TAUNTON. Capital of Bristol county, Massa chusetts, on the west side of Taunton river, 21 miles east of Providence and 36 south of Boston. It is a pleasant town. Population in 1830, 5798. In 1652, the first extensive iron works in North America were erected in this town. The nail fac tories, when in full operation, can now turn out from eight to ten tons of cut nails per day. The first shovels that were made in this country were made here. Most of the bricks for this section of the country have long been manufactured in this town —between eight and nine million are now made an nually. There are in the place seven cotton facto ries; two breweries; two printing offices, from which are issued two weekly newspapers and two juvenile papers; one rolling and slitting mill; one forge; one shovel manufactory; one copper and lead rolling mill; one paper mill; one carding and fulling mill. The calico establishment furnishes from 4000 to 5000 pieces per week, in a style equal to any manufac tured in the country. There is also a manufactory
of Britannia ware. We believe it is the only esta blishment of the kind in the country. It is about three years since it was commenced on a small scale. It is now grown into an extensive business. The ware is now pronounced, by competent judges, to be far superior to the imported article. It has already made its way into public favour; and the "'Taunton silver" is now to be seen in most of our large cities, rivalling, in beauty and brightness, the standard metal. We ought not to close this article, without mentioning the court house, the stone church, and the Episcopal church, as being ornaments to the village; the last we believe to be unrivalled in this coun try for neatness and picturesque beauty. DARDY.