BUCKINGHAM, the principal town of Buckingham shire, is situated on the side and bottom of a hill, on the river Ouse, which winds round the three sides of he town, and is crossed by three stone bridges. The hou ses, which are chiefly of brick, are ill built, and many of them arc thatched. The town consists of one long street, and the buildings are irregularly scattered over a large space of ground. The principal public edifices are, the church and the town hall. The former of these is erected upon the summit of an artificial mount, which was formerly the site of a castle. This elegant fabric, which was begun in 1777, and finished in 1781, at the expellee of 70001. is built of stone, and the beautiful square tower attached to its south-west cud, is adorned with pinnacles and embrasures, and with a light taper ing spire 150 feet high. The old church fell in 1776; its spire, which was the tallest in England, having been blown down so early as the year 1698. The inside of the church is fitted up like Portland chapel in London. The seats are all of oak wainscotting, and the altar piece is a tolerably good copy of the transfiguration by Raphael. The area about the church is formed into a pleasant walk, planted with trees, and commanding a view attic serpentine course of the Ouse. The town hall is a large brick building, surmounted with a gilt swan, which is the burgh arms. The principal floor is kept for the magistrates, when they hold the parish court and sessions. The jail, which is built in the form of a castle, is appropriated chiefly for those who have committed offences in the town and parish. The free
school, founded in 1540 by Isabel Denton, has been in creased by several donations. All the business of the county was formerly transacted at Aylesbury, but, by a late act of parliament, the summer assizes were brought back to Buckingham in 1758 The inhabitants of Buck ingham are principally employed in agriculture and in lace-making. The women, who are engaged in this manufacture, make from eighteen pence to two shil lings a day; but the establishment of a lace-manufactory at Nottingham, where it is made by machinery, has con siderably injured the retail trade in this place. The principal sort of lace which is made, is fine black and white thread lace. There are a few corn and paper mills upon the Ouse. In the time of Edward III., one of the staples for wool was fixed here ; but the trade being removed to Calais, it soon declined ; and, in the reign of Henry VIM, Buckingham was one of the de cayed towns which was relieved by act of parliament. In the year 1724, no fewer than 138 houses were con sumed by a dreadful fire, which occasioned a loss of 40,0001. Number of houses, 531. Population, 2605 ; of whom 313 were returned as employed in trade and manufactures. See Willis's History and Antiquities of the Town, Hundred, and Deanery of Buckingham ; Pen nant's Tour ; Mason's Tour ; and the Beauties of Eng land and [Vales, by Brayley and Britton, vol. i. p. 28D. (n)