The city of Chester returns two members to parlia ment. It was first called to send representatives thither in 34th Henry VIII. who vested the right of election in the freemen, consisting- at present of 1200 voters. The religious sects that occur here are associated chiefly in the different classes of Presbyterians, Independents, Qua kers, Methodists, Catholics, and the followers of Ema nuel Swedenburgh.
The public charities of Chester are numerous. Those more particularly worthy of notice are the Infirmary be fore mentioned, the House of industry, the Blue-coat hospital for boys and girls, and the various alms houses dispersed through the city. The Infirmary took its origin from a bequest of 3001. left by Dr Stratford, com missary of the archdeaconry of Richmond, and has been increased by voluntary contributions. Before the pre sent building could be prepared for the reception of patients, a temporary infirmary was established in Not th gate street, in the year 1756. The new infirmary was opened on the 19th May, 1761, and has been supported by such liberal subscriptions, that the governors have been enabled to administer relief to many thousand per sons. The utility of this institution was increased a few years ago by the admission of fever-patients, for whom a distinct ward was appropriated, and due pracautionary means employed to prevent any infection from communi cating with the other parts of the house. The wnole affairs of the establishment are conducted in a judicious and praise worthy manner. The Blue-coat hospital, which was founded in 1706 by Bishop Stratford, was originally endowed for the complete maintenance of 35 boys four years, a sufficient sum being allowed to bind them apprentices at the expiration of that time. From the subsequent increase of the funds of the hospi tal, its utility has been much extended. A school has been established in another part of the building, on the plans of Mr Lancaster and Dr Bell, in wr.ic.t up.A7,t ds of 130 boys are taught the most useful parts of educa tion. To these monuments of public benevolence, must be added the splendid munificence of Lord Grosvenor. who has erected and supports a school or upwards of 400 boy s, and a great number of girls, at his own expellee). In another part of the city, a diocesan school is main tained, for the purpose chiefly of instructing youth in Bell's system of education, preparatory to commenc ing masters. To these may be added several Sunday schools, maintained by public subscription. By these
means, all the infant poor receive a competent education. In the Blue School for the education of girls, which is supported by ladies, 'eight of the girls, who are thus provided for, are maintained in board, lodging, and clothes ; the others are only clothed. When they leave school, they are placed out to service, and receive each 40 shillings. Of the beneficent institutions in the city, the chief is that for the benefit of decayed ft emelt of 60 years of age and upwards, 40 of whom are allowed from this establishment 41. annually, and a gown every third year. Mr Owen Jones, one of the donors of this charity, bequeathed the profits of an estate in Denbighshire to the poor of the several city companies, who were to receive it in rotation annually. The yearly value of this bequest was originally but a few pounds ; hut the dis covery and workihg of a rich lead mine on the estate, have so improved the receipts, that the annual income is now nearly 400/.
A benevolent institution, of a nature before unknown in England, was begun in this city in the year 1774. Its objects were to prevent the natural small-pox from be coming dangerous, by promoting a general inoculation at szated periods, and to keep it from spreading when ever it should break out, by the observance of certain drawn up for the occasion. Subscriptions were liberally bestowed for the purposes of this society, and the rules, when steadily observed, were found to be fully efficacious in arresting the progress of contagion ; but the supineness of the people, and their snperstiticus rejection of the offer of free inoculation, rendered the scheme abortive, and it was at length abandoned. The projected plans for its revival have been completely superseded, in consequence of the introduction of the vaccine inoculation.
Between the walls of the city on the west side and the river is an extensive meadow, called the Rood-eye, or Island of the Cross, which in different successive periods has been appropriated to diversitv of amusement, and chosen as the place for the exhibition of various feats of bodily activity. It is here that the laces are now held, for which, incieed, no situation could be better adapted, the whole lying like an amphitheatre immediately beneath the walls. The season in which these races are annually celebrated is the first week in May.