widow, and Sarah Yeal, of London; and Mary, wife of John Sutton, of Stockton, Esq., and daughter of Edmund Bunting, of the same place, Esq., his first

cousin.

March 20, 1821, a newly-erected steam-mill for grinding corn, belonging to Mr. C. Cooke, of Stockton, was discovered to be on fire; and the whole of the building except the engine-house, together with a quantity of corn and flour, were destroyed.-In 1828, the mustard manufactory belonging to Mr. Musgrave was. entirely consumed by fire.

§ In 1736, potatoes were first planted in this neighbourhood by Thomas Baker; and he allowed none but his son to see the process. Mr. Brewster claims the gratitude of posterity for this person; but whatever may have been the results of the experiment, the secresy with which it was attempted to be effected repels any assumption of patriotism or philanthropy in the motives of the individual by whom it was made.

River, Port, Shipping, Commerce, &c.

The River Tees is the source of the growing prosperity of Stockton. The tide reaches no higher than Worsal, about three miles above Yarm, which is, by the course of the river, about 20 miles from the sea. When the river approaches Stockton, the shore becomes very low, and the stream continues winding. In its approximation to the ocean, from Portrack, the Tees expands into a large bay, which is about three miles across, and at the mouth is a little contracted by a tongue of land, called Seaton Snook, from which a bar of sand stretches across the estuary to the Cleveland coast, near Coatham and Redcar. At spring tides, about 10 or 12 feet is the depth on the bar at low water, and from 26 to 28 feet at high water. In neap tides, about 12 feet is the depth at low water, and 22 feet at high water, at the same point. The bay or estuary of the Tees is a place of great safety for ships in stormy seasons; and many vessels, which are not concerned in the trade of the river, enter it for shelter. A mile below Portrack, on the Yorkshire coast is Newport, where there is a commodious quay, staiths, and granaries; below which, on the same side of the river, is Cargo-fleet, or Cleveland-port, where many of the larger vessels load and unload by means of smaller craft from Stockton.

From the rapidity of its upper course, and from the numerous streams which it receives from hill and moorland, this river often rises suddenly in flood,* and passes the low level shores, which scarcely confine its downward current. Stockton, standing upon elevated ground, suffers little on these occasions; but the opposite low Yorkshire grounds are frequently inundated, and the shipping are often driven from their moorings. In 1784, the Tees was frozen over near Stockton, when a sheep was roasted whole upon it. In 1795, after the breaking up of the ice in the river, which had been closed for five weeks, a consequent flood did considerable damage; and on December 15, 1819, the Tees was again frozen over, and continued in that state for an equal length of time.

"The whole course of the Tees," says Surtees, "is winding; but the curve of the river at Portrack was so extraordinary, that the course of the river during this inflection measured two miles and upwards, whilst the neck of the peninsula was only 220 yards. It had been frequently proposed to cut through this neck of land, and considerable exertions were made for that purpose by William Sleigh, Esq., then mayor of Stockton, in 1791. The plant was, however, reluctantly abandoned at that time, but was resumed in 1802, under the management of gentlemen engaged in, or materially connected with, the trade of the place.

"The plan adopted was to raise a sufficient capital by subscription shares of £50 each, and to obtain an act to form the subscribers into a corporation or company. A capital of £5000 (which it was presumed would prove adequate to carry the plan into effect) was readily procured; and,

* There was a person appointed formerly, whose business was to warn the water; i. e. to give the inhabitants of the lower vales of Tees timely notice when the river reached Nesham in flood.

+ On January 23, 1796, Thomas Hutchinson drove out of the Tees to the sea in an open boat, and was picked up next day near Holy Island. The boat sunk a few minutes after he was taken out. This circum◄ stance has been commemorated by a native poet, in stanzas of no common merit.-In the same year, another boat drove to sea, with only an old man and an old woman on board. The boat was found next day floating near Whitby, and the aged pair, both dead, lashed to each other and the mast.

The plan was originally proposed, several years before, by Mr. Edmund Harvey, of Stockton, pewterer, who constructed a tin model of his intended canal.

on calculations founded on the entries and clearances of vessels at the Custom-house, it appeared that duties, at the rates afterwards inserted in the bill, would produce £735 per ann., which it was expected would cover the annual disbursements, and allow a dividend of 10 per cent. (the maximum proposed to the subscribers.*) Some unforeseen circumstances retarded the progress of the measure, particularly the opposition of the late Lord Harewood, who was owner of Mandale-mill and granary, on the Yorkshire side, at the very extremity of the curve formed by the then winding course of the Tees. This property his lordship conceived would be so much injured by the proposed cut, that he declared his intention of opposing the bill in parliament. After five years of unsuccessful negotiation for a compromise, the subscribers resolved, in 1808, to push their bill in opposition to Lord Harewood's influence. Pending its progress in parliament, however, an agreement was concluded, by which Lord Harewood consented to withdraw his opposition on condition. of receiving £2000 when the cut should be made navigable. The bill passed in 1808; the excavation was executed under contracts with different undertakers; and the new channel was opened for vessels September 18, 1810.+ The expenses much exceeded the original estimate, and including the cost of the act, the purchase of land, and other contingencies, amounted to £9300; and there has since been disbursed, in jetties and other works, about £2400. Towards meeting this excess, as well as to discharge the obligation to Lord Harewood, 80 additional shares were created under the powers of the act, and the deficiency was supplied by the appropriation of the duties as they accrued."

The act incorporates the subscribers by the title of "The Tees Navigation Company," and not only authorizes the making of the cut, but also the cleansing, deepening, straightening, and otherwise improving the navigation of the river between the bridge at Stockton and the sea, giving most ample powers for these purposes. It enables them to levy the following duties on all vessels lading or unlading cargoes in the river Tees :-For every British vessel entering or clearing coastwise,

*The committee, November 26, 1802, state in effect that "all vessels laden for Stockton, which, from causes frequently unavoidable, discharge their loading at Cargo-fleet, Middlebrough, Newport, or Portrack, are obliged to send their goods to the wharf in the river boats, from whence frequent injuries, &c., and vice versa as to goods conveyed from Stockton down the river to vessels lying at or below Portrack. Sometimes the boats in the winter months are prevented getting down for several days. A tide is frequently lost in attempting to navigate the crooked channel of the river; for the wind most favourable from the sea to Portrack is direct contrary for a considerable portion of the course from Portrack to Stockton; every vessel of 200 tons and upwards, built at Stockton, is obliged to be tracked down the river to Portrack. The ready admission of the flood-tide will accelerate the time of high water at Stockton half an hour, and the ready discharge of the ebb-tide will prevent the accumulation of ice, and scour the channel from the sands which obstruct the navigation. The river thus deepened will admit laden vessels of 160 or 200 tons burthen to come up from sea to Stockton, and deliver their cargoes at the wharf, when the wind is favourable, in one tide."

The opening of the cut was commemorated at Stockton by public rejoicings. The morning was ushered in by the ringing of bells. At half past seven, three sloops, decorated with flags, &c., proceeded from Portrack through the canal, attended by the volunteer band of music, the custom-house boat, the Redcar lifeboat, and a numerous assemblage of pleasure-boats, &c. Several guns were fired from the vessels, as each entered into and went out of the canal, which were returned by guns placed on the quays at Stockton. When the sloops arrived at that place, the company's flag (most elegantly designed) was taken down from the mast-head of the sloop which came up first, and conveyed through the street, preceded by the band of music, after which it was placed on the top of the cupola on the Town Hall. At twelve o'clock, the workmen were regaled with meat and drink; and at two o'clock, 70 gentlemen sat down at the Town Hall to dinner, the volunteer band performing.