LIN'COLN (called by the Romans Lindum; from which, with CoIonia subjoined, comes the modern name), a city of England;capital of the county of the same name, a parliamentary and municipal borough and county of itself, is situated on the Witham, 140 m. n.n.w. of London by railway. Built on the slope of a hill, which is crowned by the cathedral, the city is imposing in effect, and can be seen from a very considerable. distance. It is very ancient, is irregularly laid out, and contains many interesting spechnens of early architecture. The cathedral, one of the finest in England, is the principal building. It is surmounted by three towers, two of which, 180 ft. in height, were formerly continued by spires of 101 feet. The central tower, 53 ft. square, is 300 ft. high. The interior length of the cathedral is 482, the width 80 feet. The famous bell called Tom of Lincoln was cast in 1610, and was hung in one of the w. towers of this edifice. It was broken up, however, in 1834, and, together with six other bells, was recast to form the present large bell and two quarter bells. The present bell, which hangs in the central tower, is 5 tons 8 cwt. in weight; and is 6 ft. 10.i in. in diameter at
the mouth. The style of the cathedral, though various, is chiefly early English. Lin coln also contains many other interesting religious edifices, arnong which are three churches, dating trom before the reformation, etc., numerous schools, and benevolent institutions. Several iron foundries and manufactories of portable steam-engines and. agricultural machines, as well as large steam flour-mills, are in operation here, and there. is an active tmde in flour. Brewing and machine-making, with a trade in corn and wool, are also carried on. Two members are returned to the house of commons for the city. Pop. '61, 20,999; "74, 26,766.
Lincoln, under the Romans, was a place of some importance, and under the Saxons and the Danes it preserved a good position. It was the seat of an extensive and important trade at the time of the Norman conquest; but its advancement since that time has not been equally rapid. It contains some very interesting antiquities, as the Roman gate, the remains of the palace and stables of John of Gaunt, and the town-hall.