earth. In these it is exposed to the heat of the

sun, till leave it

It is next

so much of its freshness is evaporated, as to seven times stronger than in its natural state. pumped into flat iron pans, eight or ten feet square, and as many inches deep. In these the brine is boiled over a fire, which is gradually increased, till the salt is granulated. This, being drained a proper time in convenient vessels, is fit for use. The liquor which runs off during the draining is afterwards crystallized into medicinal salts, the Epsom salts, or sulphate of magnesia; and the Glauber's salts, or sulphate of soda. The average annual period of working the pans is sixteen weeks, during which time each pan yields from sixteen to seventeen draughts or boilings weekly, amounting from three tons to three and a quarter of salt to each pan for every six days that they continue at work.*

They who visit Lymington for the purpose of seabathing, will find it accommodated with warm and cold and swimming baths.

The mayor is chosen annually by the burgesses within and without the borough, and is sworn at the court leet of the lord of the manor. The petty sessions for New Forest, east division, are held here. The weekly market is on Saturday. The annual fairs are on the 12th of May and 2nd of October. The resident population of Lymington, in 1801, consisted of 2378 persons; in 1811,

* In vol. xi. part 2, of the Transactions of the Linnæan Society, of London, are Observations on the Cancer Salinus. The minute crab to which these short but curious observations refer, is more popularly known by the name of Lymington Shrimp or Brine Worm. It abounds in the open tanks at Lymington, where it inhabits a concentrated solution of salt that proves instantly fatal to most marine animals.-Monthly Review, June, 1816, p. 129.

of 2641 persons. There is an agricultural society, which gives annual prizes. The town is distant from London about ninety-five miles.*

The respectable author of Topographical Remarks on the South-western parts of Hampshire,† who has attentively investigated the antiquities of this neighbourhood, inclines to the opinion, that a British town occupied the site of the present Lymington, ‡ even previously to the invasion of our island by Julius Cæsar; and he considers the many Roman coins which have, even within the present century, been dug up hereabouts, as furnishing incontestable proofs of the residence of the Romans on this spot. He passes over the early and obscure era of Anglo-Saxon history, with only remarking, that it is highly probable the Britons of the southern part of Hampshire did not relinquish their rights to the Saxons without some strenuous struggles, nor did they perish altogether unrevenged. This he infers from the numerous tumuli, or barrows, scattered around the neighbourhood

There are two dissenting places of worship; one belonging to the Independents, who have a congregation of about 250. It was at this place that Mr. Howard attended, while he resided at Watcombe. The other belongs to the Baptists, and has a congregation

of about 150.

The Rev. Richard Warner, to whose useful and entertaining volumes the present publication is under considerable obligations; and to them the reader is referred, for much instruction and amuse

ment.

Mr. W. deduces the name " Lymington" from certain British and Saxon words, which signify "a town situated on a stream or torrent of water."-Topographical Remarks, pp. 6, 7, notes.

Nearly two hundred pounds weight of coins of the Lower Empire were found here in two urns in 1744. The late Mr. Gough had a brass coin of Tetricus, senior, (reverse, LAETITIA AUGG.) found in this neighbourhood.-Gough's Camden, vol. i. p. 132.

of Lymington; "many of which," he adds, "cover the remains of such of the invaders as fell in the unequal contest between them and the unfortunate Britons."

It does not appear that there is any account of Lymington on record, prior to that in Domesday-book.* At that time, the manor of Lentune (as it is there called) was held by Roger de Yvery, one of those noblemen who shared the dangers of William the Conqueror in his invasion of England; and one of those, also, who was by no means forgotten in the distribution which the Norman made of his acquisitions. These, indeed, that monarch most profusely dealt out to his associates in arms; even bestowing many hundred manors on some of his barons who stood highest in his favour.t

A son of Earl Roger, of the same name, succeeded to his father's possessions. But, on the death of the Conqueror, in the contest that took place between William Rufus and his brother Robert, this nobleman being connected with the unsuccessful party, and, in consequence of their defeat, being obliged to quit the kingdom, Lymington, with all his other estates, was forfeited to the

crown.

After this, it continued to be a part of the royal de

* Warner's Hamp. ext. from Domesday, pp. 260, 261; and Topographical Remarks, vol. p. 12.

"

+ Fuller, referring to the state of England immediately after the Conquest, bespeaks his reader's pity for those poor Englishmen who were to find free quarter for all these French. "Some," says he, fought, some fled, but most betook themselves to patience, which taught many a noble hand to work, foot to travel, tongue to intreat, even thanking them for their courtesy, who were pleased to restore a shiver of their own loaf, which they violently took from them,"

-Church History, p. 171.

mesne, till the time of Henry I. who gave it, with many other valuable territories, to Richard de Redvers, as a recompense for his steady attachment and faithful services. This baron appears to have paid attention to its trade, both by importing foreign wines, and encouraging the salt works; from which he granted a tithe to God, and the church of St. Mary de Quarre, in the isle of Wight, for the salvation of his mother Adeliza, himself, and all his ancestors.*

In the possession of this family, Lymington manor remained till about the year 1293; when Edward III. purchased it, among her other valuable domains, of Isabella de Fortibus, heiress of the De Redvers family. "A few years after, however, it appears to have been the property of Hugh Courtnay, baron of Oakhampton, in the county of Devon; to whose heirs it most probably regularly descended, till the conviction of Henry Courtnay, earl of Devon, of high treason, in 1538, when his estates were forfeited to Henry VIII.

Lymington was a borough in the reign of Edward III. It first sent members to parliament in the twenty-seventh year of Elizabeth, 1584; but its incorporation by charter took place so lately as the reign of James I. The right of electing members of parliament is vested in the mayor and burgesses. This, however, was disputed, about the beginning of the eighteenth century, by the commonalty

*Topographical Remarks, vol. ii. appendix, No. I.—The terms of this grant, (which are literally copied, and which, indeed, are no more than the accustomed phraseology of numerous conveyances of this kind,) may well excite the pity and indignation of the reader, at the blind superstition of even the highest class of society, in those benighted times.

of the town; who insisted on a joint right, and backed their pretensions by electing two members, different from those whom the corporation had returned. The affair was referred to a committee of the House of Commons; which, having investigated their respective claims, decided in favour of the mayor and burgesses.

There is a tradition, that Lymington has thrice suffered by the pillaging visits of the French; but our historians are silent on the subject. From the same source is derived the following anecdote of successful presence of mind. In the reign of James II. when the nation had become so generally and so justly alarmed, on account of the visible attachment to popery and absolute power, of this genuine Stuart, there were at Lymington many who secretly favoured the cause of the duke of Monmouth. They were accustomed to meet at the house of a Mrs. Knapton; and, over their pipes and beer, (according to the custom of the times,) to discuss the grievances of the nation. Information was given respecting these meetings, and officers of justice were sent to apprehend the parties concerned. A friend gave notice of their approach; when Mrs. Knapton, with the utmost promptitude, dismissed her visitants at the back windows, cleared the tables in an instant, and, to disguise the remaining smell of tobacco, seized a pipe, wrapped her face in flannel, and, on the entrance of the constables, appeared to be smoking, as a remedy for the toothach, The stratagem succeeded, and the politicians escaped.*

* One of the minor records of the consequences of Monmouth's insurrection furnishes a rather curious account of an affair between "the pert, the insolent, the cruel" Jefferies, and a young gentleman