The first mile of this railway, from its junction with the Manchester and BolEon Railway, is considered a fine specimen of engineering skill. It runs through the south-west side of the town in a curve, and crosses nine streets under as many bridges. The construction of the roofs of the bridges is much admired. They consist of cast-iron beams, and present a flat surface to the eye of the speccator underneath.

CHORLEY, on the banks of the Chor, whence it takes its name. A family of the ame name held the manor of Chorley from a very early period.

The staple ma

There are five

ufactures are cotton fabrics, muslins, jaconets, and fancy articles. oal-mines in the neighbourhood, and a lead-mine at Anglezarke. The old church s an ancient building. There is a grammar-school, a new church, several meetng-houses and charitable institutions. Pop. of par. in 1841, 13,139.

LXXV. NORTH UNION RAILWAY.-Principal station at Parkside.

WIGAN is an ancient town situated near the little river Douglas, on the banks of which the Saxons were defeated by King Arthur. It is noted for its manufacture of cotton goods, and its large brass and pewter works. The vicinity also abounds with cannel coal. Wigan has a stately church, containing a few allcient monuments, two Roman Catholic chapels, a town-hall, several meeting

houses, free blue coat and national schools, and charitable institutions. There is a monumental pillar here in honour of Sir T. Tildesley, who was killed at the battle of Wigan Lane, in 1651, when the Royalists under the Earl of Derby were routed by Colonel Lilburne. In the vicinity is a sulphurous spring, with a neat building for the accommodation of visitors. Two M. P. Pop. 20,774.* PRESTON is a town of great antiquity, on the north bank of the Rbble. There were formerly two monastic institutions in Preston, one called the Hospital of St Mary Magdalen, the other a monastery of Greyfriars. The last was occupied as a ›rison until about fifty years ago, and traces of it yet remain. During the civil vars Preston was first occupied by the Royal party, but was quickly taken by he Parliamentary forces, and the mayor killed in the assault. It was aftervards retaken by the Earl of Derby, who demolished the defences. At Ribbleton Moor, near Preston, the Duke of Hamilton was defeated, in 1648, by Cromwell; und, in 1715, the friends of the Pretender were routed by Generals Willes and Carpenter at the same spot. Preston contains four churches and one Episcopal hapel, two Roman Catholic, and thirteen other chapels belonging to different lenominations of Dissenters. It has also a guild-hall, a town-hall, a corn exchange, a cloth and a market-hall, assembly rooms, a theatre, &c. What are called the "Guilds" of Preston are held every twenty years, when the trades neet with banners and music, form a procession, and hold a festival at considerable cost to the town. In Preston are 55 day, 17 Sunday, and 9 boardingschools. About 10,000 Sunday scholars are gratuitously educated. Preston is a port-vessels of 150 tons ascending nearly to the town, and about 30,000 tons of goods are entered both inwards and outwards annually. Richard Arkwright was born at Preston in 1732; and here, in 1768, he commenced, in connection with a mechanic named John Kay, some of his improvements in the cottonspinning mechanism. There are 52 steam-engines in the town, having an aggregate power of about 1500 horses. There is also a good deal of flax-spinning executed here. Two M. P. Pop. of par. 50,131; of borough, about 40,000.

A railway, 22 miles in length, connects Preston with the mouth of the Wyre, where is situated the new watering-place of Fleetwood, with an excellent hotel, erected by Sir P. H. Fleetwood. As a bathing-place it possesses very superior attractions. From Preston a canal leads to Kendal, through Lancaster.

LANCASTER is situated on the Lune, at some distance from its entrance into the sea. The principal object of attention is the castle, a strong fortress, erected in the reign of Edward III. by John of Gaunt. It stands upon the summit of a hill, and forms a very striking feature in the general view of the town. It is now converted into the county gaol. The county courts now attached to this venerable building are chiefly of a modern date, and are extremely commodious. On the north of the castle stands the church, a Gothic structure containing

* Some interesting traditions regarding Wigan are recorded by Mr Roby in his "Traditions of Lancashire." A small volume on similar subjects by a young author of great promise has also been recently published at Wigan.

CARLISLE is an ancient city, pleasantly situated on an eminence nearly enclosed by three streams, the Eden, the Caldew, and the Petrel. It is supposed to be of British origin, and there is reason to conclude that it was a Roman station. It appears to have been first fortified about the time of Agricola; the erection of its castle is attributed to William Rufus. Carlisle was taken by David, King of Scots, and afterwards besieged unsuccessfully by William the Lion. It suffered severely during the civil wars, having declared for Charles I. In 1745, it surrendered to Prince Charles Stuart, and on being retaken by the Duke of Cumberland, was the scene of many cruel severities upon the conquered. After the junction of the kingdoms it sunk into decay, but has made great progress since the commencement of the present century. The principal business of the town consists in its manufactures of cotton goods and ginghams, and in a coasting trade. There is a canal from Carlisle to the Solway, and some traffic arises also from its lying on the Great Western road from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Before the Reformation, there were several ecclesiastical establishments in the city. It was erected into a see by Henry I. in 1133. Dr Paley was ArchDeacon of Carlisle, and is buried in the cathedral, where a monument has been recently erected to his memory. The cathedral is an ancient building of red freestone, some parts of which are assigned to the Saxon times. There are three other churches in Carlisle, several meeting-houses, a Roman Catholic chapel, a Mechanic's Institute, a Theatre, a Grammar-School founded by Henry VIII. and forty-seven other schools of various kinds. The Court Houses were built at an expense of L.100,000. A considerable portion of the castle still remains, comprising the keep, a lofty and massive tower, in which is a very deep well. Towards the north are the apartments in which Mary Queen of Scots was confined on her flight to England, after the battle of Langside. Carlisle gives the title of Earl to a branch of the Howard family. Two M. P. Pop. 19,069.