ALNWICK, the county town of Northumberland, in England, 30 miles from Berwick, and 84 from Edin burgh, on the north ; 35 from Newcastle, and 310 from London, on the south, The principal streets lead in nearly a straight line to a spacious square, which forms a very convenient market-place; on one side of the square are the shambles, and on another a neat and com modious town-house, where the quarter sessions and the county courts are held, and the members of parliament elected. Alnwick was formerly surrounded with a Nvall having several gates; one of these being in a ruinous state, was taken down a few years ago; another, which is on the east in the form of a tower, is felt by the inha bitants as well as strangers as a great nuisance, and owes its preservation solely to the enthusiasm of the present duke of Northumberland, for the memory of the gallant Hotspur, by whom this unshapely pile was erected.— But the chief boast of Alnwick is the castle, the scat or the renowned family of Percy. Its situation is on an eminence, whence there is a commanding prospect of the sea, and an extensive tract of an uncommonly rich and beautiful country. From the most authentic records, it appears to have been anciently a place of great strength; but it remained for a long period almost in ruins, till it was completely repaired by the late duke of Northumberland ; so that it may now justly be con sidered as one of the most magnificent models of a great baronial castle in the kingdom. In the structure of the building itself, which is gothic, and particularly in the various gothic ornaments which have been either embellished or renewed, the happiest union of taste and judgment has been displayed. The internal decorations are in a style of splendour combined with elegance, wor thy of the princely fortune of this noble family. The chapel, however, generally attracts most notice. The east window, containing exquisite specimens of painted glass, is said to he copir d Irorn a beautiful one in York Minster, the ceiling from King's College, Cambridge, and the mouldings and stucco work are gilt and painted in the style of the great church of Milan. During the residence of the family at Alnwick Castle, there are certain days when the gentlemen of the county, or strangers with a proper introduction, arc expected to dine with the duke. The grounds about the 1,,stle, which exhibit every sp ups of natural and artiiit ial beauty, are five miles in length ; and excel), during the presence of the land ly, they arc open to tile inhabitants of the town. The remains of two abbeys, at a small distance from each other, and a noble tower, 9 feet iii height, lately erected on a bill at the termination the pleasure grounds, contribute to render Ulr s«•nery iu the highest degree picturesque and romantic.
The town of Alnwick is govern. d by four chambei
lains, who are annually chosen out of a common corn' it of twenty-four. A singular and ludicrous custom exists here in making freemen. On St Mark's clay, the can didates for this privilege are compelled to ride round the lands belonging to the town, and in this route they arrive at a muddy pool, called the Freemen's Well, which is purposely deepened and agitated fur the occa sion. Here they dismount, and drawing themselves up in a body, plunge precipitately into the neli, and scramble through as fast as possible. As the water is always very foul, and numbers of them are generally tumbled over in the hustle, they come out in a most deplorable condition, to the great amusement of the crowds who assemble to witness the scene. The even big is spent in every kind or This ridiculous practice is attributed to king John, who, having himself been mired on the spot, when engaged in the chase, made it an article in the charter of the town, as a pun ishment for the inhabitants not keeping the roads in bet ter repair, that all the freemen should submit to the same disaster which he had himself experienced. The revenues of the town are considerable, and arc employ ed in supplying it with water, and fur other beneficial purposes; but particularly in supporting three free schools, where almost every branch of liberal education is taught, and to which the children of freemen only arc admitted gratis, while very moderate fees are ex acted from other persons. There are no public works, and little foreign trade in this place. A woollen manu factory was once attempted by some gentlemen, hut it did not succeed. Besides the established church, which is a perpetual curacy, there are three chapels in Aln wick, two belonging to the Methodists, and one to the Roman Catholics, and three dissenting meeting houses, which are tolerably well attended.
Alnwick has been particularly fatal to the kings of Scotland. In the reign of William Rufus, Malcolm III. was here treacherously stabbed by an English soldier, who pretended to be despatched from the castle for the purpose of surrendering the keys into the hands of the Scottish prince, His son Edward, attempting to revenge his death, was also slain, and his army defeated. In 1147, William, surnamed the Lion, while laying siege to Alnwick, being surprised by a party of Englishmen, at a distance from his camp, was made prisoner and carried in the most ignominious manner to Henry II. from whom he was afterwards ransomed for the sum of L.100,000. In commemoration of these events, monu ments have been erected on the spot NN, here they happen ed, and they are sufficiently conspicuous to attract the attention of visitors from Scotland. Population in 1801, 4719. Number of houst9', 735. E. Long. 10'. N.
Lat. 24'.