SALISBURY, or NEW SARUM, the capital of Wiltshire, is an episetrpal city, and a municipal and parliamentary borough, and stands in a fertile valley on the Avon, at the junction of that river with two of its affluents, 83 m. s.w. of London by the South-we:t ern railway, and 23 m. n.w. of Southampton] by a branch of the same. Its several parts are connected by 3 bridges. The town dates from 1220, ib which year the cathedral was founded, and the inhabitants of' 01(1 Sarum (see SARUM, OLD), 2 m. to the in, removed to Salisbury, attracted to the new site by the abundant supply of water. At the founda tion of the town, the ground was divided into squares, or "chequers" as they arc called, to which the town is ina(Ared for its appearance of airiness and regularity. The esthe dral, the principal building of Salisbury, is one of the 'finest specimens of early Enalish in the country. It was begun in 1220, and was finished in 1258. The spire. which ‘vet
added after the building was completed. is the "most elegant in proportions and the loftiest in England." - Its height from the pavement is 400 ft., only 60 ft. less than that in Strasburg. The cathedral is 440 ft. long; height in the interior, 81 ft.; width of great tran sept, 203 feet. It is in the form of a double cross, is perfect in its plan and proportions, and in the main uniform in style. The w. front is still rich, beautiful. aid giaceful, though now denuded of statues, upward of 100 in number, with which it was once enriched. The cathedral has been recently restored. The manufactures of cutlery and dolt, for which it was once famous, have long declined, and its trade is now chiefly in retail. Pop. '71, 13,839. It returns two members to parliament.